MTS WIFT Mini Transducer Interface - Manual (Page 54)

SWIFT ® Mini TI 54
Transducer Interface Electronics Installation
Installation
Transducer Interface Electronics Installation
The Transducer Interface (TI) electronics should be securely fastened to the
vehicle. The TI box is designed to withstand the accelerations associated with the
body of a vehicle during rugged durability and typical data acquisition testing.
The TI box can be located anywhere on the vehicle that is convenient. However,
it should be protected from impact and securely attached to the vehicle to prevent
it from being dislodged during testing.
Considerations
Consider the following guidelines when you fasten the TI box(es) to the vehicle:
• Mount the TI box in a position on the vehicle that is protected from impact
and high acceleration events.
• Do not expose the TI box to rain, snow, or other wet conditions.
• Multiple TI boxes may be rigidly attached to each other using optional
mounting straps.
• Place a thin foam or rubber material between TI boxes and any hard
mounting surface.
• Use ratcheting straps to provide a tight connection that will not loosen or
untie during testing.
• Do not use rubber cords to secure the TI box because they may stretch and
lose retention in the cord due to inertial forces.
Procedure
1. Connect the data cables from the TI to the data recorder.
There is a single cable assembly, with a D-type connector for connection
from the J2 Output connector on the TI and seven BNC connectors to the
data recorder. The BNC connectors correspond to:
• the three forces,
• the three moments, and
• angle or angular velocity (user selectable).
Note Make sure that there is no tension or strain in the cables or at the cable
and connector junction. There should be some slack in the cables to
ensure that they are not pulled during testing.
2. Connect the TI to the power source (such as the vehicle battery).
The TI is grounded through the power connection to the battery negative
terminal. If needed, an additional ground can be attached to the TI chassis.
Note Some data acquisition systems may introduce electrical noise spikes to
the battery and cabling. The TI electronics should always be used with
the cleanest power supply possible. To reduce the likelihood of noise
spikes from the data recorder, we suggest running the power cables in
parallel, as shown in the following diagrams. If this does not remove the
noise spikes, separate batteries may be required.