Unpacking the pci-das1200, Installing the software, Installing the hardware – Measurement Computing PCI-DAS1200 User Manual
Page 11: Configuring the hardware
PCI-DAS1200 User's Guide
Installing the PCI-DAS1200
10
Unpacking the PCI-DAS1200
As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the PCI-DAS1200 from its packaging, ground yourself using a wrist strap or by
simply touching the computer chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static charge.
If any components are missing or damaged, notify Measurement Computing Corporation immediately by
phone, fax, or e-mail:
Phone: 508-946-5100 and follow the instructions for reaching Tech Support.
Fax: 508-946-9500 to the attention of Tech Support
Email:
Installing the software
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing the software on the Measurement Computing Data
Acquisition Software CD. This booklet is available in PDF at
Installing the hardware
The PCI-DAS1200 board is completely plug-and-play. There are no switches or jumpers to set on the board.
Configuration is controlled by your system's BIOS. To install your board, follow the steps below.
Install the MCC DAQ software before you install your board
The driver needed to run your board is installed with the MCC DAQ software. Therefore, you need to install the
MCC DAQ software before you install your board. Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing
the software.
1.
Turn your computer off, open it up, and insert your board into an available PCI slot.
2.
Close your computer and turn it on.
If you are using an operating system with support for plug-and-play (such as Windows 2000 or Windows
XP), a dialog box pops up as the system loads indicating that new hardware has been detected. If the
information file for this board is not already loaded onto your PC, you will be prompted for the disk
containing this file. The MCC DAQ software contains this file. If required, insert the Measurement
Computing Data Acquisition Software CD and click
OK
.
3.
To test your installation and configure your board, run the InstaCal utility you installed in the previous
section. Refer to the Quick Start Guide that came with your boar
for information on how to initially set up and load InstaCal
Allow your computer to warm up for at least 15 minutes before acquiring data with this board. The high speed
components used on the board generates heat, and it takes this amount of time for a board to reach steady state
if it has been powered off for a significant amount of time.
Configuring the hardware
All hardware configuration options on the PCI-DAS1200 are software controlled. You can select some of the
configuration options using InstaCal, such as the analog input configuration (16 single-ended or eight
differential channels) and the source for the two independent counters. Once selected, any program that uses the
Universal Library will initialize the hardware according to these selections.