NI CompactDAQ Overview

Simple Complete USB Data Acquisition

NI CompactDAQ provides the plug-and-play simplicity of USB to sensor and electrical measurements on the benchtop, in the field, and on the production line. By combining the ease of use and low cost of a data logger with the performance and flexibility of modular instrumentation, NI CompactDAQ provides fast, accurate measurements in a small, simple, and affordable system.

With the flexible NI software options, you can easily use NI CompactDAQ to log data for simple experiments or to develop a fully automated test or control system. The modular design can measure up to 256 channels of electrical, physical, mechanical, or acoustical signals in a single system. In addition, per-module analog-to-digital converters and individually isolated modules ensure fast, accurate and safe measurements.

 

More Performance, Lower Price

NI CompactDAQ takes advantage of technology from National Instruments industry-standard M Series data acquisition devices and highest performance CompactRIO control systems to optimize both performance and price. NI CompactDAQ uses the same C Series I/O modules as other NI measurement and control platforms, so production costs are minimized through high volume economies of scale. The modules use commercially available components and circuitry from vendors such as Analog Devices and Texas Instruments, which provide measurement resolution as high as 24 bits (more resolution than a 6 1/2 digit DMM) at prices much lower than custom-designed components used in other data acquisition systems.

Flexibility with over 40 Measurement Modules

Because many data acquisition systems have fixed functionality, they can connect only to specific sensor types. Other systems are modular, but are capable of measuring only low speed and static signal such as DC voltage and temperature. NI CompactDAQ can measure dynamic signals such as sound, vibration, pressure, and electrical transients at up to 50 kS/s per channel in addition to static signals such as DC voltage and temperature. Other modules provide single-point and waveform output capability at rates up to 100 kS/s/channel, or digital I/O at rates up to 10 MHz. Because NI CompactDAQ is a modular system, additional measurement types and channels can be added to the system by simply plugging in additional modules. All modules are automatically synchronized, and a single NI CompactDAQ system can simultaneously stream high-speed analog input, analog output, digital input, and digital output over a single USB connection.

For a complete list of available modules, please refer to the C. Series I/O Modules family page.

For a complete list of available modules, please refer to the C. Series I/O Modules family page.
 

NI CompactDAQ Advantages

Future-Ready Flexibility
NI CompactDAQ is much more flexible than traditional instruments at adapting to changes in test requirements. Traditional instruments pack processors, memory, software and displays into a fixed-functionality box that can quickly become obsolete. Instead, NI CompactDAQ uses the speed, power, and data storage capability of your PC. If you need more data storage or faster data processing, you can upgrade your PC memory instead of buying a new higher-end instrument. And adding a new type of measurement or expanding channel count is as easy as plugging in an additional module into the NI CompactDAQ chassis.

Unlike other data acquisition systems, NI CompactDAQ does not use electromechanical relays to switch analog input signals. Relays wear out over time, potentially causing failure of the system and test. Relays are also limited to switch rates of about 1000 S/s. Instead, NI CompactDAQ uses solid-state multiplexers that do not wear out over time and can switch input channels at rates up to 250 thousand times per second for accurate and reliable high-speed measurements.

Connectors, Signal Conditioning, and DAQ in a Single Package
Assembling a data acquisition system often involves cabling signal conditioning and connector blocks to a separate device to digitize input signals. These cables and connector blocks add cost and can contribute to noise and error in the system. NI CompactDAQ combines signal connectors, signal conditioning, and analog-to-digital converters in a single package. This feature eliminates the time and guesswork associated with cabling together multiple components and reduces the number of components that can contribute to noise or failure.

NI CompactDAQ modules include connectors matched to the measurement capability of the module. For example, general-purpose voltage input modules have removable screw terminals, while modules for dynamic and transient signals have BNC connectors. By matching the connectors with the measurement capability of the modules, NI CompactDAQ simplifies sensor and signal installation and further reduces the potential for error by eliminating wire cutting, stripping, and crimping.

Figure 2. C Series modules for NI CompactDAQ include sensor-specific connectors with built-in signal conditioning and A/D converters.

Fool-Proof Sensor Measurements
NI CompactDAQ can measure the most common sensor types such as thermocouples, strain gages, and accelerometers in addition to voltage and current. The NI-DAQmx software included with NI Compact DAQ contains DAQ Assistant, a guided wizard utility that automatically scales measured signals into engineering units, such as degrees Celsius for thermocouple measurements. This feature eliminates manual scaling with complex formulas and look-up tables.


Easy PC Connectivity with Hi-Speed USB
USB has greatly simplified PC-based test and measurement. Because USB is a plug-and-play bus, the NI CompactDAQ chassis and all I/O modules are automatically detected and configured when connected to a USB port. Unlike legacy GPIB and serial devices that require an interface board, NI CompactDAQ connects directly to the USB port through a standard USB cable. This cabling feature eliminates another hidden cost associated with traditional instruments. With simple USB cabling, you can easily move an NI CompactDAQ system from one PC to another.

Hi-Speed USB (2.0) provides a 40X increase in bandwidth from the earlier USB 1.1 standard. At 480 Mb/s, it is almost 5X faster than the 100BaseT Ethernet connection on most PCs. Thus NI CompactDAQ has sufficient bandwidth to easily stream data directly to and from the PC rather than buffering it in onboard memory. It also has lower latency times than Ethernet or serial, so commands to and from the PC are transmitted in less time.

Figure 3. Hi-Speed USB is 40X faster than the preceding USB 1.1, and has 5X the bandwidth of 100 Mb/s Ethernet

Instant Measurements with NI CompactDAQ

Flexible Software – Turnkey Data Logging, LabVIEW, Visual Studio .NET and C/C++

Every NI CompactDAQ chassis is shipped with the FREE data-logging software package, National Instruments LabVIEW SignalExpress LE. With this ready-to-run software, you can acquire data from multiple devices that run NI-DAQmx, and log the data to file or export the data to a spreadsheet. With USB plug-and-play data acquisition and NI LabVIEW SignalExpress, you can connect NI CompactDAQ to a PC or laptop and start measuring data within three clicks of your mouse.

For more advanced data-logging features such as alarming, timed logs, analysis, and reporting, there is LabVIEW SignalExpress, a full-featured nonprogramming development environment that works with all devices that run NI-DAQmx including NI CompactDAQ. See Table 2 for a feature comparison between LabVIEW SignalExpress and LabVIEW SignalExpress LE.

For greater flexibility, NI CompactDAQ also includes NI-DAQmx driver and measurement services software for NI LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI,  C/C++, and Visual Studio .NET.  In addition to basic driver functionality, NI-DAQmx includes a configuration management and testing utility, the DAQ Assistant wizard utility, and high-performance features such as multithreading and data compaction. LabVIEW is an industry-leading graphical programming and development environment for designing test, measurement, and control systems. It combines the flexibility of a programming language with built-in tools designed specifically for test, measurement, and control to create applications ranging from simple temperature monitoring to sophisticated control systems.

To learn more about data logging software from National Instruments, see the Three Levels of Data-Logging Software from National Instruments tutorial.

Figure 4. LabVIEW SignalExpress UI (example)

You can directly convert both LabVIEW SignalExpress and LabVIEW SignalExpress LE into LabVIEW graphical code for advanced programming and data acquisition capabilities.

Table 2. LabVIEW SignalExpress Comparison

Figure 5. NI CompactDAQ is shown beside an existing data acquisition system to demonstrate the dramatic size difference.

Improved Safety and Accuracy with Digital Isolation
All but two of the NI CompactDAQ modules (NI 9233 and NI 9234) are digitally isolated from the chassis and from other modules. Isolation prevents harmful signals from electrostatic discharge (ESD), lightning, and power surges from damaging the carrier, other modules, and the host PC. Most I/O modules feature up to 2,300 V_rms isolation (withstand), and 250 V_rms isolation (continuous). Each component comes with a variety of international safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and environmental certifications and ratings.

Digitally isolated NI CompactDAQ modules also break error-causing ground loops. Ground loops occur when the system or device under test shares the same ground as the data acquisition system and there is a potential difference between the two devices. Because isolated NI CompactDAQ modules do not use the external power connection as a ground reference, the possibility of inaccuracies due to ground loops is eliminated.


Trusted National Instruments Quality
Since 1976, National Instruments has been trusted for reliable products, future compatibility, and quality support. In 2005, customers installed more than 6 million National Instruments measurement channels, and 95% of Fortune 500 manufacturing companies used National Instruments products for test and control.

All NI CompactDAQ systems include a full 1 year warranty on manufacturing defects. Startup and troubleshooting assistance from applications engineers is also available free by Web, e-mail or phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

A consolidated, and growing, list of frequently asked questions can be found at NI CompactDAQ FAQs.

Related Links:

www.ni.com/compactdaq
Out of box "Getting Started with NI CompactDAQ" video
NI CompactDAQ Virtual Tour
NI CompactDAQ Configuration Advisor
Request an NI CompactDAQ On-site Demonstration
NI CompactDAQ Webcast on Demand
NI CompactDAQ Under the Hood – Three Technologies That Drive USB Performance

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Reader Comments | Submit a comment »

Communicate with HART protocol?
Will any of these directly communicate to smart transmitters via the HART protocol? I'm looking for an alternative to the Arcom HTMux for DAQ.
- Earl Green, Progress Energy. earl.green@pgnmail.com - May 28, 2008

Linux support
I am waiting for a year the CompaqDAQ Linux support...
- Mar 26, 2008

There is no any 9225 DI
9225 is 3-ch AI, not an DI.
- Mar 19, 2008

Toy or Industrial?
I don't know if the industrial question was related to the MAC OS support question or not...but CompactDAQ is made of A380 metal and has rugged operational specs such as 30g shock and -20 to 55deg C temperature range. CompactDAQ can function properly in a number of harsh environments and, for more extreme environments, can be mounted in a properly rated enclosure.
- Brett Burger, National Instruments. brett.burger@ni.com - Mar 7, 2008

OS Support
Currently, NI CompactDAQ is only supported under Windows 2k, XP, or Vista. For MAC users, some customers have had success using CompactDAQ with Windows emulation software. In addition to emulation, full support for MAC and Linux is available for some NI devices such as the USB-9211A, USB-9215A, as well as some of the USB-621X series.
- Brett Burger, National Instruments. brett.burger@ni.com - Mar 7, 2008

Linux?
Is this for real? No support for Linux or Mac OSX? Is this a toy, or a industrial product?
- Dec 2, 2007

need osx driver
We really need Daqmx driver for OSX platform ; Now it is not a really big issue to do that (now apple use intel) ; I use vmware with not so bad result ; but that is so incredible to follow this kind of process in XXI century!
- alan cazals, opal. acz@o-oo.fr - Nov 1, 2007

Torque measurement
Are you people EVER going to offer a module to connect an AC-coupled, rotary- transformer torque cell directly?
- David Drewes, Price Engineering. ddrewes@priceeng.com - Aug 17, 2007

Why there is no GPIB module for CompactDAQ? It is not a bus speed problem as even RS232 GPIB controller is available. It simply makes CompactDAQ (otherwise very good) not versatile enough...
- Aug 9, 2007

need MacOS X drivers
Same here. I'm developing several systems for a large oil company. We want to use Macs for several reasons, and it's frustrating to not be able to buy the higher-end NI hardware for this application.
- Jeffrey Travis, Jeffrey Travis Studios LLC. jeffrey@jeffreytravis.com - May 4, 2007

OSX Support
I just want to post my agreement with the previous two. I just had to decommission a weather station VI running under Windows because of Windows reliability/vulnerability issues. It was just using VISA reads, so I loaded the same VI to a Mac Mini running OSX, and have had zero problems since. I have been monitoring 200 1-wire temperature sensors on a submillimeter telescope using an iBook for 4 years now continuously. If OSX USB drivers were developed, I would definitely be in the market for these devices.
- Billie Chitwood, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. bchitwood@cfa.harvard.edu - Mar 15, 2007

I agree with Mac suggestion. At least, make them run flawlessly on parallels or virtual PC as temporary solution. We use macs a lot and since this NI technology involves just USB port, one expects it to be very easy to adapt able to any new computer.
- Mar 15, 2007

OSX Support
I second Tom Lawtons comment, NI's lack of full support for OSX has killed my opportunity to justify new and better Mac computers
- Jim Dwornick, DaimlerChrysler. jd2@dcx.com - Mar 14, 2007

Looks nice, need to know how much it cost!
- May 11, 2006

DAQmx for Mac OS X, Now!
Full DAQmx drivers for Mac OS X are needed ASAP. With Vista headed for the long grass, there's never been a better time to return to the better platform...
- Tom Lawton, EnFlo, University of Surrey. t.lawton@surrey.ac.uk - May 11, 2006