Installing and Configuring NI USB DAQ Devices

Note that using the thread-forming screws permanently affixes the DIN-rail clip to the device. Unscrewing and reinstalling the thread-forming screws produces a compromised connection between the DIN-rail clip and the device.

To mount a USB-621x to a board or panel, complete the following steps:

1. Remove the USB cable from the connector on the USB-621x.
2. Screw a No. 8 or M4 screw into the bottom point on the panel.
3. Set the USB-621x on the screw by fitting it into the bottom screw notch on the underside of the USB-621x.
4. Screw a No. 8 or M4 screw through the USB-621x top screw hole into the panel.

Figure 6. Mounting the USB-621x on a Panel

Complete the following steps to finish setting up your USB DAQ hardware:

1. Plug the USB cable into a USB port on your PC. The computer should immediately detect your device. When the computer recognizes a USB device, the LED on the device blinks or lights up.
2. Allow the device to warm up for the time period recommended in the device specifications (typically 15 minutes) before you continue configuring the software for your device.

Each USB C Series DAQ device is a combination of an NI USB-9162 USB carrier and an NI C Series measurement I/O module. The USB-9162 provides USB connectivity back to a host PC. C Series modules combine A/D converters, signal conditioning, and signal connectivity in one package for measuring or generating one or more specific types of signal.

Figure 7. NI USB C Series Components

Threaded inserts are located in the USB-9162 for mounting it to a panel. Mount the USB-9162 before inserting the C Series. Refer to Figure 8 for mounting dimensions.

Figure 8. NI USB C Series Device Dimensions

The USB-9162 carrier and C Series module are packaged separately. Complete the following steps to set up your USB C Series DAQ hardware.

1. Make sure that no signals are connected to the C Series module and the USB cable is not attached to the USB-9162.
2. Remove the protective cover from the 15-pin D-Sub connector.
3. Align the I/O module with the carrier, as shown in Figure 7.
4. Squeeze the latches and insert the C Series module into the USB-9162 carrier.
5. Press firmly on the connector side of the C Series module until the latches lock the module into place.
6. Plug the USB cable into a USB port on your PC. The computer should immediately detect your device. When the computer recognizes a USB device, the LED on the device blinks.
7. Allow the device to warm up for the time period recommended in the device specifications (typically 15 minutes) before you continue configuring the software for your device.

Externally powered USB DAQ devices provide the same features and functionality as PCI and PCI Express/PXI and PXI Express DAQ boards. Each device features up to 80 analog input (AI) channels, up to four analog output (AO) channels, up to 48 lines of digital input/output (DIO), and two counters. Each device offers BNC, screw terminal, or mass termination I/O connectivity options. This line of products includes the USB-622x, USB-625x, USB-628x, and USB-63xx multifunction DAQ devices.

Figure 9. Externally Powered USB Multifunction DAQ Devices

USB-622x/625x/628x DAQ devices with screw terminals include signal labels that can be adhered to the inside cover of the device with the supplied Velcro strips as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10. Applying the USB-62xx Screw Terminal Signal Label

Use the supplied strain relief hardware to provide strain relief for your USB cable. Adhere the cable tie mount to the rear panel of a USB-62xx screw terminal or USB-62xx mass termination device. Use the built-in strain relief holes for BNC devices. Thread a zip tie through the cable tie mount and tighten around the USB cable. The strain relief holes can also be used as cable management for signal wires to/from the screw terminals and BNC connectors.

Figure 11. USB Cable Strain Relief on USB-622x/5x/8x Devices

You can mount USB DAQ devices on a desktop, 35 mm DIN rail, or panel/wall.

The externally powered USB M Series panel mounting kit (part number 780214-01, not included in your USB-62xx kit) is an accessory you can use to mount USB-622x/625x/628x devices to a panel or wall. Complete the following steps to install the panel mounting kit on your USB-62xx device.

1. Remove the rubber feet from the bottom of the USB-62xx device.
2. Fasten the wall mounts to the USB-62xx device using a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver and four M4 X 10 panhead screws, included in the panel mounting kit. Verify that the narrow ends of the panel mounting screw keyholes are pointing up. Tighten the screws to a torque of 1.29 N • m (11.5 lb • in.). Figure 12 shows a wall mount being attached to a USB-62xx device.
3. Use four M4 or No. 8 screws to attach the wall mounts to the panel. Tighten the screws, leaving room to easily remove the device from the panel.

Figure 12. USB-62xx Devices (1), Wall Mount (2), M4 X 10 Panhead Screw (3), and Panel Mounting Screw Keyhole (4)

Complete the following steps to finish setting up your USB-622x/625x/628x hardware:

1. Maintain EMC-compliance by ensuring the chassis of the USB M Series device is connected to earth ground through the chassis ground. See the KnowledgeBase document, Earth Grounding for Test and Measurement Devices , for more information.
2. Ensure the wire is AWG 16 or larger solid copper wire with a maximum length of 1.5 m (5 ft). Attach the wire to the earth ground of the facility’s power system.
3. Attach a wire to the ground lug screw of any USB-62xx device, as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13. Grounding a USB-62xx Device through the Ground Lug Screw

4. Connect the power supply or power cord to an electrical outlet and your device. If you have a USB device with a power switch, power on the device.
5. Allow the device to warm up for the time period recommended in the device specifications (15 minutes for USB-622x/625x devices, 30 minutes for USB-628x devices) before you continue configuring the software for your device.

Complete the following steps to configure your NI-DAQmx software for use with NI USB DAQ hardware:

1. Plug the USB cable into a USB port on your PC if you have not already done so.
2. Install the software automatically as recommended for each device if the Found New Hardware Wizard opens.
3. Ensure that the NI Device Monitor is running. After Windows detects newly installed NI USB devices, it should run automatically. If it does not run, unplug your device, restart NI Device Monitor by selecting Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI Device Monitor, and plug in your device. The NI Device Monitor prompts you to select from a list of options. These options may vary, depending on the devices and software installed on your system.

Figure 14. NI Device Monitor

4. Click Configure and Test This Device to open NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).
5. Expand Devices and Interfaces.
6. Check that your NI USB DAQ device appears under Devices and Interfaces. If your device does not appear, press <F5> to refresh the view in MAX.

Figure 15. NI Measurement & Automation Explorer

7. Right-click the device name and select Self-Test. When the self-test finishes, a message indicates successful verification or if an error occurred.

Figure 16. Self-Test

8. Initialize self-calibration. For USB-62xx and USB-63xx devices, right-click the device name and select Self-Calibrate from the drop-down menu. This function measures the onboard reference voltage of the device and adjusts the self-calibration constants to account for any errors caused by short-term fluctuations in the environment. Disconnect all external signals when you self-calibrate a device.
9. Click Next to begin the calibration. You may have to wait a few minutes.

Figure 17. Self-Calibrate

10. Click Finish.