Measurement Computing PCI-DAS6402/16 - Manual (Page 10)

PCI-DAS6402/16 User's Guide Installing the PCI-DAS6402/16
Unpacking the PCI-DAS6402/16
As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the PCI-DAS6402/16 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: [email protected]
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
www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-
Quick-Start.pdf .
Installing the PCI-DAS6402/16
The PCI-DAS6402/16 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.
2.
3.
Turn your computer off, open it up, and insert your board into an available PCI slot.
Close your computer and turn it on.
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 board
www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/sm-
installation.pdf for information on how to initially set up and load InstaCal.
If your board has been powered-off for more than 10 minutes, allow your computer to warm up for at least
15 minutes before acquiring data. This warm-up period is required in order for the board to achieve its rated
accuracy. The high speed components used on the board generate 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 PCI-DAS6402/16
All of the hardware configuration options on the PCI-DAS6402/16 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), the edge used for triggering when using an external pacer 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.
2-2
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 .