USB-TEMP and TC Series

Unfortunately, that is not possible. The USB-TC operates when it is connected to a PC via the PC’s USB port. It can only be accessed by the PC it is connected to. Assuming you are familiar with ODBC or similar database experience, you could create a client server scenario. However, that is beyond the scope of Measurement Computing support. As stated, this is not supported, but we do have a 6 part knowledgebase article explaining how to send collected scalar data from an MCC device to a MS Access database using VB.NET and retrieving that data via VB.NET, LabVIEW or DASYLab. Though it is written for a USB-2408, it can be adapted to work with a USB-TC. Part 1: https://kb.mccdaq.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50617.aspx Part 2: https://kb.mccdaq.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50618.aspx Part 3: https://kb.mccdaq.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50619.aspx Part 4: https://kb.mccdaq.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50620.aspx Part 5 & 6: https://kb.mccdaq.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50621.aspx

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You could consider leaving the internal circuit (47K pull-ups) as-is, and selecting fairly low resistor values for your external voltage divider. In any case, take care not to apply greater than 5.5V to any DIO pin, as that will damage the DAQ device (consider diode protection). Field modifications, if done improperly, would void the warranty. All 8 of the pull-up resistors are in one surface mount resistor network, which may be challenging to remove. There is a 0-ohm surface mount resistor which would be easier to remove. (removing only it would disconnect the 5V, but leave each DIO bit connected to each other DIO bit thru their 47K resistors).

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The only configuration required is to set the direction of desired bits to output (since they default to input), but this is done for you in the ULx for LabVIEW driver. First, with LabVIEW closed all the way, use InstaCal’s digital output test to confirm that all 8 output bits function properly. Be sure to tighten down the screw terminals, since the tops of the screws do not make electrical contact with the internal circuitry until they are screwed down. Once the hardware and connections are proven OK in InstaCal, close InstaCal and open the following LabVIEW example, which should run OK without changes: ULx Write Dig Chan.vi

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MCC’s DAQ devices utilizes our own drivers, not NI-MAX. Be sure to install and run InstaCal to have the DAQ device recognized and configured. If developing a LabVIEW application, be sure to install our ULx driver. Both InstaCal and ULx can be found on the MCCDAQ CD/download.

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Hello eeman - Channels 0-7 are the 8 temperature (thermocouple) channels. Channels 8 & 9 are allow you to read the two CJC sensors on the board. Most applications do not require the reading of the CJC sensors, since their value is already taken into account for the thermocouple readings.

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Hello - One possible cause is that it is not a correct procedure to click on an arrow button at either end of the channels to activate them. Instead you double click on a plug, left mouse button to activate, right mouse button to de-activate. Otherwise, the likely cause is that InstaCal is too new for the version of DASYLab (and DASYLab MCC driver) that you have. For DASYLab 11, you should uninstall version 6.34 and try with a version such as 6.10.

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Hello Jaime - If you see error 145 in the TracerDAQ log file, but none of your temperature readings in the log file are way out of line, it means that you’ve skipped one or more channels on your USB-TC. i.e. The set of channels you have decided to measure are not numerically consecutive on the hardware unit. For the USB-TC, TracerDAQ samples a consecutive range of channels. You can add a shorting wire to the unused channel(s), or re-wire your thermocouples so as to not skip a channel.

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Hello johnfromlouisville, Thank you for your inquiry. Although calibration is not a requirement Measurement Computing does recommend that you calibrate your DAQ devices. We generally recommend a 1 year calibration cycle. I have included a link to a Knowledgebase article for your convenience that covers this subject. http://kb.mccdaq.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50222.aspx?Keywords=calibration

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Hello - MCC offers an optional calibration certificate, stating that the unit meets MCC’s published specs. It is available for order at the time a new unit is ordered, or you can return a unit via RMA for re-calibration and request the certificate. MCC does not offer a calibration report … i.e. we cannot provide before/after data. We do not have ISO 17025.

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Hello - Yes, MCC supports LabVIEW 2013 beginning with ULx 2.03 (both 32-bit and 64-bit LabVIEW are supported). You can download the latest free MCC DAQ CD from our website which will get you the latest InstaCal, along with the latest version of ULx (currently 2.04). The download may be found at: http://www.mccdaq.com/software.aspx

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Hello - The USB-TC hardware has 8 digital I/O bits. The TracerDAQ menu driven software does not support controlling digital outputs, so presumably you are using the Universal Library. You would first set the direction of the bit to output using DConfigBit, and then you can write out a 0 or 1 data value using DBitOut.

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If I understand correctly you are currently using all 8 inputs on one USB-TC and you want to add more inputs, right? If that is the case then adding another USB-TC is very simple. Prior to reading any data you will need to run Instacal so the computer and software can recognize that the boards are attached and assign them a unique ID. You can connect as many boards as you want at once. Although, if taken to an extreme you may not be able to get the sampling rates you want with too many boards running at once. Once the boards are setup in Intacal you can run the TracerDAQ strip chart (or other application). You will just need to make sure that all the channels get mapped correctly from the right board to the right channel name ("DAQ Hardware Settings" in the "Edit" menu in TracerDAQ). You can even attach other types of DAQ boards and collect data from all of them at the same time. I personally have had a USB-TC and 2 USB-1408FS boards all running at the same time. One thing to be aware of though, you will be limited on your sampling rate by the slowest board attached. The USB-TC has a maximum sampling rate of 2 Hz. That is the slowest limit I have found of any of the MCC boards we have.

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You simply plug in the two USB-TC devices and ensure that the InstaCal picks them up. When you open a new Strip Chart in TracerDaq you must choose to create a new profile. Go to Channel Settings and select 16 channels. Next go to Hardware Settings and specify which USB-TC device is designated for each of the 16 channels you will be recording. Set your sampling frequency and logging time and press the record button.

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Thank you for your inquiry. I am making an assumption that you are using the USB-TC with TracerDAQ. If so, then all you will need to do is to upgrade from TracerDAQ to TracerDAQ PRO. When purchasing the additional USB-TC, add the upgrade to TracerDAQ PRO for only $199.00. TracerDAQ PRO will increase your channel count from 8 to 48 as well as add some powerful triggering options and increase your file size from 32K to 1 million samples per channel per file. You can review the details for TracerDAQ PRO at: http://www.mccdaq.com/daq-software/tracerdaq-pro.aspx

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No. The temperature units can only be used to for thermocouples.

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Yes, but they may shifted up due to the thermocouple amplifiers' set point. Test the voltage with both the thermocouple input and analog and see the difference. Export the the data to excel and shift the levels back in line.

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The TracerDAQ application program, when used with the USB-TC, will only read back in degrees. If you write your own program using the Universal Library, then there is a way you can read raw voltage (the input range is fixed at a rather narrow +/- 80 mV, which is quite suitable to thermocouples). If your voltage range is higher than +/- 80 mV, or if you wish to use TracerDAQ, you should consider the USB-2408 model, which was specifically designed to measure a mix of voltages and thermocouples.

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Each pair of channels on a USB-TEMP and USB-TC shares an A/D converter (i.e. channels 2 & 3 share an A/D converter). Under normal operation, the two channels should not affect each other as long as they are kept within +/- 1./4 volts of each other. Perhaps channel 3 has been damaged (via ESD or overvoltage), and channel 2 works only intermittently (works only when channel 3 is shorted or has a thermocouple connected). Check to see if channel 3’s sensor has been carrying energy (touching a conductive object). You should contact MCC tech support or your local distributor with your findings.

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The USB-TEMP is not compatible with PT1000 RTDs. For PT1000 RTD compatibility, Measurement Computing recommends our High-Precision Mixed Sensor DT9829-8 USB Device. https://www.mccdaq.com/productsearch.aspx?q=DT9829-8

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Hello, For each program run/executed, the Universal Library is loaded in a new thread and each time a reset command is set to all devices. So when you run the USB-TEMP’s program, it is initialized and operates. When you start the USB-3114 program it not only resets the USB-3114 but also the USB-TEMP in a different thread. So it is best to use one program to operate both devices.

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Yes, unplug the device from the computer. Using proper grounding techniques, remove the thermocouples or other temperature sensor and replace each one with a short piece of bus wire (not TC wire). For example, I like to use pieces of paper clips. Reconnect the USB-TEMP to the computer, run the InstaCal software, if not already done so, reconfigure the inputs to type T or K thermocouple and click OK. You should be back to the main window of InstaCal. Right click on the USB-TEMP to bring up the pop-up menu, select Test >> Analog. Turn on the channels you want to test, select degrees C, F or no scale (for voltage), and click on Test. Note, if you select a channel that does not have a jumper or sensor, the test will pop up a window telling you that particular channel has an open connection. You will also be able to see the CJC sensor temperatures data as well. If all is working correctly, all channels will display the ambient temperature. There are tests for the digital IO as well, back at the main InstaCal window, again right click on the USB-TEMP, select Test >> Digital and follow the on screen directions.

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The help file, named ULHELP.CHM, is located elsewhere on the PC: C:\Program Files\Measurement Computing\DAQ.For thermocouple input, look at example ULTI01. For digital output, look at ULDO04 (which demonstrates writing a digital output value to an Auxport).

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Hello Jim - All questions regarding the exporting of Measurement Computing products (e.g. HS Codes, ECCNs, Country of Origin) may be directed to our Trade Compliance Department. Phone: 1 512-683-6060 Email: trade.compliance@mccdaq.com

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Yes, the use of multiple USB-TCs or USB-TEMPs on one PC is done all the time. However, you will need to upgrade TracerDAQ to our “PRO” version (TracerDAQ is limited to only 8 channels) TracerDAQ PRO supports up to 48 channels, increases your file size from 32 thousand to 1 million samples and also implements triggering options that can come in handy. The cost for this software upgrade is $199.00. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss this further. Information on TracerDAQ PRO may be found at: http://www.mccdaq.com/daq-software/tracerdaq-pro.aspx

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Thank you for your inquiry. The software, TracerDAQ that accompanies our USB-TEMP is capable of saving data to a .CSV file out to 5 decimal places. As for displaying, the version that ships with our hardware only supports a strip chart therefore displaying out to a 10th of a degree is really not relevant. However, if you were to purchase the TracerDAQ PRO upgrade for $199.00 you could select and add a “Measurement Table” that displays statistical data out to 2 decimal places (10th of a degree).

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Yes. I use one of these to measure resistances. I'm using Labview. With the DAQ configured to read a thermistor, if you set the units to "raw" in the Create Channel VI you get resistance in ohms. I use it to measure things other than thermistors. The resistance range is not as large as one would get with an instrument designed as an ohmmeter, but it works fine for "normal" resistances. Note that if the channel is configured to read something other than a thermistor, the "raw" setting might return something other than resistance (voltage, etc., depending on the sensor type.)

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The USB-TEMP, when used in thermocouple mode, measures millivoltage. When used in thermistor or RTD mode, it measures resistance. While not marketed as an ohm meter, in some narrow applications, it could be used. Note that the resistance range it can measure is rather limited (see published specs for ranges; contact factory technical support for accuracy specs) and note that the resistor being measured must be unpowered. Also note that the TracerDAQ software cannot return these raw/no-scale units, but you can if you write your own program with the Universal Library, or ULx for LabVIEW.

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If you use the FILTER option then a smoothing function is applied to the temperature readings, very much like the electrical smoothing inherent in all hand held temperature sensor instruments. This is the default. When selected, 10 samples are read from the specified channel and averaged. The average is the reading returned. Averaging removes normally distributed signal line noise. If you use the NOFILTER option then the readings will not be smoothed and you will see a scattering of readings around a mean.

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Yes, the USB-TC-AI does include a hi-resolution Integrated cold junction compensation (CJC) sensor.

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I have used a Viasala HMP 60 Digital Humidity and Temp Probe with this device and the usual way I would hook up is only one digital output wire per channel and the common ground wire goes to a ground screw. I am not quite sure about your device, but my device had 5 wires.

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Looking at the USB-TC-AI’s electrical specs for its digital I/O channels, note that they are CMOS. For output, they can only drive 2.5 mA, with a logic high being as low as 3.8V, and an output low being as high as 0.7V. You’ll need to review the specs of the device you wish to control, to see if there is compatibility. Generally you will need to run both the high and low wire, since the digital I/O bits on the USB-TC-AI may not have a ground reference, since the unit is isolated 500V from the PC’s ground.

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