Electrical Engineering Program

EEL 4930 – Introduction to Instrumentation

Fall 2018

Instructor: Dr. Kopp

Lab #1:
LabVIEW and Resistance Measurements

Lab report due November 26, 2018

Drafted by: Martin Delafuente

Drafted by: Daisy Bisram

Drafted by: Jordan McIntosh

Drafted by: Kevin Seo

Abstract

The purpose of the lab was to familiarize with the usage of thermistor and resistance temperature detector
(RTD) sensors using National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW programing application. In experiment 1,
students examined how a thermistor works. They connected a thermistor to a NI MyDAQ’s digital
multimeter and observed the temperature fluctuate through the LabVIEW front panel window. In
experiment 2, students investigated the functions of an RTD sensor using a deflection bridge circuit
configuration. They assembled a Wheatstone bridge circuit and implemented a LabVIEW code to monitor
the voltage change of the RTD sensor. The experiments were successfully completed, and a further
understanding of LabVIEW, thermistors and RTDs were achieved.

Page 1
1. Equipment
Table 1. Computer Hardware and Software Equipment
Ite Quantity Description Manufacturer Model Number
m
1 1 Desktop Computer Dell Optiplex 960
2 1 O/S Microsoft Windows 7
3 1 LabVIEW National Instruments LabVIEW 2018
4 1 Measurement & Automation Explorer National Instruments NI MAX 2018
5 1 Word Processor Microsoft Word 2016

Table 2. Circuit Hardware

Ite Quantity Description Manufacturer Model Number
m
1 1 Data Acquisition Device National Instruments MyDAQ
2 1 Protoboard Digilent myProto
3 1 Thermistor Honeywell Honeywell 135 Series
4 1 Resistance Temperature Detector Heraeus 32209220
5 3 1 KΩ Resistor
6 8 Jumper Wire
7 2 Alligator to Banana Cables
8 1 USB A male to USB B male Cable

Page 2
2.1 Experiment 1 Procedures

In this experiment, students were required to start by opening the Nation Instruments Measurements and
Automation Explorer (NI MAX) on the lab provided desktop computer. A NI MyDAQ was then provided to
the students. Students then connected the MyDAQ through a USB cable to the desktop computer and
configured the device in NI MAX. A Self-Test was then performed through the NI MAX’s Devices and
Interfaces tab. Students were tasked to observe the temperature readings the MyDAQ calculated from the
voltages running through a thermistor undergoing a temperature change. A Honeywell 135 Series NTC
Thermistor was provided as well as two alligator to banana lead cables to connect to the bottom of the
MyDAQ unit. Once the thermistor was connected, student ran the instructor provided thermistor virtual
instrument (vi) code and observed the nominal temperature and the temperature when the thermistor was
squeezed.

2.2 Experiment 2 Procedures

In experiment 2, students were required to create a new project for a deflection bridge RTD sensor
configuration circuit. Students were instructed to wire the block diagram shown in Figure 1, in stages
through LabVIEW. First, students placed a DAQ Assistant function, divide element, three output displays,
and a signal split element onto the block diagram. Afterwards, students connected MyDAQ onto the
myProto device. The +5V was connected to both AI0 and AI1 positive inputs, while the ground was
connected to the negative inputs. Once the wiring was complete, students switched on the +5V on the
myProto device and the LabVIEW code was executed to test if the block diagram was constructed properly.
Students were then instructed complete the LabVIEW code shown in Figure 1. A Boolean switch, a delay
timer, iteration indicator, and while loop were added to the code. Subsequently, students assembled the
deflection bridge circuit shown in Figure 2 using 1 KΩ resistors for R1, R2, and R3, and a Housed Platinum
RTD as RG. The code was then executed, and students recorded the voltage measurements when the RTD
was squeezed and when it was not squeezed.

Page 3
Figure 1. LabVIEW Block Diagram for Deflection Bridge

Figure 2. Deflection Bridge Circuit

Page 4
3. Results

3.1 Experiment 1 Results

In this experiment, students were tasked to investigate how thermistor works using LabVIEW. In the pre-
written code shown in Figure 3, the DAQ Assistant function was placed on the block diagram to facilitate
the communication interface between the MyDAQ device and LabVIEW. Additionally, the DAQ Assistant
function translates the voltage received from the MyDAQ unit to manipulatable data in order to perform
LabVIEW programming computation. The data gathered from the MyDAQ device is then inserted to a
1
Formula Node structure to evaluate the formula T = . The variables
( A 1+ B1∗R+C 1∗R∗R+ D 1∗R∗R∗R)
A1, B1, C1, and D1 are constant values that are determined from the material composition of the thermistor.
After the computation of the Formula Node is completed, T is routed to Temp (K) indicator and a subtract
element. The subtract element then converts the temperate T in Kelvin to Celsius. The data then is shown in
the indicator Temp (C) and graphed on the Temp Chart as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3. Thermistor LabVIEW Code

Page 5
 Figure 4. Experiment 1 Thermistor Measurement
3.2 Experiment 2 Results

In this experiment, students were tasked to construct a Wheatstone bridge circuit and programed a new vi in
LabVIEW to record the voltage measurements across the RTD sensor. Students programmed a portion of
the code shown in Figure 1 to verify the code, MyDAQ and myProto devices were working. After verifying
the functionality of the code and equipment, a Boolean stop switch was added to halt the program without
corrupting the code, a delay timer was added to control the time between measurements, and an iteration
indicator was added to count the number of measurements taken. The assembled circuit, RTD nominal
voltage reading, and RTD squeezed voltage reading are shown in Figure 5, Figure 6, and Figure 7,
respectively.

Figure 5. Experiment 2 Circuit

Page 6
 Figure 6. RTD Nominal Voltage Reading

Figure 7. RTD Squeezed Voltage Reading

To determine the measured temperature, the TO92_HSTUSA-270852 datasheet and Wheatstone bridge
circuit were examined. According to the circuit, R1 = R2 = R3 = 1 KΩ. To determine V o , equation (1) was
used. To calculate RG , equation (2) was used. According to the datasheet, Ro = 1000 Ω. According to the
IEC 751 standard as mentioned in the datasheet, A = 0.0039083 and B=−5.775 x 10−7. To calculate
temperature T, equation (3) was used. The measured and calculated values are shown in Table 3.

RG R1
V o =V ex ( RG + R 3 − R 1+ R 2 ) (1)

R 3 (V ex +2 V o)
RG= ¿ (2)
V ex−2 V o ¿
Page 7
 2
RG=Ro (1+ AT +B T ) (3)

Table 3. Experiment 2 RTD Measurements

Measured V o Measured V ex Calculated RG Calculated T
0.13653 V 4.82189 V 1120.06 Ω 30.86 °C
0.16263 V 4.82189 V 1144.67 Ω 37.22 °C

The difference between the measured V o is small; however, the change in temperature is larger. This is due
to the configuration of the deflection bridge circuit. Changing the resistors values can caused a greater
variation in V o , but V o is used to determine the resistance of the RTD. Nevertheless, now that the RTD
formulas are established, they can be implemented in LabVIEW to optimize the RTD temperature readings.
5. Conclusion

The lab provided quality and thorough demonstration of the uses for LabVIEW software in correlation with
temperature measuring sensors. The thermistor experiment showed students how to set up a LabVIEW
program to interface with hardware, in this case a MyDAQ unit. The LabVIEW software conveniently
illustrated the temperature measurements in a numeric and graphical representation from the use of a
physical thermistor wired to the MyDAQ’s digital multimeter. With a delay timer of 500 milliseconds, the
nominal temperature readings appear to be updated in real time once the thermistor was squeezed between
the student’s fingers. In experiment 2, students created their own vi to set up a deflection bridge circuit. In
the LabVIEW environment, students used various functions and elements on the block diagram in order to
read the voltage from a physical RTD sensor that was wired to a deflection bridge circuit which was
connected to the MyDAQ device. The input and output voltages were displayed on the front panel, and a
knob was used to select the readings per millisecond taken by the MyDAQ unit. The vi was tested first using
the PWR connections to the inputs of the myProto device. The deflection bridge was then built, and the
voltages were read using the LabVIEW program. Overall this lab was very helpful in understanding the uses
of LabVIEW and its’ importance in circuit design and instrumentation application. The experiments were
very detailed in showing students how to use and develop their LabVIEW program as well as the methods
of interfacing physical hardware to the software for various tests. Ultimately, students gained a greater
insight and experience using LabVIEW programming and temperature measuring sensors.

Page 8
References:

[1] B. Kopp, “Lab 1, LabVIEW and Resistance Measurements” UNF, Jacksonville, FL, EEL 4930 Lab
Manual, November 2018.
[2] Heraeus, “Housed Platinum Resistance Temperature Detector”, TO92_HSTUSA-270852 datasheet,
2010.

Page 9
Page 10