Learn about specifications for the pulser and RM-16061. For complete NI specifications, visit ni.com/docs and search by model number.

Pulser specification information is located in the ETX-16201/16202/16203/16209 User Manual and ETX-16201/16202/16203/16209 Specifications.

The pulser generates a trapezoidal pulse.

  • The pulser bias supply is an isolated supply that connects to outputs A0 (V+) and A1 (V-) on J11. Bias supply current and voltage are available only between these two pins.
  • The pulse is a low voltage, ground referenced signal with a maximum potential of 20 V. If one of the bias outputs is in the pulse path, the bias supply becomes ground referenced during the pulse. It is critical that the pulser is the only connection to ground reference the DUT.
  • The bias supply can power the DUT while taking measurements with the pulser. Do not pulse across the bias supply. Pulses are intended to be across other signal paths in the DUT. To protect the bias supply, the pulser does not allow pulses across A0 and A1. You can configure a pulse between A0 or A1 and another PULSER CURRENT OUTPUT on J11 or J12 while the bias supply is active.
Figure 18. Pulse Waveform

This image shows a graph of the pulse waveform with time on the x-axis and current on the y-axis.

Table 22. Pulser Output
Maximum pulse current 1200 A

Maximum pulse current is the maximum supported value for the setpoint.
Maximum bias voltage 230 V
Maximum bias current 3 A
Maximum slew rate 1 A/µs
Minimum rise time 1 µs/A × Setpoint
Minimum fall time 1 µs/A × Setpoint
Maximum pulse duration 10 ms
Table 23. Pulse Path Wiring
Rating 300 V, minimum
Minimum insulator temperature rating 90 °C
Material Copper
Size 35 mm2 (2 AWG)

Pulser Waveform Examples

  • Minimum Rise Time—A setpoint of 1000 A and maximum slew rate of 1 A/µs yields minimum rise time of 1000 A ÷ 1 A/µs = 1 ms.
  • Required Slew Rate—A setpoint of 500 A with a desired 1 ms fall time requires a slew rate of 0.5 A/µs. This is possible because 0.5 A/µs is lower than the maximum supported slew rate of 1 A/µs.
  • Pulse Duration—For a pulse with rise time of 1 ms, dwell time of 5 ms, and fall time of 2 ms, the pulse duration is 1 ms + 5 ms + 2 ms = 8 ms. This is possible because 8 ms is shorter than the maximum supported pulse duration of 10 ms.

    • Pulse Current Multiplexer Specifications

    The RM-16061 functions as a pulse current multiplexer in the ETX-1620x. Pulse current multiplexer specification information is located in the ETX-16201/16202/16203/16209 User Manual and ETX-16201/16202/16203/16209 Specifications.

    Table 24. RM-16061 Input
    Power 24 VDC, 3 A
    Charge 20 VDC, 10 A
    Bias 230 VDC, 3 A
    Pulse/load bus bar ratings 20 VDC, 1200 A
    Table 25. Replacement I/O Connectors
    Connector Name Vendor Part Number
    Bias Phoenix Contact 1777808
    Charge Weidmuller 2459570000
    Power Phoenix Contact 1703350
    Table 26. RM-16061 Ground Terminal
    Ground screw M4 × 0.7
    Maximum torque 1.92 N · m (17.0 lb · in.)

    RM-16061 Fuse

    The RM-16061 has a user serviceable time-delay fuse.

    Table 27. RM-16061 Fuse
    Current rating 12 A
    Voltage rating 20 VDC minimum
    Size and dimensions 5.2 mm × 20 mm
    Type Time-delay
    Interrupt rating 300 A
    Recommended replacement Eaton BK1-S505H(-V)-12-R

    Calculating the Pulse Multiplexer Lifetime

    RM-16061 is a wear part because it relies on contactors with set lifetimes to multiplex the pulse to various positions. The contractors within the ETX-1620x are conservatively rated to 1 million cycles per contractor.

    Optimize your test plan by reducing the total number of switch cycles within the RM-16061. You can calculate the switch count based on the assumption that with the test sequence optimization, each contractor does not switch more than twice per DUT.

    The following is a sample calculation of the RM-16061 lifetime.

    Pulse Multiplexer Lifetime Calculation Example

    • Contactor lifetime = 1 million cycles
    • DUT throughput = 1 unit every 90 seconds
    • Line uptime = 90%

    525,600 minutes per year × 90% line uptime = 473,040 working minutes per year

    473, 040 working minutes ÷ 1.5 minutes per DUT = 315,360 DUTs per year

    315,360 DUTs per year × 2 switches per DUT = 630,720 switches per year

    1 million switches ÷ 630,720 switches per year = 1.58 years lifetime for RM-16061