Digital I/O Sinking and Sourcing

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This document is part of a comprehensive tutorial on industrial Digital I/O and Counter/Timer hardware.
Learn about National Instruments product offerings for digital and timing I/O, the Industrial Feature Set
including watchdog timers and isolation, complementary devices like relays, solenoids and encoders,
concepts like sinking and sourcing, and see how these devices can be used in your industrial application.

For more information return to the Complete Industrial Digital I/O and Counter/Timer Tutorial
Table of Contents:
 What is Sinking and Sourcing?
 Sinking Devices
 Sourcing Devices
 Recommended NI Products that Connect to Sinking and Sourcing Devices

What is Sinking and Sourcing?

Sinking and Sourcing are terms used to define the control of direct current flow in a load. The concept of
sourcing and sinking is independent of the component (transistor, mechanical relay) that implements the
operation. While this concept applies to any DC circuitry; the component that implements the circuitry may
vary.

Sinking Devices

A sinking device provides a path for the current to ground and is not responsible for powering the device.
Terms used to describe sinking devices include NPN, Open Collector, Normally High, and IEC Negative
Logic.

Figure 1: Sinking

Sourcing Devices
A sourcing device provides the power or a positive potential. Sourcing devices 'push' the current through the
load. Terms used to describe sourcing devices include PNP, Open Emitter, Normally Low, and IEC Positive
Logic.

Figure 2: Sourcing