NPI EXT-T2 User manual

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION FOR THE
8-CHANNEL EXTRACELLULAR
AMPLIFIER SYSTEM
FOR 2 TETRODES
VERSION 1.1
npi 2010
npi electronic GmbH, Hauptstrasse 96, D-71732 Tamm, Germany
Phone [phone]; Fax: [phone]
[email protected]; http://www.npielectronic.com

Tetrode Amplifier User Manual
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Table of Contents
1. Safety Regulations.............................................................................................................. 3
2. EXT-T2 Amplifier / Filter .................................................................................................. 4
2.1. System Description...................................................................................................... 4
2.2. Description of the Front Panel..................................................................................... 4
2.3. Description of the Rear Panel...................................................................................... 6
3. Headstage............................................................................................................................ 7
4. Technical Data.................................................................................................................... 7

Tetrode Amplifier User Manual
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1. Safety Regulations
VERY IMPORTANT:Instruments and components supplied by npi electronic are NOT
intended for clinical use or medical purposes (e.g. for diagnosis or treatment of humans),
or for any other life-supporting system. npi electronic disclaims any warranties for such
purpose. Equipment supplied by npi electronic must be operated only by selected,
trained and adequately instructed personnel. For details please consult the GENERAL
TERMS OF DELIVERY AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS of npi electronic, D-71732
Tamm, Germany.
1) GENERAL: This system is designed for use in scientific laboratories and must be
operated by trained staff only. General safety regulations for operating electrical devices
should be followed.
2) AC MAINS CONNECTION: While working with the npi systems, always adhere to the
appropriate safety measures for handling electronic devices. Before using any device
please read manuals and instructions carefully.
The device is to be operated only at 115/230 Volt 60/50 Hz AC. Please check for
appropriate line voltage before connecting any system to mains.
Always use a three-wire line cord and a mains power-plug with a protection contact
connected to ground (protective earth).
Before opening the cabinet, unplug the instrument.
Unplug the instrument when replacing the fuse or changing line voltage. Replace fuse
only with an appropriate specified type.
3) STATIC ELECTRICITY: Electronic equipment is sensitive to static discharges. Some
devices such as sensor inputs are equipped with very sensitive FET amplifiers, which can
be damaged by electrostatic charge and must therefore be handled with care. Electrostatic
discharge can be avoided by touching a grounded metal surface when changing or
adjusting sensors. Always turn power off when adding or removing modules,
connecting or disconnecting sensors, headstages or other components from the
instrument or 19” cabinet.
4) TEMPERATURE DRIFT / WARM-UP TIME: All analog electronic systems are
sensitive to temperature changes. Therefore, all electronic instruments containing analog
circuits should be used only in a warmed-up condition (i.e. after internal temperature has
reached steady-state values). In most cases a warm-up period of 20-30 minutes is
sufficient.
5) HANDLING: Please protect the device from moisture, heat, radiation and corrosive
chemicals.

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2. EXT-T2 Amplifier / Filter
2.1. System Description
The EXT-T2 module is an amplifier/filter with headstages for two tetrodes, A and B. The
signals recorded from every single tetrode attached to the headstage are amplified and filtered,
and linked to the BNC connectors OUTPUT 0 to OUTPUT 3 for every tetrode. Every
OUTPUT is available at two BNC connectors. The GROUND plug provides system ground.
Measurements are done is single-ended configuration against GND.
2.2. Description of the Front Panel
Figure 1: front panel view of EXT-T2
(1) HEADSTAGE connector
Connector for the HEADSTAGE of TETRODE A
(2) OUTPUT 0…OUTPUT 3 connectors
BNC connectors providing the amplified and filtered signals of tetrode A
(3) GROUND connector
Banana jack providing system ground
(4) POWER ON LED
LED indicating that POWER is switched ON
(5) HEADSTAGE connector
Connector for the HEADSTAGE of TETRODE B
(6) OUTPUT 0…OUTPUT 3 connectors
BNC connectors providing the amplified and filtered signals of tetrode A.
Every channel has a single PCB with amplifier and filters. Amplification factors (200, 500;
1000) and corner frequencies of high pass (0.1, 0.3, 1 Hz) and low pass (500, 2k, 8k Hz) filter
can be set internally at the PCB by DIL switches and a jumper (see also Table 1 and Table 2)
for each channel separately.

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Jumper S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 Setting
(Amplification / Filtering)
ON ON ON OFF ON OFF OFF DC, gain 200, LP 8 kHz
ON ON ON ON ON OFF OFF DC, gain 500, LP 8 kHz
ON ON ON ON OFF OFF OFF DC, gain 1000, LP 8 kHz
ON ON ON OFF ON ON OFF DC, gain 200, LP 2 kHz
ON ON ON ON ON ON OFF DC, gain 500, LP 2 kHz
ON ON ON ON OFF ON OFF DC, gain 1000, LP 2 kHz
ON ON ON OFF ON ON ON DC, gain 200, LP 500 Hz
ON ON ON ON ON ON ON DC, gain 500, LP 500 Hz
ON ON ON ON OFF OFF ON DC, gain 1000, LP 500 Hz
Table 1: DC recordings
Jumper S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 Setting
OFF ON ON OFF ON OFF OFF HP 0,1 Hz, gain 200, LP 8 kHz
OFF ON ON ON ON OFF OFF HP 0,1 Hz, gain 500, LP 8 kHz
OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF OFF HP 0,1 Hz, gain 1000, LP 8 kHz
OFF ON ON OFF ON ON OFF HP 0,1 Hz, gain 200, LP 2 kHz
OFF ON ON ON ON ON OFF HP 0,1 Hz, gain 500, LP 2 kHz
OFF ON ON ON OFF ON OFF HP 0,1 Hz, gain 1000, LP 2 kHz
OFF ON ON OFF ON ON ON HP 0,1 Hz, gain 200, LP 500 Hz
OFF ON ON ON ON ON ON HP 0,1 Hz, gain 500, LP 500 Hz
OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF ON HP 0,1 Hz, gain 1000, LP 500 Hz
OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF OFF HP 0,3 Hz, gain 200, LP 8 kHz
OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF HP 0,3 Hz, gain 500, LP 8 kHz
OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF HP 0,3 Hz, gain 1000, LP 8 kHz
OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON OFF HP 0,3 Hz, gain 200, LP 2 kHz
OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF HP 0,3 Hz, gain 500, LP 2 kHz
OFF OFF ON ON OFF ON OFF HP 0,3 Hz, gain 1000, LP 2 kHz
OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON ON HP 0,3 Hz, gain 200, LP 500 Hz
OFF OFF ON ON ON ON ON HP 0,3 Hz, gain 500, LP 500 Hz
OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF ON HP 0,3 Hz, gain 1000, LP 500 Hz
OFF ON ON OFF ON OFF OFF HP 1 Hz, gain 200, LP 8 kHz
OFF ON ON ON ON OFF OFF HP 1 Hz, gain 500, LP 8 kHz
OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF OFF HP 1 Hz, gain 1000, LP 8 kHz
OFF ON ON OFF ON ON OFF HP 1 Hz, gain 200, LP 2 kHz
OFF ON ON ON ON ON OFF HP 1 Hz, gain 500, LP 2 kHz
OFF ON ON ON OFF ON OFF HP 1 Hz, gain 1000, LP 2 kHz
OFF ON ON OFF ON ON ON HP 1 Hz, gain 200, LP 500 Hz
OFF ON ON ON ON ON ON HP 1 Hz, gain 500, LP 500 Hz
OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF ON HP 1 Hz, gain 1000, LP 500 Hz
Table 2: AC recordings

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Gain: amplification factor
HP: corner frequency high pass filter
LP: corner frequency low pass filter
Figure 2: PCB of one amplifier, location of DIL switch and jumper
2.3. Description of the Rear Panel
Figure 3: rear panel view of EXT-T2
(1) GROUND
This connector is linked to the internal system ground which has no connection to the 19"
cabinet (CHASSIS) to avoid ground loops
(2) CHASSIS
This connector is not linked to system ground and can be used for grounding the CHASSIS
independently from system ground
(3) IN / OUT SIGNALS TETRODE B
Not connected
(4) IN / OUT SIGNALS TETRODE A
Not connected
(5) POWER SUPPLY connector
Connector for the wall POWER SUPPLY (12V…18V AC, 1A min.)
(6) POWER ON switch
Switch to turn POWER ON (upper position).

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3. Headstage
Figure 4: one headstage of the EXT-T2
Headstage Elements
PEL Connector for the tetrode (see also Figure 5)
REF Not connected
GND Ground connector
1 Ground connector (GND)
2 Channel 1 connector (CH0)
3 Channel 3 connector (CH2)
4 Channel 4 connector (CH3)
5 Channel 2 connector (CH1)
Figure 5: tetrode connector
4. Technical Data
Input resistance: >1012 , range ±1 V
Output: gain (x200, x500, x1k), selectable by DIL switch
Output range: ±12 V into 1 k/ ±1 V into 50 load
Low pass filter: 500, 2k, 8k Hz, selectable by DIL switch
High pass filter: DC, 0.1, 0.3, 1, selectable by DIL switch
Power requirements: 12…18 V AC, 1 A min.; wall power supply
Dimensions: 19” rackmount cabinet, 19” (483 mm), 10” (250 mm), 1.75”
(44 mm)
Headstage Size: 70 x 26 x 26 mm
Holding Bar: length: 150 mm; diameter: 8 mm.