Hi all, wondering if I can get some advice on a setup, firstly on the hardware approach to take, and then if different communications (modbus? ASCII?) are preferable to use with labview
I need to control 2 solenoid valves, which will open when a sensor exceeds a certain value, and I understand the current requirements are too high to control them directly from my DAQ USB-6363. From reading on here it seems I need a relay, but I get a bit lost after that. I think my options are to connect my DAQ to a digital output to relay module (?), that to the relay, relay to valve. Or get an external ethernet relay, connected to the computer(?) and to the valve. Whichever relay will be connected to my power supply (?), and the sensor will be connected to the DAQ. I’ve done the DAQ course, but I have little to no knowledge on circuits/hardware, hence my uncertainty.
I haven’t bought anything yet, so am looking to buy whatever is going to make life easiest.
With this in mind, when looking for hardware to interface with labview, are there ideal communication means to look out for?
Is modbus an easy way to communicate for example? ASCII? Or are there certain things that are a pain to program while some lend themselves to nice code?
My program is a continuous acquisition, which has kept me away from using express VIs (if I recall), is based on a QMH and it interfaces with another couple of instruments using drivers, but these seem to vary quite a lot in how easy there are to find/use.
I'm happy to learn something that’s not immediately straightforward if it makes my code better in the end.
Any advice on the hardware approach to take and then what comms to look for will be much appreciated.
Thanks for reading