Home Support Documentation Supplemental

How to Connect Signals to an NI Switch

Updated May 9, 2024

Overview

This guide explains how to connect signals to your NI Switch. When connecting signals to your Switch you will need to identify what front-mounted terminal block, or cable and remote terminal block that you would like to use for your application. Some switches also have the option for users to create a custom connector or cable solution to connect signals. This article will walk through the necessary steps to connect signal to your switch and provide additional resources for your specific switch model, cable and accessories.

Contents

Identify the Necessary Cable and Terminal Block

To prepare for connecting signals to your switch you will first need to identify what cable and/or terminal block you will be using with your device. Most NI Switches have various cable and accessory options. The options available for your switch will vary depending on the type of switch you select and the topology you plan to use. 

To find recommended front-mounted terminal blocks, cables and remote terminal blocks please see the NI Switches Cable and Accessory Compatibility guides. 

 

Back to top

How to Connect Signals to Your NI Switch, Cable or Accessory 

The instructions for connecting signals to your NI Switch, NI Switch Cable or NI Switch Accessory can be found in the NI Switch Help, and the Cable and Accessory Installation guides. 

You can find the NI Switch Help and Cable and Accessory Installation guides installed in the follow directory after installing the NI-Switch driver <National Instruments>\NI-SWITCH\NI-SWITCH Documentation, or on NI.com.

Once you have navigated to the NI-SWITCH Documentation you can open the NI-Switch Help to find the pinout for individual switch models. The pinouts can be found at NI-Switches Help>>Devices>><Switch Model>>><Topology>. For example, the pinout for the NI PXI-2510 can be seen below:

 

 

You can find guidance on how to connect your cable or front-mounted terminal block to your device, along with the pinout for the cable or front-mounted terminal block in the Installation Instructions. The Installation Instructions can be found by searching ni.com for the cable or front-mounted terminal block, or by navigating to <National Instruments>\NI-SWITCH\NI-SWITCH Documentation\Accessories and finding your cable or accessory. 

The Installation Instructions will provide guidance on how to connect the cable or accessory to your device as seen below. 

 

It will also provide guidance on the pinout of the cable or accessory and how that relates to your NI Switch module. 


Back to top

Custom Connector or Cable Solutions

Some applications require that users have custom cable, accessory or interface with their NI Switch. If your system requires that you create your own connector or connection solution please see the NI Switch Mating Connectors for Custom Solutions or Cables guide. This guide provides the NI orderable and manufacturer part numbers for mating connectors for popular NI Switches. 

 

Back to top

Popular Switches

Back to top

Related Resources

Back to top

Was this information helpful?

Yes

No