Microlink - Model 751-TC -USB Thermocouple Measurement System

• Monitor themocouples, or voltage signals, through 16 differential input channels
• Switch up to 32 digital outputs
• Monitor up to 32 digital inputs
• Count events with up to 8 counters
• Options to also monitor strain, pressure and current
• Includes the powerful yet easy-to-use Windmill Software for Windows: no programming required
• Connect up to 8 USB units to one PC, giving 128 themocouple or voltage inputs and 256 digital inputs and outputs
• Built-in linearisation for B-, E-, J-, K-, N-, R-, S- and T-type thermocouples
• Choice of four analogue input ranges, selected with Windmill software individually for each channel
• Alternatively, choose automatic ranging and let the software match the input signal as closely as possible
• Integrating analogue-to-digital converter reduces electrical noise
• Use Windmill to select the resolution of the A-D converter (from 12- to 18-bits): choose high throughput or high resolution
• Automatic recalibration
• Powered from the PC
• Low power consumption
• Connects over USB
• Comprehensive User Manual
• Free technical support for life
• Money-back guarantee

When monitoring thermocouples it is essential that the system knows the temperature of one of the thermocouple junctions. Housing this junction in the isothermal box keeps the temperature constant, and a cold junction sensor in the box tells the system the temperature. You connect the thermocouple wires to screw terminals in the isothermal box, and connect the terminals to the USB unit with a ribbon cable. The isothermal box will also detect broken thermocouple leads for you. If you need more information on monitoring thermocouples, we have a tutorial on computerised themocouple measurement on our Data Acquisition Intelligence site, or contact our Technical Support Team.

Digital Inputs and Outputs

The 751-TC provides 32 digital I/O lines, arranged in four groups of 8. Use Windmill to choose whether each group is an input or an output. You can read or set the state of each line individually. Alternatively, you can switch several channels at the same time. Digital outputs allow you, for example, to switch on warning lights or buzzers should results cross alarm thresholds.

Counters

The USB unit has eight 16-bit totalling counters. Each counter starts at zero and counts pulses to a maximum of 65535. You can reset a counter at any time from Windmill software. You can use the counters in two modes: accumulating count and resetting count. In accumulating count the counter keeps counting until you reset it. In resetting count the counter shows the number of pulses since the last reading.

You can set a scale and offset factor to the count from software. For example if the pulses came from a flow meter which produced one pulse for every 50 millilitres, a scale factor of 0.05 would give a reading in litres.

The counters are found on 8 of the digital input and output lines. You can use any of these you don`t need for counting as normal digital inputs: the counts are always maintained even if you don`t plan to use them.

Software

Windmill Software is included in the 751-TC package. This modular suite offers data logging, charting, alarm indication, output control and real-time links to other applications like Excel. You can also add process mimic generators, sequence control and many other modules. Should you wish to program the hardware yourself, you can use the IML Tools to do so.