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https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-13122

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V-I Curve Tracer for NI myDAQ

VERSION 1

Created on: Aug 23, 2010 8:47 AM by edoering - Last Modified: Aug 23, 2010 9:41 AM by edoering

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Introduction: Use NI myDAQ to interactively explore and plot the voltage-current (V-I) characteristic of a two-terminal device.

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The "V-I Curve Tracer" application supports the following exploration modes:
Interactive single point: Adjust the applied voltage on "Analog Output 0" (AO0) and observe the device voltage and
current as a single point
Interactive plot: Enable persistence to trace a series of voltage-current points as a plot
Automated sweep: Automatically step the applied voltage over a user-specified range

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Double-click the upper and lower axis limits on the plot window to change the plot range. The green and orange pointer slide
indicators change automatically to match the plot window limits.
Equipment Setup: Use an op amp voltage follower to boost the current drive capability of the applied voltage on AO0:

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Community: V-I Curve Tracer for NI myDAQ - National Instruments

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https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-13122

References: This application appears in two NI myDAQ mini-labs:

V-I Characteristic I -- Linear devices
V-I Characteristic II -- Nonlinear devices
Attachments:
V-I Curve Tracer.vi (180.0 K) LabVIEW 2009
596 Downloads

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Categories: Example Code

Tags: example, labview-2009, mydaq

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hyperhyper May 13, 2013 2:53 AM

Good Day,
I am surprised to see very little, if any feedback or comments on this great VI and design.
This is a very useful implementation based on the well-known component tester principle (sometimes also called
an Octopus tester). Thank you. I like the front panel for its simplicity and the persistence mode in particular. One
can also implement this with the entry- level USB-6008/6009 hardware, and add another amplifier stage to
overcome its 0 to 5V output level limitations.
edoering, please allow me a suggestion. I cannot see any power supply bypassing in your external HW-design.
You might want to add a 100F electrolytic cap and a 100nF ceramic or film cap in parallel with the OpAmp
supplies, close to the OpAmp pins on the bread board. This helps to prevent oscillations and all sorts of potential
issues. Local bypassing caps might not be neccessary in your application, but this seems an ideal opportunity to
make beginners aware of this.
Keep up with the good work,
hyperhyper
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edoering Jun 3, 2013 7:13 AM (in response to hyperhyper)

Thanks for your comments, this was a particularly enjoyable project for me. Thanks also for raising the issue
about power supply bypassing.
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harsov Feb 20, 2014 4:11 PM

Can you please explain what should be changed if NI USB-6009 is used instead and is this set up appropriate for
solar cells testing?
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hyperhyper Mar 18, 2014 4:05 PM

Good Day,
in reply to your quesiton:
- Change the VI to use the drivers for USB-6008/6009
- Configure the DAQ Assistant VIs in the block diagram to match your HW configuration (i.e. RSE for single-ended
measurements)

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https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-13122

- Change the V/I-plot settings to accomodate ranges (USB-6008 can only source unipolar voltages)
I have made some minor cosmetical changes to the front panel, see the attached screenshot. This shows the V/I
curve of an ordinary 1N4004 Si-diode.
Cheers,

hyperhyper
Like (0)

hyperhyper Mar 19, 2014 2:53 AM

A few minor changes. This VI

without any external buffers (limited to sourcing 5mA and 5V).

uses the USB-6008 HW

Cheers,
hyperhyper
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musician Sep 24, 2014 2:15 AM

Hi
If i am using the usb-6008 for measurement. Does the circuit connection changes?
Also, may I have the vi for the usb-6008.
Thanks
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jarchiv Dec 29, 2014 3:01 AM

Hello,
How to export the measured values (GO button) to file?
Like (0)

edoering Dec 29, 2014 11:22 AM (in response to jarchiv)

Right-click on the plot, select "Export," and then choose "Export data to Excel."
This feature is built in to all LabVIEW graphs and plots, by the way.
Like (1)

jarchiv Dec 30, 2014 8:14 AM (in response to edoering)

thnx
Like (0)

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