Ports and Connectors

The cRIO-904x provides the following ports and connectors.

Figure 1. cRIO-904x Ports and Connectors

1378

  1. USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Role
  2. USB 3.1 Type-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode
  3. RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
  4. PFI 0
  5. Power Connector
  6. RS-232 Serial Port
  7. RS-485 Serial Port
  8. USB 2.0 Type-A
  9. SD Card Removable Storage

USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Role

The USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Role port implements dual role functionality and is capable of functioning as either a USB 3.1 Gen1 host or device. When operating as a host, the port supports common USB devices such as mass-storage devices, keyboards, mice, and USB cameras. When operating a device, use this port to connect the cRIO-904x to a host PC. The USB device functionality provides an alternate method to connect the cRIO-904x to a host PC and is intended for configuration, application deployment, debugging, and maintenance. The role of the port is determined automatically based on the cable inserted into the port. For example, the port will automatically function as a device when the cRIO-904x is connected to a host PC using the NI USB Type-C male to Type-A male cable provided in the kit.

USB 3.1 Type-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode

The USB 3.1 Type-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode port implements both a USB 3.1 Gen1 host and a DisplayPort 1.2 source using the USB Type-C DisplayPort alternate mode. Use a USB Type-C video adapter or monitor supporting the DisplayPort alternate mode to use this port as a display output. Alternatively, this port may be used as a standard USB host port and supports common USB devices such as mass-storage devices, keyboards, mice, and USB cameras. Use a USB Type-C male to USB Type-A female adapter to use this port with USB devices implementing a type-A male connector. Use a USB Type-C multiport adapter to simultaneously use this port as a display output and a USB host port.

The following NI USB Type-C adapters are available for the cRIO-904x.

Table 2. NI USB Type-C Adapters for cRIO-904x
Adapter Length Part Number
USB to DVI Adapter with Retention, USB Type-C Male to DVI-D Female 0.5 m 143558-0R5
USB to VGA Adapter with Retention, USB Type-C Male to VGA Female 0.5 m 143557-0R5
USB Cable with Retention, Type-C Male to Type-A Female, USB 3.1, 3A 0.5 m 143555-0R5

The following NI USB Type-C cables with retention are available for the cRIO-904x.

Table 3. NI USB Type-C Cables for cRIO-904x
Cable Length Part Number
USB Cable with Retention, Type-C Male to Type-C Male, USB 3.1, 3A 0.3 m 143556-0R3
1 m 143556-01
1 m 143556-02

PFI 0

The Programmable Function Interface (PFI) terminal is a SMB connector.

Table 4. Signal Descriptions
Signal Reference Description

PFI 0

—

Programmable Function Interface—You can configure the PFI terminal as a timing input or timing output signal for AI, AO, DI, DO, or counter/timer functions.

Note The PFI 0 terminal can only be programmed with NI-DAQmx.

Power Connector

The cRIO-904x has a power connector to which you can connect a primary and secondary power supply. The following table shows the pinout for the power connector.

Table 5. Power Connector Pinout
Pinout Pin Description
1378 V1 Primary power input
C Common
V2 Secondary power input
C Common
Caution The C terminals are internally connected to each other, but are functionally isolated from chassis ground. This isolation is intended to prevent ground loops, but does not meet IEC 61010-1 for safety isolation. You can connect the C terminals to chassis ground externally. Refer to the specifications on ni.com/manuals for information about the power supply input range and maximum voltage from terminal to chassis ground.

If you apply power to both the V1 and V2 inputs, the cRIO-904x operates from the V1 input. If the input voltage to V1 is insufficient, the cRIO-904x operates from the V2 input.

The cRIO-904x has reverse-voltage protection.

The following NI power supplies and accessories are available for the cRIO-904x.

Table 6. Power Accessories
Accessory Part Number
NI PS-15 Power Supply, 24 VDC, 5 A, 100-120/200-240 VAC Input 781093-01
NI PS-10 Desktop Power Supply, 24 VDC, 5 A, 100-120/200-240 VAC Input 782698-01
4-Position Gold Power Supply Plugs (Quantity 5) 783529-01
NI 9979 Strain Relief for 4-Position Power Connector 196939-01

SD Card Removable Storage

The cRIO-904x provides an SD card slot that can read from and write to SD cards. The slot supports SD card interface speeds up to UHS-I DDR50.

Notice Using SD cards that are not approved by NI might invalidate specifications and result in unreliable performance.
Notice Full and high-speed SD cards are prohibited for use with the cRIO-904x.

The following accessories are available from the SD card slot.

Table 7. cRIO-904x SD Storage Accessories
SD Card Capacity Part Number
Industrial SD Card, -40 to 85 °C, UHS-I 16 GB 786362-01
32 GB 786363-01
SD Door (x3) - 786218-01

SD Card Slot Cover

You must use the SD card slot cover to protect the SD card in hazardous locations. Do not remove an SD card while either LED is flashing or lit because file corruption may result.
Note Screw the slot cover closed completely. Tighten the captive screws to a maximum torque of 0.75 N · m (6.7 lb · in.) using a #1 Phillips screwdriver. Do not overtighten.

RS-232 Serial Port

The cRIO-904x has an RS-232 serial port that is implemented with an RJ-50, 10-position modular jack to which you can connect devices such as displays or input devices. Use the Serial VIs to read from and write to the serial port. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for information about the Serial VIs.

Find examples on how to use NI-Serial or NI-VISA to perform serial communication in the NI Example Finder. The NI Example Finder is located on the Help menu in the LabVIEW Help.

Note The RS-232 serial port cannot be accessed by the user application when the Console Out startup option is enabled.

The following table shows the pinout for the RS-232 serial port.

Table 8. RS-232 Serial Port Pinout
Pinout Pin Signal
1378 1 No Connect
2 RI
3 CTS
4 RTS
5 DSR
6 GND
7 DTR
8 TXD
9 RXD
10 DCD

You can use the Ring Indicator (RI) on pin 2 to wake the controller from a low-power state. You can drive RI with a logic level high to wake the cRIO-904x. Refer to the specifications on ni.com/manuals for the RI wake voltage.

The following accessories are available to connect the RS-232 serial port to a 9-pin DSUB plug.

Table 9. RS-232 Serial Port Accessories
Accessory Length Part Number
RS-232, S8 Serial Cable, 10-Position Modular Plug to 9-Pin DSUB 1 m 182845-01
2 m 182845-02
3 m 182845-03

RS-485 Serial Port

The cRIO-904x has an RS-485 serial port that is implemented with an RJ-50, 10-position modular jack. The RJ-50 connector is isolated from the cRIO-904x. For more information about the electrical isolation of the RS-485 port, refer to the specifications on ni.com/manuals.

Find examples on how to use NI-Serial or NI-VISA to perform serial communication in the NI Example Finder. The NI Example Finder is located on the Help menu in the LabVIEW Help.

The following table shows the pinout for the RS-485 serial port.

Table 10. RS-485 Serial Port Pinout
Pinout Pin Signal
1378 1 No Connect
2 TXD-
3 TXD+
4 No Connect
5 No Connect
6 RXD-
7 RXD+
8 No Connect
9 No Connect
10 Isolated GND

The following accessory is available to connect the RS-485 serial port to a 9-pin DSUB plug.

Notice To ensure the specified EMC performance, you must use an isolated cable with the RS-485 serial port. The following accessory meets this requirement.
Table 11. RS-485 Serial Port Accessory
Accessory Length Part Number
RS-485, S8 Serial Cable, 10-Position Modular Plug to 9-Pin DSUB (Isolated) 1 m 184428-01

USB 2.0 Type-A

The USB 2.0 Type-A port implements a USB 2.0 Type-A host and supports common USB devices such as mass-storage, devices, keyboards, mice, and USB cameras.

The following NI cables with retention are available for the cRIO-904x.

Table 12. NI Cables with Retention for cRIO-904x
Cable Length Part Number
USB Extension with Retention, Type-A Male to Type-A Female, USB 2.0 0.5 m 152166-0R5
2 m 152166-02