PC-Lab2000 TM. Software for Velleman PC peripherals : PCS500 / PCS100 / K8031 / PCG10 / K8016 SOFTWARE GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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1 Software for Velleman PC peripherals : PCS500 / PCS100 / K8031 / PCG10 / K8016 SOFTWARE GETTING STARTED GUIDE CHECK ALSO THE UNIT REFERENCE MANUAL

2 This software runs only under Windows 95/98/ME/2000 or Windows NT. PC-Lab2000 TM LIMITED WARRANTY: The software and accompanying written materials are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the software is with you. Should the software prove defective, you and not Magnova Components or Velleman Components or its suppliers assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction. Neither Magnova Components or Velleman Components nor its suppliers warrant that the functions contained in the software will meet your requirements or that the operation of the software will be uninterrupted or error free. LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES: In no event Magnova Components or Velleman Components or its suppliers be liable to you for any damages, including any lost profits, loss of business information, business interruption, lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use such software, even if Magnova Components or Velleman Components or its suppliers has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any claim by any other party. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US WHICH SUPERCEDES ANY PROPOSAL OR PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN US RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT. 2

3 Welcome to the world of Pc-Lab2000 This software can be used as an introduction to the powerful world of measuring, using the Velleman products. The hardware is not necessary to evaluate the software in Demo mode. This software can be used with the Velleman measurement instruments: PCS500, Dual channel digital storage oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer and transient recorder. PCS100 / K8031 One channel digital storage oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer and transient recorder. PCG10 / K8016 Pc function generator Extra feature: Using the oscilloscope and generator on the same computer, this software creates the powerful bode plot feature. What? : Pc-Lab2000 is a piece of virtual instrumentation software, for use with the Velleman PC oscilloscopes and the Velleman PC generator. It allows you to operate the Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer, Transient Recorder, Function Generator and Bode Plot-functions in a Windows environment. This guide will help you install Pc-Lab2000 onto your system, and it will make you familiar with the basic features. The software is fully functional and can be freely distributed. If you do not own a Velleman PC oscilloscope, you can still run the demo-mode. Make sure you look for upgrades at In no way this guide is complete. Please check the provided help files for additional and detailed information. General software features Possibility to save data or screen information Review your saved images Standard Windows interface, copy, paste.. Extended signal measurements using markers Direct readout of True RMS, db value, frequency (using markers) Changing the time/div will zoom a still screen Math functions on the signal Customize the signal screen colors 3

4 How to install Pc-Lab2000 Minimum system requirements : IBM compatible PC running Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT4(*) VGA display card (800x600) 3MB free hard disk space Mouse or pointing device CD Rom player Free parallel port Insert the Pc-Lab2000 CD into your drive. Run the SETUP.EXE program. An install wizard will guide you trough the complete installation procedure. Shortcuts to the Pc-Lab2000 software and the help files are automatically generated. After starting the Pc-Lab2000 software: Select your connected hardware or select demo mode. Select the used printer port Note for Windows NT/2000 users : If you are installing Pc-Lab2000 under Windows NT/2000 you will need local Administrator privileges to successfully complete the installation. If you are going to run this software under a user account without administrator privileges, you also need to run the extra installation program (INSTALL_DRV.EXE) once the normal installation is completed. *IBM, Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT4(*) are registered trademarks 4

5 Starting the software : Locate the Pc-Lab2000 software shortcuts (programs.. Pc-Lab2000 ) Click the icon to start the main program. The main program automatically launches the Oscilloscope module, which is shown on the next page. If you like to change the setup: Click the Options menu, and select Hardware Setup to select your hardware. If you do not own any of the Velleman PC Scopes, you can select None to enter the demo mode. Hint : Should you experience troubles (e.g. When using a laptop or an oddball computer ), try a different port address and/or choose the Slow communication speed. Check also the port settings in the computer BIOS setting, test with the deferal settings; EPP (works in most cases), SPP, ECP... REMARK: The actual screen can differ from the one shown in this manual. The PCS100 / K8031 has only 1 channel 5

6 The main module featuring the Oscilloscope display : PC-Lab2000 TM What? : The Oscilloscope module offers a feature-packed, easy to use digital storage oscilloscope. How? : Connect the circuit under test to the scope input (observe the max. input rating of the scope!) Start measuring with trigger off (6) Press RUN (7) Choose the desired channel and volts/div setting or press Auto-set (2) * Autoset can not be used in 1GHz mode (PCS500 only). Choose the appropriate time/div setting (8) To enable triggering : Select trigger channel (5) Select trigger edge (4) Set trigger to ON (6) Set trigger level by sliding (3). The trigger mark is displayed on the left hand side of the signal display (1) 6

7 The Spectrum Analyser Module : 3 1 What? : Powerfull feature which allows visualisation of the frequency spectrum of a signal, using FFT (Fast Fourrier Transform) analysis. How? : Connect the scope input to the circuit under test. (observe the max. input rating of the scope!) First observe the signal on the scope screen (see previous page). Check that the signal is not over the maximum of the screen. Start the spectrum analyzer. Press RUN (1) Select the appropriate frequency range. Make sure your setting will capture any signal change of interest (3). If wanted set the appropriate channel and volts/div setting (2) 2 7

8 The Transient Recorder Module : What? : Record occasional events and log slow changing processes automatically, e.g. battery charge cycles, temperature changes,... or track intermittent faults in electronic circuits. Automatic data storage allows over one year of continuous recording! How? : Connect the scope input to the circuit under test Select the appropriate channel and volts/div setting (1) Select the appropriate time/division setting (3) Press RUN (2) to start recording * Press RUN again, to stop the measurement, or use the Single button to make a single screen measurement. For continuous recording with auto-save to your HD, select AutoSave Data from the File -menu. Notes: During recording the screen can differ from the actual measurement. Events happening between two sample acquisitions will be missed if a too slow time/div is set 8

9 The Function Generator Module : What? : Most common waveforms are accessible at the touch of a button. A library with special functions is provided, as well as a Wave Editor, to create virtually any kind of waveform. How? : Click on the desired waveform (4). Select the desired frequency range (3). Set the exact frequency by sliding (2) or click the frequency readout (1) and enter a value. Adjust the offset (5) Adjust the amplitude (6) values can be entered by clicking the offset and amplitude readout (7) shows a simulated preview of the output waveform 9

10 The More Functions - button : The More Functions -button gives access to special purpose waveforms such as arbitrary waveforms, noise, frequency sweeps and DC. It also gives access to the waveform library. The Wave Editor option : Click the TOOLS -menu and select Wave Editor to start the Wave Editor, which allows you to create a library of custom waveforms. The library files are ASCII text files, which can be created with an ordinary text editor, or with this tool. The file consists of a list of amplitude values. These values can be either reals between 1 and +1 or integers between 0 and 255 (center position = 128). One file can contain a maximum of values. Please refer to the Help -section for detailed instructions on how to use this option. 10

11 The Bode Plotter Module What? : Allows you to analyze the frequency response of all kinds of circuits such as amplifiers, filters, etc... (Needs PC Oscilloscope & Function Generator). How? : Connect the output of the Function Generator to the input of the instrument under test. Connect the output of the instrument under test to the PC Oscilloscope. Adjust the Y-position of the Scope until the trace is centered. Select the vertical scale (1). Select the highest frequency of interest (2). Select starting frequency (3). Select the Volts/Div range of the oscilloscope according to the expected output signal of the instrument under test (7). Click the START -button to start the Bode Plot (4) The response curve is drawn in the display area (6) and can be stored for later use. Multiple curve tracing is also possible. The measured values are also displayed (5). 11

12 VELLEMAN Instruments is a division of VELLEMAN Components NV Legen Heirweg Gavere Belgium Support & updates : Velleman Instruments HPC-Lab2000_GB