Multiplexer Expansion Unit
The Multiplexer Expansion Unit "MUX"-16/32 is a 32 x 2 / 16 x 4 is for the Keynes Controls range of vibrating wire sensor interfaces. The MUX-16/32 is a stand-alone unit powered device on to which it is connected. Both vibrating wire and and RTD temperature sensors can be switched by this device.
The MUX-16/32 can be scanned through individual channels for sensor testing using both the VibWire-101 and VibWire-201 ranges of interfaces. Each selected channel is shown on the ‘Channel Select Display’. The MUX-16/32 is fully configured using the Q-LOG free data acquisition and display software in a Windows environment. The device uses a edicated SDI-12 standard port to control the channel selection.
Features
The 32 x 2 / 16 x 4 Multiplexer Expansion Unit can be used with the VW-301 and VW-210 Vibrating Wire Instrumentation.
- 32 x 2-channel /16 x 4-signal inputs
- Built-in gas discharge lightning protection
- Channel select LED display
- Low-power operation by design
- (Relay energisation only when switching)
- Multiple earth points
- Interference-immune switching protocol
- Break before make switching system
In the figure above this demonstrates how the MUX-16/32 expansion unit is connected to the VibWire-301 interface for 16 x 4 wire / 32 x 2 wire operations.
Low Power Operation:
The MUX-16/32 is powered directly from the Multiplexer Expansion Unit (MUX) control port built into the sensor interfaces. The MUX-16/32 unit is only activated when a switching operation is under way.
Channel Selection:
There are no setup commands, or configuration jumpers required to to define the the switching operations of this device. The switching action can be set using the options available in the Q-LOG software, or directly from the menu systems built into the infaces
Lightning Protection:
The MUX-16/32 is fitted with lightning protection on all inputs as standard. As long as a good earth is fitted to the unit then the protection circuit will operate. The unit is safe from local, but not direct lightning strikes without the need of any additional components. The device Earth must be fitted for the protection circuits to operate.
Systems Expansion
The MUX-16/32 expansion unit can be used with a number of the Keynes Controls vibrating wire sensor interfaces to increase the number of channels available for both frequency and temperature sensors.
VibWire-201-Pro
The VibWire-201-Pro unit is the simplest of the Keynes Controls interface units that uses the MUX-16/32 expansion unit. This device supports single channel, 16 x 4 wire, 32 x 2 wire frequency and 32 x temperature measurements. Fig 4 shows the MUX-16/32 unit connected to the VibWire-201. This device can be configured to operate as a stand-alone data logger, remote sensor and spectral analysis modes.
VibWire-301
The VibWire 301 interface uses a Single Channel DIN Rail Mounted Intelligent Vibrating Wire Sensor.
The MUX-16/32 expansion unit will increase the unit from the initial single channel up-to a maximum of 128 channels. Each device in a system must have a unique ID number set for correct operation.
Vibrating Wire Data Acquisition Solution
PC based
Keynes Controls specialise in low cost vibrating wire flexible recording systems an example of this is shown below.
The images above shows the MUX-16/32 unit connected to the VibWiew-201 handheld instrument and the VW-301 Single Channel interface. Both instruments can be expanded using the MUX-16/32 to measure 16 x 4 Wire, 32 x 2 Wire Frequency, or 32 x Temperature measurements.
The USB-pro range of media converters are used to connect the vibrating wire instruments to a Windows PC where the measurements can be displayed and recorded.
The Q-LOG Windows Application Software which is freely available for these products cam be used to create a Windows based vibrating wire sensor PC data acquisition system.
Downloads
Download free copy of the Q-LOG software at: http://keynes-controls.com/Download/QLogSetup50_21may2020.zip
Additional Information
The MUX-16/32 unit can be supplied pre-configured making systems integration simple to implement. No programming experience is required to setup and operate this device.