Week 5 : Data Acquisition of Agilent Tech 34980A (Part 2)

 

The operators use different channel with their respective functions.

    Channel 1001~1003 : AC Output Voltage

 Channel 1004~1006 : AC Output Current

 Channel 1007~1009 : CT Voltage

 Channel 1013 : Resistance 

In order to use any other channel to measure current instead of using channel 41~44, we have to configure it manually by selecting AC voltage measurement and turn scaling ON.

 Set the gain to 100.

Lastly set the unit to A.

The Mx + B will show on the screen after we finish configuring the channel. This indicates that the scaled reading (current) = (Gain x Measurement) + offset .

 These are the VIs for 34980A which are essential for our programming.

 This is the program we design to get the data and current reading without setting the GAIN to 100 manually.

 This is the front panel of 34980A program in which all the data will be shown here.

After that, we are required to export the data into excel/notepad format. This can be achieved by using Write to Measurement File VI. When we place the Write to Measurement File VI into our program it will prompt out the configuration window automatically for user to select the location to store the data.

 

We include several Write to Measurement File VI in our main program which is the data acquisition of power meter and oscilloscope. We will combine 34980A program with the main program later.

 When the users click the "Acquire" button, the data will be exported automatically into notepad format. However, the program of the respective instrument will stop after acquiring a set of data.

 This is the example of a set of data exported in notepad format.

Week 4 : Installation of Banana Socket to 5 testing trays

This is the Banana sockets ordered from RS component store.We are asked to install these to 5 of the testing trays.

 As the original holes for the banana socket on the testing trays are not big enough,what we need to do is to use the electrical driller to drill until the sockets can fit in.(The problem we face here is we need to change the battery of the electrical driller frequently.)

 After few hours of hard work, we successfully installed the banana sockets to one of the trays.The RED socket is VOLTAGE terminal while the BLACK socket is GROUND terminal.The purpose of doing the installation onto the trays is to allow the users carry out the testing more convenient.In addition, it's used to prevent the users from shorting the terminals. 

 This is how we had installed the wires onto the banana sockets.

 Once we completed the installation of banana sockets to all the 5 trays,we tested the trays by connecting the power supply and the DMM to make sure the DMM reading is 28V.

Week 4 : Data Acquisition of Agilent Tech 34980A (Part 1)

We are required to acquire data from 34980A Multifunction Switch/Measure Unit which is used to measure all the 3 phase output voltage and current of GATU/ATU.

  

In order to enable the internal DMM to measure voltage/current we need to disable the safety interlock.

The 34921A is a 40 channel armature multiplexer which offers four additional fused relays for making AC and DC measurements with the internal DMM with no external shunts needed.

To disable the safety interlock feature, we have to short pin 17 and 33.

Therefore the safety interlock has been disabled and we can start using the DMM features.

In order to obtain the measurement, press the Channel button at "Measure".

Week 3 : PMAT (Portable Maintenance Access Terminal 2000)

This is a wires crimping extraction / insertion tool.The white side is EXTRACTOR while the green side is INSERTER.

Originally, the pins configuration for all the 5 testing tray are pins 1,2,8 and 9. Now, we are asked to change the pin configuration from pins 1,2,8 and 9 to pins 24,25,28 and 29 as the pins configuration for the MUX cable are 24,25,28 and 29.We need to make sure the configuration for both sides are the same.

As u can see, the pin is successfully extracted out by the tool.

We are asked to change the pins configuration for SEC testing tray.After that,we need to use the DMM to double check the connection.

This is the PMAT 2000 [Teledyne's Portable Maintenance Access Terminal 2000 ]

• Loads software parts into avionics systems, navigation databases, and safety systems
• Provides configuration control for all software parts in an airline's fleet
• Provides access to onboard maintenance systems
• Collects and returns data from the aircraft to the operator

                  This is MUX cable. It  is used to connect the PMAT to the 5 testing trays.

This is the pin configuration for the MUX cable. Its pin configuration for the MALE part is different from the FEMALE part.For example, the pin 1 in the MALE part is different from pin 1 in the FEMALE part.After we tried an error for many times,finally we found out that we are not required to change the pins configuration for the testing tray as the PMAT software internally had already changed for us.

Everytime before we connect the PMAT to the computer unit, we must set the dc supply to exactly 28V and 5A to make sure there are current and voltage being supplied to the tray.

After we checked all the connection and make sure that they are properly connected, we connect the PMAT with the MUX cable to the tray for ADL -   Airborne Data Loader. For this phase 1,the SEC unit is not required and is not connected to the tray.

After we successfully completed the Airborne Data Loader in  phase 1, we are now proceed to phase 2.

In this phase 2, the computer unit is required for SDL -  Surface Data Logging.What we need to do is to connect up the SEC to the tray and make sure there is 28V and 5A being supplied.

    As u can see from the picture, the data is transmitting to the computer unit .The data is transmitted in byte.

The data is successfully transmitted to the SEC unit. The words LOAD COMPLETED is shown on the screen of PMAT.

Week 3 : Data Acquisition of Yokogawa Power Meter

 Our task this week is to acquire data and automate Yokogawa Power Meter WT230.

 The operator has to set these function manually whenever they want to perform short circuit or open circuit test. Therefore we have to automate it so as to make their job easier.

For short circuit test, they are required to set a current range of E5 and 20 for open circuit test.

This is the power supply we use to generate current for all the 3 channels of power meter.

At first, we program it such that they can key in the function they want but it is possible for the operator to key in wrongly.

Therefore we came out with a solution which the operator can select 2 functions without keying in the function.

 When the operator select open circuit test, the current range will tune to 20 automatically and the readings will only show at panel under OPEN CIRCUIT TEST.

 When the operator select short circuit test, the current range will tune to E5 automatically and the readings will only show at panel under SHORT CIRCUIT TEST.

 The readings of the program above and the power supply are all the same.



We further modify our program after we have seen them operate the ATU/GATU. We find that they need to obtain 2 waveforms at the same time and also the reading of Voltage and Power from power meter. We haven't try out our program due to short of power meter on that day.