Omega TCIC - Manual

TCIC User’s Manual 4 2. Installation (The following description refers to Windows XP. Obviously, on another operating system it might be different.) 1. Make sure that all package files have been copied – and unzipped if necessary – to your hard disk. 2. Two types of drivers are available. Install th...

TCIC User’s Manual 6 3.5 Press Next and select the second option: 3.6 Press Next and browse to the Direct DLL driver folder:

TCIC User’s Manual 11 4.5 Press Next and browse to the VCP driver folder: 4.6 Click Next…

TCIC User’s Manual 12 Click ‘Finish’ – that’s it! Notes 1. It might occur that the wizard will return to step 4.3, requiring to repeat the process. This is normal, just repeat steps 4.3-4.6. 2. The package includes also an RS232 terminal found on the Web, called Termite, through which the TCIC may b...

TCIC User’s Manual 13 3. TCIC-Monitor The TCIC-Monitor utility is an initial setup tool and a smart data logger package for monitoring & collecting readings in high speed, including graphic mode display. The TCIC-Monitor works with both driver types (refer to section 1 - Main Features / Communic...

TCIC User’s Manual 15 3.1 Title This main title shows the versions of the TCIC-Monitor and of the card. For example, the title in the above screenshot indicates that the version of the TCIC-Monitor is 1.03, while card’s version is 2.01. 3.2 Menus The menus enable various operations, as described bel...

TCIC User’s Manual 16 The settings in detail: Common Setting The following is a common setting for all the channels: Temperature Unit: °C / °F Selects the temperature unit for all channels whose ‘Input Type’ is defined as a thermocouple, i.e., TC-E, TC-J, TC-K, TC-R, TC-S, or TC-T. In other words, t...

TCIC User’s Manual 17 Output Mode: SP-Auto / SP-Latch / Manual This is actually ‘ output x’ setting rather than ‘ channel x’ setting. This setting defines the nature of output x (x=1,2,...,8): Roughly speaking, output x may be either a ‘setpoint indicator’ of channel x, or a manual output with no re...

TCIC User’s Manual 18 Set Points Switch On: ... Defines the limit that upon its crossing output x will go high (on) signaling a ‘setpoint indication’. Off: ... 1. Defines the direction of temperature change that will trigger the indication: Off < On means indication upon crossing the On limit upw...

TCIC User’s Manual 19 Example 4: Output Mode = ‘SP-Latch’, ‘On’ = 100°, ‘Off’ = 110°. The output will go high (on) when the temperature falls from 101° to 100°, and stay high (regardless of any temperature change) until manually turned off. Note that – as Output Mode = ‘SP-Latch’ – the only meaning ...

TCIC User’s Manual 20 Sampling Rate: Max. / 0.5 Sec. / ... seconds The Sampling Rate defines the frequency in which readings are refreshed on the display. There are three options: • Max. – Maximal rate that the card can support. • 0.5 Sec. – One refresh each 0.5 sec. • ... seconds – One refresh each...

TCIC User’s Manual 21 3.2.2.3 Calibration and Defaults Change Calibration The TCIC is factory programmed with the value of the on board reference voltage (1.25V). However, this default 1.25V value may be re-defined in the range 1.2375V to 1.2625V, that is 1.25V ±1%. In order to find out the voltage,...

TCIC User’s Manual 22 3.2.3 Library There is a ‘settings library’ on the PC disk in which all settings may be stored - both Card Settings (section 3.2.2.1) and TCIC-Monitor Settings (section 3.2.2.2). The library files reside in the subfolder TCIC_Lib under the installation folder, for example: C:\P...

TCIC User’s Manual 23 3.4 "Save to File" Command ('Start' or 'Stop') The "Save to File" function enables recording card’s readings in a text file. Upon clicking "Start Save to File" the program suggests an automatic file name, based on the current time & date. Either acce...

TCIC User’s Manual 24 3.6 Cold Junction Temperature Displays the temperature of the cold junction, which is essential for the CJC (Cold Junction Compensation). The value of the cold junction temperature is meaningful only when the Input Type is some thermocouple; i.e., it’s irrelevant in case the In...

TCIC User’s Manual 25 4. Command Set The communication with the TCIC is via USB (standard), or RS232 or RS485 (optional). Notes 1. After the TCIC has been powered-on, user application software should send a single null (0x00) character to the TCIC, prior to commencing regular communications. 2. Ther...

TCIC User’s Manual 26 ‘T’ Returns the board (Cold Junction) in ºC or ºF, whatever was selected in Card settings, plus CR/LF. The value is padded to have a fixed length of 8 characters, so the string has a fixed length of 8 characters (excluding the CR/LF). ‘O’ (upper case letter O) The TCIC returns ...

TCIC User’s Manual 27 4.2 Change Output Status The one-character ‘a’ command turns output #1 off . The one-character ‘A’ command turns output #1 on . Similarly, the one-character ‘b’ through ‘h’ and ‘B’ through ‘H’ commands turn the other channels (2-8) off or on, respectively.

TCIC User’s Manual 28 4.3 Setpoint Configuration The ‘switch on’ & ‘switch off’ limits define the points where the output will go on and, possibly, back off . The relation between the ‘switch on’ limit and the ‘switch off’ limit defines the direction of the mechanism: ’Switch on’ limit > ‘Swi...

TCIC User’s Manual 29 ‘S’ The TCIC returns a string containing actual 8 ‘switch on’ limits, each followed by a tab (0x09). The end of the string is followed by CR/LF. Each value is padded to have a fixed length of 8 characters, so the string has a fixed length of 72 characters (excluding the CR/LF)....

TCIC User’s Manual 30 4.4 Sample Program The sample program is an improved version of Microsoft’s example “Using the Comm Port”. This is a basic VB-Net program that clearly shows how to communicate with the card. The sample program works with both driver types (refer to section 1 - Main Features / C...

TCIC User’s Manual 31 4.5 Troubleshooting Q. I can communicate with the TCIC when it is located in COM1 through COM9, but when it is in COM10 or more, my application does not work. The TCIC-Monitor, however, works fine. A. Opening COM port 10 or above is done differently: Prefix "\\.\" to it...

TCIC User’s Manual 32 5. Multi-Card System This section is relevant only for the TCIC with the RS485 communication option. Introduction The TCIC’s RS485 communication option supports multi-card systems. In order to utilize this feature, two TCIC operations are required: • Card configuration • Card s...

TCIC User’s Manual 33 One Card System When a system includes only one card, neither configuration nor selection is required, as the card is factory defaulted to address ‘a’. Indeed, if a card has been configured to some non-‘a’ address and later it is required as a single card, you may re-configure ...

TCIC User’s Manual 34 Communication Protocol There are 26 allowable addresses, referenced by the lower case letters a-z. The address ‘a’ is a special address: every board will respond to this address. In single board RS485, RS232 and USB applications, the board will always be given the address ‘a’, ...

TCIC User’s Manual 36 POWER SUPPLY Using an external power supply is optional on USB * applications but essential for RS232 and RS485 applications. • When used, the external power supply should be connected to the 5V connector (CONN3). • Near this 5V connector there is the 'LK1' jumper, and rightwar...

TCIC User’s Manual 38 7.4 Thermocouple Types The following thermocouple types and temperature ranges are supported by onboard ITS-90 polynomial conversion functions: Thermocouple Type Range ˚C Accuracy ˚C * Resolution ˚C based on 1uVrms noise J -210 to 1200 ± 1.5 0.019 K -200 to 1372 ± 1.5 0.024 E -...

TCIC User’s Manual 39 8. LabVIEW Sample The LabVIEW sample was created with LabVIEW 6.1 using the VCP (Virtual COM Port) driver. Figure #1 shows the screen that the LabVIEW sample produces, that is, virtual thermometers of all the eight channels, and a graph of one of these channels (user selectable...

TCIC User’s Manual 40 Figure #1 – output screen of the LabVIEW sample Figure #2 – LabVIEW’s MAX (Measurement and Automation Explorer)