Self-Test and Self-Calibrate

Use the Self-Calibrate VI to perform self-calibration on a device. Self-calibration adjusts the calibration constants with respect to an onboard reference stored on the device. The new calibration constants are defined with respect to the calibration constants created during an external calibration to ensure that the measurements are traceable to these external standards. The new calibration constants do not affect the constants created during an external calibration because they are stored in a different area of the device memory. You can perform a self-calibration at any time to adjust the device for use in environments other than those in which the device was externally calibrated.

Notes External calibration must be performed by a metrology laboratory or another facility that maintains traceable calibration standards. For more information, visit ni.com/calibration. Disconnect or disable any AC input signals before starting self-calibration. AC or varying signals can cause self-calibration to fail or compromise the accuracy of the calibration. Some device types (for example, SCXI modules) do not support self-calibration. Refer to the NI-DAQmx documentation to determine which devices can be self-calibrated.

Tip  The analog output channels on E Series devices fluctuate during self-calibration, so you might need to disconnect the AO channels before self-calibration.

Use the Self-Test VI to verify that system devices are able to perform basic I/O functions. No other tasks should run on the system while executing the self test because the driver may need exclusive access to some device resources. You do not need to disconnect devices from external equipment because the state of I/O lines are maintained throughout the test.

You can find these VIs on the Hardware Management subpalette.