How to Connect Signals to the PXI-2530

Publish Date: Oct 24, 2014

Table of Contents

1.
2.
3.
4.

Overview
PXI-2530 Terminal Blocks
Signal Connection with Terminal Blocks
Custom Termination Options for the PXI-2530

1. Overview

NI PXI-2530

The National Instruments PXI-2530 is a high-density, multiconfiguration multiplexer/matrix switch module. With four multiplexer
and three matrix configurations, the NI PXI-2530 is an excellent solution for large or complex-channel-count systems. Multiplexer
configurations include 128x1 (1-wire), 64x1 (2-wire), 32x1 (4-wire), or eight banks of 16x1 (1-wire). Matrix configurations include
4x32 (1-wire), 8x16 (1-wire), or 4x16 (2-wire). You can implement these configurations by selecting the appropriate terminal block
or cabling. With the speed of reed relays, the PXI-2530 is an ideal front-end component for high-speed measurement devices,
such as the NI PXI-4070 6-digit FlexDMM.
2. PXI-2530 Terminal Blocks

There are three terminal blocks available for the PXI-2530:

>TB-2630: 1-wire (128x1, dual 64x1, quad 32x1, octal 16x1), 2-wire (64x1, dual 32x1, quad 16x1), 4-wire (32x1, dual 16x1),
Independent
TB-2632: 1wire 8x16

TB-2630
The National Instruments TB-2630 configures the NI PXI-2530 as a multiplexer with several optional sizes. It creates 128x1
(1-wire), 64x1 (2-wire), and 32x1 (4-wire) configurations instantly. The NI TB-2630 will also accommodate other multiplexer sizes
based on the 16x1 building blocks of the PXI-2530. Connections are made with ribbon cable headers inside the housing.
The figure below outlines the main components of the TB-2630:

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The figure below clearly outlines how the ribbon cable headers on the TB-2630 map to the 8 banks and their respective lines of
the PXI-2530:

To determine how the pins on each bank map to the channels of a particular multiplexer topology for the TB-2630, open up NI
Switches Help and navigate as follows:
NI Switches Help > Devices > NI PXI-2530 > Signal Connections and select either 1-Wire Multiplexer and Independent Topologies
, 2-Wire Multiplexer Topologies, and 4-wire Multiplexer Topologies.

TB-2631
The National Instruments TB-2631 configures the NI PXI-2530 high-density matrix switch as a 4x32 (1-wire) or 4x16 (2-wire)
matrix. It provides direct signal wire connections to the screw terminals inside the terminal block.
The figure below outlines the main components of the TB-2631:

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The figure below clearly outlines how the screw terminals on the TB-2631 map to the rows and columns of the PXI-2530:

To determine how the screw terminals map to the channels of a particular topology for the TB-2631, open up NI Switches Help
and navigate as follows:
NI Switches Help > Devices > NI PXI-2530 > Signal Connections and then select either 1-Wire 4x32 Matrix Topology or 2-Wire
4x16 Matrix Topology.

TB-2632
The National Instruments TB-2632 configures the NI PXI-2530 high-density matrix switch as an 8x16 (1-wire) matrix. It provides
direct signal wire connections to the screw terminals inside the terminal block.
The figure below outlines the main components of the TB-2632:

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The figure below clearly outlines how the screw terminals on the TB--2632 map to the rows and columns of the PXI-2530:

3. Signal Connection with Terminal Blocks

The PXI-2530 is capable of 4 multiplexer configurations and 3 matrix configurations. The TB-2630, TB-2631 and TB-2632 terminal
blocks, in conjunction with the software, determine which of these topologies is implemented and how the signals should be
connected.

TB-2630
The TB-2630 will be used for multiplexer topology applications of the PXI-2530.
Below is an actual image of the TB-2630 outlining the various connections:

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Connecting signals to the TB-2630 involves using ribbon cable sockets. Eight 2x9 0.100 inch ribbon cable connectors are
included, as seen below:

More ribbon cable sockets can be purchased through National Instruments (P/N:778962-01). The vendors of compatible
connectors can be seen on the following table:
Accessory

Manufacturer

Part Number

2x9 0.100 in. Pitch Ribbon Cable Connector

Samtec

IDD-09-H

0.100 in. Pitch Cable Connector Assembly (0.100 in. Pitch

Connector and 0.050 in. Pitch Ribbon Cable)

Samtec

IDSD-09 Series

You can use any 0.050 in. pitch ribbon cable with the TB-2630. To use a ribbon cable with more than 18 conductors, remove the
unwanted conductors before using.
These ribbon cables connectors connect to the 8 ribbon cable headers of the TB-2630, each of which represents a single bank on
the PXI-2530.
To connect signals to the PXI-2530 via the TB-2630, attach ribbon cable connectors (with corresponding ribbon cable) into the
desired banks of ribbon cable headers. Ensure that the ribbon cables are properly reinforced by the strain relief bar, and then
attach the terminal block cover. The terminal block can then be connected directly to the switch via the mating connectors as
shown in the following figure:
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To determine which bank and header pin terminal names represent which channels in the PXI-2530, refer to the NI-Switches Help
at:
NI Switches Help > Devices > NI PXI-2530 > Signal Connections and select the required general topology i.e. 2-Wire Multiplexer,
1-Wire 8x16 Matrix etc.
Then navigate to: NI Switches Help > Devices > NI PXI-2530 and select the specific topology required to determine the exact
channel mapping, for example for 1-Wire Dual 64x1 Multiplexer Topology the figure clearly indicates how the PXI-2530 routing is
arranged:

Similarly for the the 4-Wire 32x1 Multiplexer Topology the figure is:

TB-2631

The TB-2631 will be used for 4x32 1-wire and 4x16 2-wire matrix applications of the PXI-2530.
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The TB-2631 will be used for 4x32 1-wire and 4x16 2-wire matrix applications of the PXI-2530.
Below is an actual image of the TB-2631 outlining the various connections:

The screw terminal names are clearly labled on the TB-2631. To determine how they correspond to the matrix rows and columns
of the PXI-2530 navigate to: NI Switches Help > Devices > NI PXI-2530 > Signal Connections and then select either 1-Wire 4x32
Matrix Topology or 2-Wire 4x16 Topology.
To connect signals to the PXI-2530 via the TB-2631, screw the leads into the screw terminals as required, ensure that the leads
are properly reinforced by the strain relief bar and then attach the terminal block cover. The terminal block can then be connected
directly to the switch via the mating connectors as shown in the following figure:

TB-2632
The TB-2632 will be used for 8x16 1-wire matrix applications of the PXI-2530.
Below is an actual image of the TB-2632 outlining the various connections:

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The screw terminal names are clearly labeled on the TB-2632. To determine how they correspond to the matrix rows and columns
of the PXI-2530 navigate to: NI Switches Help > Devices > NI PXI-2530 > Signal Connections > 1-Wire 8x16 Matrix Topology.
To connect signals to the PXI-2530 via the TB-2632, screw the leads into the screw terminals as required, ensure that the leads
are properly reinforced by the strain relief bar and then attach the terminal block cover. The terminal block can then be connected
directly to the switch via the mating connectors as shown in the following figure:

4. Custom Termination Options for the PXI-2530

The PXI-2530 can also be utilized without either the TB-2630, TB-2631 or TB-2632.
Below is a figure of the pin-outs for the PXI-2530:

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NI 176-Pin Cable to 4x50-Pin D-Sub

You can easily cable the PXI-2530 to four NI TBX-50 terminal blocks using the 176-Pin Cable to 4x50-Pin D-Sub (part number
780889-01). The 176-Pin cable can be seen below:

The pin assignments for this cable can be found in the 176-Pin Cable to 4x50-Pin D-Sub Installation Instructions. You can use
this cable to connect your signals through four separate NI TBX-50 terminal blocks (part number 779305-01), shown below:

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