Drives and Controls Magazine
Home
Menu
Plug-in modules tailor combined scope and data recorder
Published:  26 June, 2017

Yokogawa has announced a portable instrument for capturing, recording, analysing and displaying electrical and physical parameters. The DL350 ScopeCorder combines oscilloscope functions with those of a high-performance data acquisition recorder.

Yokogawa says that unlike alternative portable measuring devices – such as oscilloscopes and combined oscilloscope/multimeters – the new instrument brings high levels of precision and accuracy to field measurements, isolated inputs for measurements at high voltage levels, and memory capabilities that allow long-term recording for many hours or even days.

Input modules can be plugged into the instrument to configure it for specific applications. There is a choice of 18 types of user-swappable modules that can be plugged into two slots, allowing the instrument to carry out tasks such as precise voltage measurements, or handling signals from current probes, temperature sensors, strain gauges, accelerometers and serial buses, without needing extra boxes or cables. The modules include an RMS module for real-time AC measurements, and a mathematics channel for signal processing and analysis.

A high-resolution, high-speed sampling module provides individually isolated 12-bit, 100 MS/s inputs, and can measure and record transient waveforms (superimposed on inverter outputs, for example) and the edges of control signals which cannot be measured by traditional handheld recorders or oscilloscopes.

The instrument can measure power in single and three-phase systems. For fundamental waveforms of 50 or 60Hz, up to 40 harmonic orders can be analysed. Alternatively, it is possible to use FFT functions to perform frequency analyses.

Four isolated 16-bit voltage inputs can be measured at speeds of one megasample per second (MS/s), alongside 16 temperature signals or two separate CAN or LIN buses each containing 60 signals. Changing a module enables measurement at 100 MS/s with 12 bits and 1kV of isolation.

There is a choice of operating modes. Recorder mode is suitable for long-term, continuous recordings for specific durations, where the sampling interval is specified. Scope mode allows the DL350 to be used like an oscilloscope.

Up to 5 Gpoints of data per module can be recorded directly to an SD card, providing continuous recordings of up to 50 days. For high-speed signals, up to 100 Mpoints per module of internal memory is available to capture fast transients. This is said to be up to 10,000 times better than other portable oscilloscopes or oscilloscope/multimeters and allows signals to be captured with higher sample rates or over longer periods.

Yokogawa's ScopeCorder with some of the plug-in modules that can tailor it for specific applications

The 4kg instrument has an 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen which operates reliably in electrically noisy environments, such as near motors and inverters, and can be operated using gloved hands or a stylus.

Examples of applications for the instrument include:

•  Preventative maintenance checks on industrial robots  The DL350 can be fitted with a four-channel, high-speed isolation module and an acceleration/voltage module to check the health of industrial robots. Using FFT analysis, engineers can monitor and check vibration under acceleration to identify potential failures, allowing them to plan remedial action to prevent line stoppages.

•  Industrial power line performance monitoring  Fitting the instrument with a high-voltage isolation module, and using a “wave window trigger” function, allows users to monitor and capture degradation caused by voltage sags, surges and interruptions. The instrument can measure inputs up to 1kVrms, 1.4 kVpeak directly. An “action on trigger” function can save a waveform and send an automatic notification when the trigger event is detected.

•  Evaluating EV inverter performance  By combining the DL350 with high-speed isolation and CANbus modules, it can be used to monitor electric vehicle drivetrain efficiency and performance. It can measure the fluctuation of the input/output voltage of the inverter, and trend speed, accelerating and braking rates translated by CAN communications for up to 2.5 hours at a sample rates of 200KS/s.