Automated voltage rail monitoring

[Russ.Dill@gmail.com]

I get a piece of test equipment that will allow me to monitor several voltage rails as part of an automated test. I just need to measure DC levels. I don't care if it's USB, serial, network, or other.  Multiple channels would be nice, but if it's only one channel, I can buy multiple.

I see stuff like the USBee DX, but it's got way more features than I need and the cost is way too high, especially when you need more than 2 channels:

http://www.usbee.com/dx.html


Any tips?

[PedroDaGr8]

I get a piece of test equipment that will allow me to monitor several voltage rails as part of an automated test. I just need to measure DC levels. I don't care if it's USB, serial, network, or other.  Multiple channels would be nice, but if it's only one channel, I can buy multiple.

I see stuff like the USBee DX, but it's got way more features than I need and the cost is way too high, especially when you need more than 2 channels:

http://www.usbee.com/dx.html


Any tips?

That is QUITE pricey for what it is IMHO. I am not size is an issue but there are a variety of scanning DMMs out there. You don't mention, do you have a required precision or accuracy, minimum number of channels, voltage range?

[Rufus]

I get a piece of test equipment that will allow me to monitor several voltage rails as part of an automated test. I just need to measure DC levels. I don't care if it's USB, serial, network, or other.  Multiple channels would be nice, but if it's only one channel, I can buy multiple.

http://www.mccdaq.com/

Will sell you USB data acquisition modules starting at $99 for 8 single ended 12 bit channels.

[PedroDaGr8]

I get a piece of test equipment that will allow me to monitor several voltage rails as part of an automated test. I just need to measure DC levels. I don't care if it's USB, serial, network, or other.  Multiple channels would be nice, but if it's only one channel, I can buy multiple.

http://www.mccdaq.com/

Will sell you USB data acquisition modules starting at $99 for 8 single ended 12 bit channels.

That looks quite good and likely would fit pretty well with the OP's requirements. Though I see no mentions of accuracy of the readings.

If he needs something a bit more high powered there are always the Agilent 34790A data acquisition systems. They can do more than just DC monitoring and are typically $500-900 on ebay, but can monitor a high number of channels and has 22bit (6.5 digit) and 0.004% accuracy.

[Russ.Dill@gmail.com]

I get a piece of test equipment that will allow me to monitor several voltage rails as part of an automated test. I just need to measure DC levels. I don't care if it's USB, serial, network, or other.  Multiple channels would be nice, but if it's only one channel, I can buy multiple.

I see stuff like the USBee DX, but it's got way more features than I need and the cost is way too high, especially when you need more than 2 channels:

http://www.usbee.com/dx.html


Any tips?

That is QUITE pricey for what it is IMHO. I am not size is an issue but there are a variety of scanning DMMs out there. You don't mention, do you have a required precision or accuracy, minimum number of channels, voltage range?

4 digits would be fine, accuracy really only needs to be around 10mV, voltage range +/-10V. I can always add more devices to get more channels.

[PedroDaGr8]

If you don't mind one that is a bit old, check out the Keithley 199 DMM (with the Option 1992 multiplex interface). It will give you up to 8 channels, controllable via GPIP.

[Russ.Dill@gmail.com]

I get a piece of test equipment that will allow me to monitor several voltage rails as part of an automated test. I just need to measure DC levels. I don't care if it's USB, serial, network, or other.  Multiple channels would be nice, but if it's only one channel, I can buy multiple.

http://www.mccdaq.com/

Will sell you USB data acquisition modules starting at $99 for 8 single ended 12 bit channels.

They have an open source API that uses libusb, nice. It's .net/mono but really that's just a personal prejudice and not a technical one. I'll give it a go