CLEVELAND, OH, April 2005 — IOtech, Inc. is introducing DBK48^™, the latest addition to their extensive line of signal conditioning options. The DBK48 uses new, low-cost 8B isolated signal conditioning modules, providing up to 16 channels of I/O with 250V isolation from channel-to-channel. The new DBK48 attaches to any of IOtech’s data acquisition products with a P1 expansion port, including the portable DaqBook/2000^® Series, PCI DaqBoard/2000^™ Series, and the Ethernet DaqLab/2000^™ and DaqScan/2000^™ products. Up to sixteen DBK48 modules can be attached to one P1 expansion port for a total channel capacity of 256 channels.

Prior to the DBK48 and 8B module availability, users typically used 5B modules for accomplishing the same task. The popular 5B modules are approximately 5 times larger than 8B modules, and cost nearly twice as much as the new 8B modules. Consequently, the new 8B series will result in substantially more compact and lower cost isolated data acquisition systems.

All signal connections to the DBK48 are accomplished via removable screw-terminal connectors on the front panel. Cold junction compensation is built into the DBK48, allowing any channel to be configured as a thermocouple (TC) input channel. When 2-wire signals are attached to the unit, such as voltage, current or TC, all 16 channels can be populated with 8B signal conditioning modules. When 3- or 4-wire transducers are used such as strain gages or RTDs, then the maximum number of 3- or 4-wire transducers is eight. In that case, an additional 8 channels of 2-wire signals such as volts or thermocouples can also be attached.

The DBK48 is powered from a number of sources: an included AC adapter, an optional DBK30A^™ rechargeable battery/excitation module, or directly from a 10 to 30V VDC source such as a car battery. The DBK48 has a built-in DC/DC converter capable of providing 10W exclusively for 8B modules.

A wide variety of 8B signal conditioning modules are available for measuring volts, thermocouples, RTDs, current and strain gages. Many more modules will be introduced throughout 2005.