Fluke 1120A

[normbo663]

Has anyone had success using NI GPIB cards or NI GPIB-USB to communicate with a Fluke 1120A IEEE-488 translator. I am using this Fluke 1120A to retrieve the data from a Fluke 8921A True RMS voltmeter.  Using  NI-MAX, I have not been able to scan for instruments or get the Fluke 1120A to respond at all. I believe it is a "Talk only" device so maybe the higher level NI GPIB functions won't work, but even the low level "Receive" function returns errors. Both of these Fluke devices were built before 1990 so I understand it may not be workable, but I am hoping someone has had success.

Thanks,

NormD

[luissg · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I found a manual on the web to a similar model that includes information regarding the needed components and available functions to send data to a GPIB port using an 1120A translator:

http://www.nousnexus.com/Manuals/Fluke_8922A.pdf

Do you have access to your instruments manual and the translator manual? It may be that you are missing a component like the -519 option interface mentioned on the manual (Page 97 of PDF doc).

Another idea is to use a camera with vision software tools if you really need to capture data from this legacy instrument.  You can use the Instrument Readers VIs in LabVIEW to read with a camera seven-segment displays, meters or gauges from old instruments.

http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370281U-01/imaqvision/instrument_readers_pal/

These VIs are part of the Vision Development Module.

http://www.ni.com/labview/vision/

[normbo663]

Hi Luis,

Thanks for getting back to me. I do have the manuals for the Fluke 8921a, 1120a ieee translator, and 892XA -521/ -522 DMM interface option. The 521 is installed in the 8921A and the 522 is installed in the 1120A. I have sinced learned that the last time this setup worked with GPIB was in a DOS environment on 486 pc, and no one has been able to get it going on any pentium pc with 32bit or 64 bit operating systems, but I really like your vision idea and I have NI vision assistant and vision builder, so if it is all right with you I may continue asking you some questions in this thread?

Thanks,

Norm

[luissg]

Hi Norm,

I am glad the information provided was helpful. I suggest posting your question to the vision discussion forums if you want to take this approach.

http://forums.ni.com/t5/Machine-Vision/bd-p/200

Make sure you do have the Vision Development Module. These VIs will only be enabled in LabVIEW if you have access to these tools.

For your reference you can open this example online that uses the mentioned VIs to read values from a seven-segment LCD display. If you are able to open and run the example, then you do have access to the tools.

http://www.ni.com/example/30534/en/