Help configuring thermocouples using the NI 4350 (USB) and TC-2190

[Chris Choulos]

 - I am having trouble configuring more than 8 thermocouples using the NI 4350 (USB) and TC-2190.  I am using VI Logger in MAX Ver 4.0 and when I try to set up more than 8 channels, the additional channels are greyed out and say "No Data".  Everything I read says that the USB version of the 4350 can support up to 14 channels of thermocouples simultaneously. I check my device configuration and the TC-2190 is set up correctly as an accessory. Anyone have any experience with this problem?

Thanks!

Chris

[Abhinav T]

Chris,

What configuration did you setup your 14 channels to? Also do you get the No Data message during setup or when collecting data?

Abhinav T.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[Chris Choulos]

Actually,  I am running two 4350/TC-2190 setups over 2 USB interfaces to my laptop (running XP).  I set up each device/channel for a T-Type thermocouple.  When I go to the Data Neighborhood and look at the virtual channels, they are all there.  I can run a test panel on each of the channels and I see the correct data comming in from the TC.  However, when I go to the VI Logger task tab, although I have set up all 14 channels to log, many of the channels are greyed out with "No data" next to them.  As I said, I have verified that they are working channels by using the test panels, but for some reason I can't get the channels to record data.  So yesterday, since I was able to get the 7 of 14 channels working on each of the two units, I decided that 14 total channels was probably good enough.  I took the laptop into the lab and restarted the test, and now only two of the 7 channels show data in VI Logger. (All the channels still show correct data when queried with the test panels).  I am wondering if there is something I have set up wrong.  In addition, I am getting random General Protection Fault errors that cause me to have to restart windows (something about file : NIPALK.SYS causing problems).  Not sure the two problems are related.

Thanks,

Chris

[Abhinav T]

Chris,

I found this Knowledge Base article that fixes your problem. Just double click on the No Data channels.

Abhinav

[Chris Choulos]

Thanks Abhinav.  I am now able to view all the channels!  I think I may have solved my other problem.  It may have been a result of trying to power two USB ports off of a laptop computer.  I have now increased the power supply to the laptop and have not gotten the blue screen error message.  Looks like everything is working (for right now).  Thanks for your help.

Chris

[Erik_J]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for letting us know about the solution to your other problem.  Good luck with your application, please let us know or search our KnowledgeBase if you need any additional assistance!

Regards,
Erik