Testing Your SCXI-1200 System - National Instruments

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Testing Your SCXI-1200 System

Hardware: SCXI>>Modules>>SCXI-1200

Problem: How do I install, configure, and test my SCXI-1200?

Solution:

Requirements:

If you want to use the parallel port (LPT port) to control your SCXI system, then you must have SCXI-1200 as the first module in your chassis. The parallel port cable plugs directly from the back of SCXI-1200 to the LPT port of your computer.

Parallel Port Interface:

If you plan to connect the SCXI-1200 directly to the parallel port of your computer, read this section carefully. An IBM-compatible computer can support up to three parallel printer ports, which are designated LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3. Each port uses three consecutive I/O addresses. When you power up your system, the BIOS assigns the printer ports to the logical LPT designations in the following order - LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3.
The starting addresses of the parallel printer ports, in the order assigned to LPT designations, are 3BC, 378, and 278 hex. Therefore, if you have installed all three ports, 3BC hex is LPT1, 378 hex is LPT2, and 278 hex is LPT3. If you have not installed port 3BC hex, port 378 hex becomes LPT1 and port 278 hex becomes LPT2. If only one parallel port is present, it is LPT1. The SCXI-1200 can use the parallel port hardware interrupts for interrupt-driven data acquisition. Interrupt levels 7 and 5 are commonly used for parallel ports. Refer to your parallel port reference manual for details about interrupt selection. When you use the SCXI-1200, you must know which port and interrupt channel is being used. If you use the SCXI-1200 with NI-DAQ software, however, you select the port and interrupt at configuration time.

If you are using the SCXI-1200 with the SCXI-2000 chassis or the SCXI-2400 module with RS-232/RS-485 communications, you do not need to be concerned with parallel port addresses and interrupts.

Installation procedure:

We will discuss the installation of the following test setup:
- SCXI-1000 Chassis
- SCXI-1200 module multifunction DAQ I/O module with parallel port cable
- SCXI-1100 Analog Input Module with SCXI-1300 Terminal Block
Notes
- This installation procedure will work with other setup consisting of SCXI-1200 and other modules. But, there are jumpers and other hardware settings specific to certain modules which needs to be set correctly.
- Please refer to this link for cable assemblies, terminal blocks and other accessories specfic to your module.
- All manuals for the SCXI chassis and the modules can be downloaded by searching our Product Manual Library
Insert the SCXI-1200 module in the first slot (closest to power switch) of the chassis and add other modules in the subsequent slots. Make sure the chassis is powered off when you insert the modules.
Next, cable the module to the computer by connecting one of the 25-pin D SUB ends of the parallel port cable to the PC parallel port and the other end to the back of the SCXI-1200. Screw in the mounting screws on the connectors to establish a firm connection.
Power on the chassis
In Windows 95/98:
Go to Start » Control Panel » Add new hardware. Click the "next" button until you reach list of hardware. Select "SCXI-1200" under "Data Acquisition Devices" (If Data Acquisition Devices does not show up then it means that you have not installed NI-DAQ correctly)
For Windows NT:
Go to step 6 directly.
Launch Measurement & Automation Explorer by double-clicking the icon on the desktop.
Double-click on the "Devices and Interfaces."
In Windows 95/98, you should see SCXI-1200 (added in step 5) listed under "Devices and Interfaces." Right-click on SCXI-1200 and select "Properties." Jump to step 8.
In Windows NT, right-click anywhere in the empty space and select "Insert."You will see a list of devies as shown below:
In the next window, Click on "Modify." This will pop-up the following window:
From the pull down ring menu, select the parallel port ( For eg: LPT1). Click OK and "Next" in the following window.
Set the operating mode, polarity/range and the accessory used and click "Finish."
Now you will see SCXI-1200 listed under the "Devices and Interfaces."
Right-click on SCXI-1200 and select "Properties." You will see the follow window:
Click on "Test Resources" to test your SCXI-1200.
You should get a message "The device passed the test." If your device fails the resrouces test, you might get a message as shown below:

If SCXI-1200 fails the test, follow these troubleshooting steps
If your SCXI-1200 passes the test, go back to the "Devices and Interfaces" window and right-click anywhere in the empty space and select "Insert." From the list, select "SCXI-1000" to add the chassis.
The next window will show you the chassis ID and address. Accept the default and click "next."
Select "Autodetect" and click "next." You will be prompted to select the communications path as shown below:
Select SCXI-1200 and click "Next." You will see a list of modules that were detected. (Make sure that the chassis is turned on and the all the modules are plugged in)
Right-click on each module and select properties.
Set all the properties under the "General," "Channel," and "Accessory" tabs. You will asked to make settings like operating mode, gain and filter settings, terminal blocks etc. Make sure that the settings made here match the jumper settings (if any) on your module.

Set the properties of other modules in the same way.
After setting the properties of all the modules, return back to the main MAX window by clicking
Now your configuration is complete. Your should see a completed list of devices and modules as shown below:
Right-click on SCXI-1000 chassis from the "Devices and Interfaces" list and select "Test."
You should get a message that "The chassis is verified" as shown below:

If your chassis fails to verify, follow these troubleshooting steps
If your chassis is verified, right-click on SCXI-1200 and select "Test Panels."
In order to measure the SCXI channels type a string with a format shown below under "Channel":

General format of the string: OBz!SCx!MDy!a

This will measure Channel a (a:b for scanning multiple channels) on the module in slot y of the chassis with ID x which is multiplexed into onboard channel z.