Data acquisition platform

National Instruments has announced six wireless and ethernet data acquisition modules and two ingress protection enclosures for remote monitoring and control in harsh environments.

The modules combine high-voltage digital I/O and IEEE 802.11b/g (Wi-Fi) or ethernet communication to remotely monitor and control actuators such as pumps, valves and relays.

Engineers and scientists can use these and other Wi-Fi or ethernet devices with the 9921 and 9922 IP enclosures to protect their equipment from dust particles and splashing water on rain in outdoor or industrial environments.

The devices build on the NI Wi-Fi and ethernet DAQ product family that features 10 devices with built-in signal conditioning and direct sensor connectivity for electrical, physical, mechanical and acoustic measurements.

Wi-Fi DAQ devices reduce cabling costs and increase system flexibility without compromising performance. For integration into enterprise network infrastructure, engineers and scientists can also connect Wi-Fi DAQ devices to a host PC wirelessly using the highest commercially available wireless security, IEEE 802.11i (WPA2).

Similarly, ethernet DAQ devices extend portable and distributed measurements up to 100 m per segment to connect to any computer on a network.

The WLS-9421 and WLS-9472 Wi-Fi DAQ devices provide eight channels of digital input and output, with 24 V logic levels. ENET-9421 and ENET-9472 ethernet DAQ devices offer these same measurements over a standard ethernet connection.

With these capabilities, engineers and scientists can monitor and control actuators such as pumps, valves and relays in remote applications.

The WLS-9481 and ENET-9481 provide four electromechanical relay outputs capable of switching up to 2 A at 30 VDC or 1 A at 60 VDC.

The 9921 and 9922 are environmentally sealed IP enclosures that simplify the installation of Wi-Fi DAQ devices by protecting them from water or rain.

The 9921 enclosure provides a minimum of IP54-rated connectivity for passing I/O signals and an external antenna for communication to a host PC.

The 9922 enclosure offers an additional ethernet port and a four-pin trigger connector, which are also protected from the environment.

The devices can be combined with the NI LabVIEW graphical system design software platform to meet wireless monitoring and control needs for structural diagnostic, environmental and machine condition monitoring applications.