Every now and then I'd like to stress test a circuits. What I need for that is something which has relais and analog outputs. Timing isn't really critical. 100ms resolution is enough. I've been looking at mini PLCs but maybe there is another way around. I prefer something that can work standalone and doesn't need much studying/programming to get going. I prefer not to turn this into a tinker project either.
Any suggestions?
I'd go with some measuremnt computing hardware. They have USB stuff with labview and VisualStudio drivers. Maybe even some canned stuff too.
Something like this
Comes with Looks like a good canned solution. Haven't used it tho.
Cheers
I agree with Martin -- get yourself some inexpensive USB-connected analog/digital boxes and write some software in your choice of languages. (LabView is popular -- albeit somewhat spendy -- in that "non-programmers" can easily use it and you get tons of canned GUI controls, graph, database interconnectivity, device control routines, etc. all bundled into one big package).
LabJack has some inexpensive boxes:
---Joel
The thing is that I don't want to use a PC based solution. And I'd rather stay away from anything that needs USB to during operation. Some tests need to run reliable for several days.
You can get hp3488 switch control units on ebay for peanuts. They will step though simple sequences in a "stand alone mode".
HP3488A scanners + relay boards are dead cheap today. How much analog output? Specs.?
Two 0-10V analog outputs will probably do. More is always good until they get expensive :-)
why don't you get a Arbitrary function generator?
A lot of them come with a logic output that can be triggered at a set point from your wave form, along with the analog output.
Jamie
I have one (with pattern generator output) but its noisy. And still no relay outputs.
It took a while to find something that features analog outputs, is small and affordable. I'm going to buy a couple of these modules:
Always check for the software programming tools.. In many cases there are hitches in the tools that ends up costing you more than it's worth, like AB stuff for example.
However, those units there look to be the same as the others. there are several names out there sitting on the same product hardware wise and sometimes software, too. Just keep that in mind about rebranded items. If that does not hinder your work then you're all set.
Jamie
=20
I think that a mini PLC or a small PLC is your best bet. If you want to cough up thousands more a PAC can do a lot more and run semi unattended and network connected. (a PAC is basically an industrial PC bolted [common busses] to a PLC).
?-)
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