The USB-TEMP Series includes the following hardware:
The USB-TC Series includes the following hardware:
The USB-TEMP Series and the USB-TC Series support the following features.
Functions
UL: cbTIn(), cbTInScan()
Python for Windows: t_in(), t_in_scan()
Options
N/A
Scale
CELSIUS, FAHRENHEIT, KELVIN, NOSCALE*
*Refer to NOSCALE in the Hardware considerations section below for more information on this option.
HighChan
USB-TEMP and USB-TC: 0 to 7
USB-TEMP-AI and USB-TC-AI: 0 to 3
Functions
UL: cbVIn()
UL for .NET: VIn()
Python for Windows: v_in()
Options
N/A
HighChan
0 to 3
Range
This board uses the Range set in InstaCal, so the Range argument to this function is ignored.
Configuration
UL: cbDConfigBit(), cbDConfigPort()
UL for .NET: DConfigBit(), DConfigPort()
Python for Windows: d_config_bit(), d_config_port()
PortNum
AUXPORT
PortType
AUXPORT
Port I/O
Python for Windows: d_in(), d_out()
PortNum
AUXPORT
DataValue
0 to 255 for AUXPORT
Bit I/O
UL: cbDBitIn(), cbDBitOut()
UL for .NET: DBitIn(), DBitOut()
Python for Windows: d_bit_in(), d_bit_out()
PortType
AUXPORT
BitNum
0 to 7 on AUXPORT
Functions
UL: cbCClear(), cbCIn(), cbCIn32(), cbCLoad(), cbCLoad32()**
UL for .NET: CClear(), CIn(), CIn32(), CLoad(), CLoad32()**
Python for Windows: c_clear(), c_in()*, c_in_32(), c_load()**, c_load_32()**
*Although cbCIn()/CIn()/c_in() are valid for use with this counter, cbCIn32()/CIn32()/c_in_32() may be more appropriate, since the values returned may be greater than the data types used by cbCIn(), CIn(), and c_in() can handle.
**cbCLoad()/cbCLoad32(), CLoad()/CLoad32(), and c_load()/c_load32() only accept Count=0. These functions are used to reset the counter.
CounterNum
1
Count
232–1 when reading the counter.
0 when loading the counter.
cbCLoad() and cbCLoad32() / CLoad() and CLoad32()are only used to reset the counter for this board to 0. No other values are valid.
The Basic signed integers guidelines in the Digital Input/Hardware topic apply when using cbCIn() or CIn() for values greater than 32,767 and when using cbCIn32() or CIn32() for values greater than 2,147,483,647.
RegNum
1
Functions
UL: cbFlashLED()
UL for .NET: FlashLED()
Python for Windows: flash_led()
Causes the LED on a USB device to blink. When you have several devices connected to the computer, use this function/method to identify a particular device.
Factory serial number
Listed as Factory Serial No. (read only)
Identifier
Identifier text box
Thermocouple type
Chan 0: through Chan 7: drop-down combo box
Input mode (USB-TC-AI only)
Mode drop-down combo box for single-ended or differential for each channel.
Note: The above settings are stored on the USB-TC-AI device.
Range (USB-TC-AI only)
Range drop-down combo box for each channel.
Hardware version
Listed as Firmware Version (read only)
Factory serial number
ConfigItem = BIDEVSERIALNUM
UL for .NET: GetDeviceSerialNum()
Python for Windows: get_config_string()
config_item = DEVSERIALNUM
Identifier
UL: cbGetConfig()
ConfigItem = BIUSERDEVIDNUM
UL for .Net: GetUserDeviceIdNum()
Python for Windows: get_config()
config_item = USERDEVIDNUM
Python for Windows: get_config()
config_item = USERDEVIDNUM
Thermocouple type
UL: cbGetConfig(), cbSetConfig()
ConfigItem = BICHANTCTYPE
ConfigVal = TC_TYPE_J, TC_TYPE_K, TC_TYPE_R, TC_TYPE_S, TC_TYPE_B, TC_TYPE_E, TC_TYPE_T, TC_TYPE_N
UL for .NET: GetChanTcType(), SetChanTcType()
Python for Windows: get_config(), set_config()
config_item = CHANTCTYPE
config_val = TcType enum
Input mode (USB-TC-AI only)
UL: cbAChanInputMode(), cbAInputMode(),
UL for .NET: AChanInputMode(), AInputMode()
Note: The above settings are stored on the USB-TC-AI device.
Python for Windows: a_input_mode
Range (USB-TC-AI only)
UL: cbGetConfig(), cbSetConfig()
ConfigItem = BIRANGE
DevNum = Channel number
ConfigVal = Range value
UL for .NET: GetRange(), SetRange()
Python for Windows: get_config(), set_config()
config_item = RANGE
dev_num = channel number
config_val = Range
Hardware version
ConfigItem = BIDEVVERSION
DevNum = VER_FW_MAIN
UL for .NET: GetDeviceVersion()
Type = VersionType.FW_MAIN
Python for Windows: get_config_string()
config_item = DEVVERSION
dev_num = MAIN
Since USB-TEMP Series and USB-TC Series are high resolution devices, use WinBufAlloc32Ex() to allocate the buffer, and WinBufToArray32() to retrieve data from the buffer.
The internal update rate for measurements is a fixed value for these devices. If the UL reads the device faster than the internal update rate, readings "repeat." For example, if using cbTIn()/TIn() in a loop to measure a rapidly changing temperature, readings do not change for several iterations of the loop, then "jump" when the update occurs internally
When using single sensors for RTD or thermistor sensors, you should ignore the data for channels that do not have sensors attached. It is best to use cbTIn()/TIn() for these configurations, since you can select which channels to read. If you use cbTInScan()/TInScan(), however, data for all channels over the entire range of channels are returned. Since some channels are not populated in this configuration, you should filter out the data for channels without sensors.
Specify the NOSCALE option to retrieve raw data in volts or resistance from the device. When NOSCALE is specified, calibrated data is returned, although a cold junction compensation (CJC) correction factor is not applied to the returned values.
InstaCal allows you to save configuration settings to a file or load a configuration from a previously saved file.
Allow the device to warm-up for 30 minutes before taking measurements. This warm-up time minimizes thermal drift and achieves the specified rated accuracy of measurements.
For RTD or thermistor measurements, this warm-up time is also required to stabilize the internal current reference.
Any time the sensor category is changed in the configuration, a calibration is automatically performed by InstaCal. If the device has not been warmed up when this occurs, you should re-calibrate after the specified warm-up time.