User`s guide

Universal Library User's Guide Temperature Input Boards - USB-5203, USB-5201
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The cbLogGetDIOInfo() function and the GetDIOInfo() method return the
number of digital I/O channels logged in the binary file ("0" to "8".)
Data logger argument values
Delimiter Comma, Semicolon, Space, Tab
LoggerUnits Temperature, Raw
Units Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin
TimeFormat TwelveHour, TwentyFourHour
TimeZone Local, GMT
Hardware considerations
Logging and storing measurement data
Temperature measurements can be stored onto a CompactFlash
®
memory card (64 MB CF card included with
hardware). Each sample is stored on the card in a binary file. You set up your logging options through
InstaCal:
 temperature input channels to log
 channel format as raw data or temperature
 start mode to begin a logging session
 interval (sec.) between samples
 set up alarm conditions to trigger DIO bits
InstaCal provides further options for copying, converting, and deleting the binary files. You can access log
data stored on the memory card with a CompactFlash reader, or by transferring the files from InstaCal to a
computer for processing and conversion using the USB bus.
Note: A card reader is not required to access log data on a device installed with firmware 3.0 and later. A
device with this firmware version appears in Windows Explorer as a removable drive from which you can
directly access the log data.
External power required for data logging
Due to processing limitations, data logging to the memory card is not allowed when the device is connected to
your computer's active USB bus. When operating as a data logger, disconnect the USB cable from the
computer, and connect the external power supply shipped with the device.
Note: If you are using a self-powered hub, make sure it is attached to the PC‘s USB port before connecting it
to the USB-5201 or USB-5203. If a powered hub is connected to the device first, it may be detected by the
device as a power supply and go into logging mode.
Configuring the DIO channels to generate alarms
The USB-5203 and USB-5201 both provide eight independent temperature alarms. Each alarm controls an
associated digital I/O channel as an alarm output. The input to each alarm is one of the temperature input
channels. Use InstaCal to set up the temperature conditions to activate an alarm, and the output state of the
channel (active high or low) when activated.
Digital channels that are configured as alarms will power up in an output state. When an alarm is activated,
the associated DIO channel is driven to the output state defined by the alarm configuration.
The alarms function both in data logging mode and while attached to the USB port on a computer. The alarm
configurations are stored in non-volatile memory on the device and are loaded on power up.