The RA1216 is an intelligent 16 channel analog-to-digital converter. It also contains three digital-to-analog converters and parallel digital input/output ports. RA1216 communicatres with a host computer via opto-isolated asynchronous EIA RS485 half-duplex serial communications.
A built in watchdog timer resets the unit, if, for some unexpected reason, its microcontroller "hangs up", or if the power supply voltage drops below 4.75 VDC. The microntroller may also be reset by an external input. Data collected by the pod is stored in local RAM for later access through the host computer's serial port. This feature facillitates a stand-alone mode of operation.
The following paragraphs describe the major functional parts of RA1216.
Analog Inputs
The RA1216 pod can be configured to accept inputs from a variety of sensor types. Inputs are overvoltage protected up to 200VDC. Model RA1216 accepts voltage inputs and has 15 voltage ranges. The voltage range used can be programmed on a channel-by-channel basis. Model RA1216T/C accepts up to 7 thermocouple inputs from the most commonly used thermocouple types. This model includes an onboard temperature sensor used for cold-junction compensation, and break-detect resistors are available. Model RA1216R can accept inputs from up to eight 3-wire RTDs. Model RA1216I accepts up to eight 4-20mA current transmitter inputs. Model RA1216BC also provides eight bridge completion circuits for quarter-bridge strain gage applications.
Each input can be programmed with an offset of up to 5 volts generated by an integral digital to analog converter. This allows easy scaling and shifting of an input signal to take advantage of the pod's full input ranges.
Analog Outputs
Digital I/O
Power Supplies
RA1216 requires two power sources to maintain opto-isolation. A small amount of +7.5 VDC to +24VDC power is required by the opto-isolated section, and that can be supplied by the host computer if a four-wire connection is made. Alternatively, you can use a separate power supply. The remainder of the pod is powered by an external, local power supply of +12VDC to +18VDC.
I/O Connections