VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT
“Batteries need to be robust,
reliable and capable of being
used in extreme conditions”
the temperature data, the maximum
charge and discharge rate can also be
specified. However, temperature
instruments generally do not support high
voltage ranges and high sampling speed.
The voltage and temperature instruments
have to be set up separately.
The EX1401 supports sampling rates up
to 20 kSa/s (thousand samples per second),
so capturing the voltage changes at the
millisecond level can be done very easily
and the batteries’ slew rates can be
calculated with high accurately. Each
channel of the EX1401 is independent and
software configurable. Each of the 16
channels can be configured to measure
voltage on different ranges or temperature
independently. It allows the engineer to
use the same instrument to measure both
required measurement types. As a result, it
can increase the flexibility of the test,
reduce the total cost of ownership of the
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whole system and save storage space.
Furthermore, each channel is equipped
with an individual 24-bit ADC. During the
data acquisition process, data from all
channels are synchronized. The EX1401
allows the engineer to connect and test
multiple batteries at the same time,
increasing the test throughput.
SOFTWARE
The EX1401 supports a completely free of
charge turn-key software application called
EXLab Express. It can be downloaded from
the VTI Instruments website and installed
on any PC with a Windows operating
system in minutes. EXLab Express
provides a Microsoft Excel-like channel
configuration table. The user can easily
configure any channel to take voltage
measurements on different ranges or
temperature measurements with different
thermocouple types, all on the same page.
Once the channels are set up and the data
acquisition process begins, the data can be
monitored in various intuitive ways.
Eventually, the acquired data can be
played back using EXLab Express software
or exported to another software
application for further data analysis.
The EX1401 is a perfect instrument for
battery testing. It provides 500V isolation
to safeguard against common mode noise.
It supports sampling rates up to 20 kSa/s to
capture batteries’ voltage changes on the
millisecond level. It is also a flexible
instrument that supports 16 softwareconfigurable
voltage and temperature
channels, increasing the flexibility and
throughput of battery testing, as well as
decreasing total cost and storage
requirements. When combined with the
free EXLab Express software, which
provides intuitive graphical user interfaces
for configuring channels, monitoring and
recording data, the EX1401 offers
everything needed for battery testing. \\
Chris Gibson is business development manager for
Ametek VTI Instruments
3 // The display shows the
discharge curve, battery
life and battery
temperature in different
formats
BETTER STRAIN AND BRIDGE MEASUREMENTS
Recently launched by Ametek VTI Instruments,
the EX1403 Precision Bridge and Strain Gauge
Instrument sets a new standard for strain and
bridge measurements, delivering the highest
performance measurements possible while
controlling overall test hardware costs. Sixteen
channels of strain or voltage, independent 24-bit
ADCs per channel, extensive software-selectable
filtering, and independent signal conditioning
paths deliver exceptional accuracy and reliability.
Built-in signal conditioning, programmable
excitation, and selectable bridge completion, all
integrated into the instrument and configurable
on a per-channel basis, greatly simplify setup
and configuration. With unmatched performance,
accuracy and reliability, the EX1403 is the “goto”
solution for the most complex structural test
applications worldwide.
A single system that can provide high-quality
static or highspeed strain measurements in
applications such as airframe structural and
fatigue test, rocket and satellite structural
test, wind tunnel flight load test, general
purpose bridge measurements and load frame
materials testing
Manufacturing and test environments of today
are dynamic, dictating minimal downtime of test
systems in order to meet increasing product
throughput demands. Ensuring that acquired
data is reliable and that instrument calibration
can be turned around quickly are keys to the
success of any production team. VTI embeds
intelligence into the EX1403 to facilitate maximum
system “uptime” and increase manufacturing
efficiency. Built-in self-test can be invoked under
software control prior to each critical test. A
simple pass-fail result will be returned after
completing system health diagnostics, including
temperature and voltage level measurements
of the on-board processor; this result can be
used to prevent a test from running in the event
of a failure.
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