Measurement Computing USB-5201 Installation - Manual

DS USB-520x.doc
Document Revision 5, March, 2010
Copyright © 2006-2010 Measurement Computing Corporation
Notes on installing and using the USB-5201
and USB-5203 data logging devices
Thank you for purchasing the USB-5201 or USB-5203 device from Measurement Computing! Please read this sheet to help you set
up your new USB-based data acquisition and data logging device.
Use InstaCal to configure and test your device before you acquire and log data. After logging data, download and convert the data
from the memory card with TracerDAQ®. You can optionally use InstaCal to copy or convert data directly from the data logging
device.
Configuring channel sensors
1. From the InstaCal main form, double-click on the name
of the device to open the
Board Configuration dialog.
2. Configure the sensor options for your data logger
channels.

USB-5203 : Select a sensor category using the
CH(n-n) tabs for each pair of analog input channels
— choices are RTD, thermistor, thermocouple, and
semiconductor — and configure the settings that are
enabled for the selected sensor.

USB-5201 : Click on the TC Type tab and select a
thermocouple type for each analog input channel.
Configuring data logging options
1. Click on the Data Logger > Logger Data tab and select
your data logging preferences:

Select the time format, time zone, and temperature
units to apply to converted files.
 Format the flash storage (required for initial use):
Right-click on the device name in Windows
Explorer and select
Format .
When operating a logging device installed with
firmware version 2.12 and earlier, click on the
Format Storage button on the Logger Data tab.
2. Click on the Data Logger > Logger Setup tab and select
your data logging options:
 Set up each analog channel to log either temperature
measurements ( C) or raw resistance/voltage
measurements.

Select CJC data and/or time stamp data options to
log this data in addition to the channel
measurements.
 Select the mode to start logging data.

Enter the interval (seconds) between samples and
the file number of the first file logged.
3. Click on the Data Logger > Alarm Setup tab if you want
to set up the alarm options. Each digital I/O bit is
independently configurable as an alarm output. The input
to each alarm is one of the temperature input channels.
Set the following:
 Select the channel number to use as the alarm input.
 Set the output type (active high or low) of the alarm
bit when an alarm is triggered.

Select the threshold condition that triggers the alarm.
 Specify the format of the logged alarm data
(temperature or raw). This setting is independent of
the format selected on the Logger Setup tab.
4. To save the configuration settings to your hard drive,
click on the
Saved Configurations tab and enter a name
to save the settings in the Configuration Name text box.
5. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the Board
Configuration window. A dialog prompts you to write
the new configuration settings to the board.
6. Click Yes to write the settings to the USB device. All
logging options are stored on the USB device in non-
volatile memory in EEPROM, and are loaded when you
connect external power to the device.
After configuring the sensor and logging options, the device
performs a self-calibration.
Testing the data logging device
Before logging data, verify the sensor options by running
InstaCal's Temperature Test. To run this test, select
Analog
from the Test menu on the InstaCal main form.
Logging data
External power is required to log data. Disconnect the USB
cable from the device, and connect the supplied external
power supply. The logging options that are stored on the
device are loaded. You are now ready to log data!