NI cRIO-904 Series User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
cRIO-904x
Embedded CompactRIO Controller with Real-Time Processor and
Reconfigurable FPGA
This document describes how to begin using the cRIO-904x.
In this document, the cRIO-9040, cRIO-9041, cRIO-9042, cRIO-9043, cRIO-9045,
cRIO-9046, cRIO-9047, cRIO-9048, and cRIO-9049 are referred to collectively as cRIO-904x.
Note Refer to the device Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information
document, shipped with your cRIO-904x controller and available on ni.com/
manuals, for important safety and environmental specifications necessary when
setting up your device.
Unpacking the Kit
Notice To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging the device, ground
yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded object, such as your
computer chassis.
1. Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis.
2. Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose components or any
other sign of damage.
Notice Never touch the exposed pins of connectors.
Note Do not install a device if it appears damaged in any way.
3. Unpack any other items and documentation from the kit.
Store the device in the antistatic package when the device is not in use.

What You Need to Get Started
Verify that the following items are included in the cRIO-904x controller kit.
Figure 1. cRIO-904xKit Contents
13 4
68
5
7
2
1. Controller (4-Slot or 8-Slot)
2. USB Type-A Male to USB Type-C Male Cable
3. Power Connector (Ships connected on Front
Panel)
4. Ferrite
5. SD Card Cover (Ships Connected on Front Panel)
6. Screwdriver
7. Driver Media
8. Documentation
Required Components
• Host Computer
• C Series Modules
• Power Supply
Installing Software on the Host Computer
If you do not currently have any NI software installed on your host computer, see the Install
Software section for details on required software and in which order to install it. If you have
some NI software already installed, see the Software Compatibility Resources section for
resources to check the compatibility of your software with your controller.
Install Software
Before using the cRIO-904x, you must install the following application software and device
drivers on the host computer in the order shown.
Refer to the "Choosing Your Programming Mode" section of the cRIO-904x User Manual to
determine the programming modes you wish to use.
2| ni.com | cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide

Sequence Software Corresponding Programming
Mode
1 LabVIEW 2017 SP1 or later
2 LabVIEW Real-Time Module 2017 or later
3 LabVIEW FPGA Module 2017 or later1LabVIEW FPGA Mode
4 NI CompactRIO Device Drivers 17.6 or
later2
Real-Time Mode
Real-Time Scan Mode (IO
Variables)
Note If you do not have the software media included with your hardware or do not
have a media drive, go to ni.com/downloads to download the required software.
After installing the software, you must activate it using NI License Manager.
Software Compatibility Resources
For more information about installing the correct versions of software, visit ni.com/info and
enter the Info Code swsupport.
For tips on resolving software compatibility issues with CompactRIO systems, visit ni.com/
info and enter the Info Code swcompatibility.
Note If you try to install software that already exists on your host computer, the
installer will show nothing installed.
1LabVIEW FPGA Module is not required when using Real-Time or Real-Time Scan (IO Variables)
program modes. To program the user-accessible FPGA on the cRIO-904x or deploy C Series
modules in the LabVIEW FPGA program mode, LabVIEW FPGA Module is required.
2NI CompactRIO Device Drivers 17.6 and later include NI-DAQmx driver software. To deploy
C Series modules installed in the cRIO-904x in Real-Time (NI-DAQmx) mode, ensure that NI-
DAQmx is selected during installation. To deploy C Series modules installed in the cRIO-904x in
Real-Time Scan (IO Variables) mode, ensure that NI Scan Engine is selected during installation.
cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 3

Installing the C Series Modules
Complete the following steps to install a C Series module.
3
2
2
1
1
1. Verify that power is not connected to the I/O connector(s) on the C Series module and the
cRIO-904x.
Note If the system is in a nonhazardous location, the cRIO-904x can be
powered on when you install modules.
2. Press the latches on the C Series module.
3. Align the C Series module with a slot and seat it in the slot until the latches lock in place.
Connecting the cRIO-904x
The cRIO-904x has the following connectors, LEDs, and buttons. For a full description of all
front panel features, see the cRIO-904x User Manual.
4| ni.com | cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide

Figure 2. cRIO-904xFront Panel
13
14
123
4
5
6
7
9
11
8
10
12
1. LEDs
2. RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
3. USER1 Button
4. PFI 0
5. RESET Button
6. Power Connector
7. Grounding Screw
8. RS-232 Serial Port
9. RS-485 Serial Port
10. USB 2.0 Type-A
11. USB 3.1 Type-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode
12. USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Role
13. SD In Use LED
14. SD Card Removable Storage
Connecting the Controller to Ground
You must connect the cRIO-904x grounding terminal to the grounding electrode system of the
facility.
What to Use
• Ring lug
• Wire, 1.3 mm2 (16 AWG) or larger
• Screwdriver, Phillips #2
What to Do
Complete the following steps to ground the cRIO-904x.
1. Attach the ring lug to the wire.
2. Remove the grounding screw from the grounding terminal on the cRIO-904x.
cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 5

3. Attach the ring lug to the grounding terminal.
4. Tighten the grounding screw to 0.5 N · m (4.4 lb · in.) of torque.
5. Attach the other end of the wire to the chassis safety ground using a method that is
appropriate for your application.
Notice If you use shielded cabling to connect to a C Series module with a plastic
connector, you must attach the cable shield to the chassis grounding terminal using
1.3 mm2 (16 AWG) or larger wire. Attach a ring lug to the wire and attach the wire
to the chassis grounding terminal. Solder the other end of the wire to the cable
shield. Use shorter wire for better EMC performance.
For more information about ground connections, visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code
emcground.
6| ni.com | cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide

Connecting the Controller to Power
The cRIO-904x requires a 9 V to 30 V external power supply. The cRIO-904x filters and
regulates the supplied power and provides power for the C Series modules. The cRIO-904x
has a primary power input, V1, and a secondary power input, V2.
The POWER LED on the cRIO-904x indicates which power input is in use, as shown in the
following table.
Table 1. POWER LED Indicators
LED Color LED Pattern Indication
Green Solid The cRIO-904x is powered from the V1 input.
Yellow Solid The cRIO-904x is powered from the V2 input.
— Off The cRIO-904x is off.
Notice Do not connect V1 or V2 to a DC mains supply or to any supply that
requires a connecting cable longer than 3 m (10 ft). A DC mains supply is a local
DC electricity supply network in the infrastructure of a site or building.
What to Use
• Ferrite (included in kit)
• Screwdriver, 2.54 mm (0.10 in.) flathead
• Primary power supply, 9 V to 30 V, 60 W minimum
• (Optional) Secondary power supply, 9 V to 30 V, 60 W minimum
NI recommends the power supplies listed in the following table for the cRIO-904x.
Table 2. NI Power Supplies
Power Supply Part Number
NI PS-15 Industrial Power Supply
(24 VDC, 5 A, 100 VAC to 120 VAC/200 VAC to 240 VAC input)
781093-01
NI PS-10 Desktop Power Supply
(24 VDC, 5 A, 100 VAC to 120 VAC/200 VAC to 240 VAC input)
782698-01
What to Do
Complete the following steps to connect a power supply to the cRIO-904x.
1. Ensure that your power supply is powered off.
2. Install the ferrite (National Instruments part number 711849-01, included in the shipping
kit) on the negative and positive leads of the power supply, as shown in the following
figure.
cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 7

Figure 3. Installing a Ferrite on the Power Leads
1
2
1. Pass the leads through the ferrite twice, leaving 50 mm to 75 mm (2 in. to 3 in.) between the ferrite and
the end of the leads.
2. Close the ferrite around the leads.
3. Remove the power connector from the cRIO-904x.
Notice Do not tighten or loosen the terminal screws on the power connector
while the cRIO-904x is powered on.
Figure 4. Power Screw Terminal Connector Plug
C
V2
C
V1
2
1
2
1. Terminal Screw
2. Connector Screw Flanges
4. Connect the primary power supply and optional secondary power supply to the power
connector, as shown in the following figure.
8| ni.com | cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide

Figure 5. cRIO-904xPower Connections
Power Connector
V2
C
C
V1
Primary Power Supply
+
–
–
+
Secondary Power Supply
FerriteFerrite
Note The C terminals are internally connected to each other.
5. Tighten the terminal screws on the power connector to 0.20 N · m to 0.25 N · m
(1.8 lb · in to 2.2 lb · in) of torque.
6. Install the power connector on the front panel of the cRIO-904x.
7. Tighten the power connector screw flanges to 0.20 N · m to 0.25 N · m
(1.8 lb · in to 2.2 lb · in) of torque.
8. Power on the primary power supply and optional secondary power supply.
When you power on the cRIO-904x for the first time, the device boots into safe mode.
The POWER LED illuminates, the STATUS LED illuminates briefly, and then the
STATUS LED blinks twice every few seconds.
Connecting the Controller to the Host Computer
Complete the following steps to connect the cRIO-904x to the host computer using the Dual
Role USB C Port.
1. Power on the host computer.
2. Connect the cRIO-904x to the host computer using the USB-to-Type-A cable (included in
kit), inserting the USB Type-C connector into the Dual Role USB Type-C port. Connect
the other end of the USB cable (Type-A) to the host computer.
The device driver software automatically detects the cRIO-904x. Select Configure and
install software to this device.
cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 9

If the device driver software does not detect the cRIO-904x, verify that you installed the
appropriate NI software in the correct order on the host computer as described in
Installing Software on the Host Computer.
Discovering the Controller in MAX
Complete the following steps to find the cRIO-904x controller in MAX.
1. Launch MAX on the host computer.
2. Expand Remote Systems in the configuration tree and locate your system.
3. Select your target.
Tip MAX lists the system under the model number followed by the serial
number, such as NI-cRIO-9048-01C0F8C4 by default.
10 | ni.com | cRIO-904x Getting Started Guide