Product Introduction
The NI PCI-6225 is a cost-effective M Series multifunction data acquisition (DAQ) device designed for industrial measurement, automated testing, laboratory research, and sensor acquisition applications. It combines high-channel-count analog input, analog output, digital I/O, and counter/timer functionality on a single PCI interface board.
Featuring up to 80 analog input channels, 16-bit ADC resolution, 250 kS/s maximum sampling rate, 2 analog output channels, 24 digital I/O lines, and hardware counter/timer resources, the PCI-6225 provides a flexible solution for large-scale general-purpose data acquisition systems.
Product Overview
The NI PCI-6225 belongs to the NI M Series multifunction DAQ family and is optimized for applications requiring a large number of analog measurement channels with reliable performance and cost efficiency.
Compared with higher-speed M Series and X Series DAQ devices, the PCI-6225 focuses on high-channel-density measurement rather than maximum acquisition speed. It is ideal for systems that require monitoring many sensors, test points, or analog signals over time.
The PCI-6225 integrates analog input, analog output, digital I/O, and timing functions into a single PCI board, helping engineers reduce system complexity and hardware costs.
Key Features
80 Analog Input Channels
The PCI-6225 provides a large number of analog input channels for multi-point measurement applications.
- 80 single-ended analog input channels
- 40 differential analog input channels
- Multi-channel sensor acquisition
- Industrial signal monitoring
- Large-scale data logging
Advantage: High channel density allows engineers to acquire many analog signals using fewer DAQ devices.
16-Bit Analog Input Resolution
The PCI-6225 provides 16-bit analog-to-digital conversion for reliable measurement accuracy.
- 16-bit ADC resolution
- Accurate voltage measurement
- Sensor signal acquisition
- Industrial monitoring
- Electronic testing
Advantage: Provides a practical balance between accuracy, channel count, and system cost.
250 kS/s Analog Input Sampling Rate
The PCI-6225 supports hardware-timed analog acquisition for general measurement and monitoring applications.
- Up to 250 kS/s sampling rate
- Hardware-timed acquisition
- Continuous data collection
- Multi-channel scanning
- Automated measurement tasks
Advantage: Suitable for applications where stable long-term acquisition is more important than extremely high-speed sampling.
Multiplexed Analog Input Architecture
The PCI-6225 uses a multiplexed analog input architecture to provide many channels through shared ADC resources.
- High channel density
- Flexible scanning sequences
- Efficient ADC utilization
- Multi-sensor measurement
Advantage: Enables cost-effective acquisition of many analog signals within a single PCI device.
2 Analog Output Channels
The PCI-6225 includes two analog output channels for programmable voltage generation.
- 2 analog output channels
- 16-bit DAC resolution
- Analog stimulus generation
- Control signal output
- Calibration applications
Advantage: Provides both measurement and signal generation capabilities in one multifunction DAQ board.
24 Digital I/O Lines
The PCI-6225 provides digital input and output channels for system control and external hardware communication.
- 24 digital I/O lines
- Digital input monitoring
- Digital output control
- Relay control
- Test fixture interfacing
Advantage: Allows integration with external switches, indicators, actuators, and automation hardware.
Counter/Timer Functions
The PCI-6225 includes hardware counter/timer resources for precise timing and event measurement.
- 32-bit counters
- Event counting
- Frequency measurement
- Pulse generation
- Timing applications
Advantage: Provides accurate hardware timing without relying entirely on software execution.
Analog and Digital Triggering
The PCI-6225 supports hardware triggering for synchronized acquisition and generation operations.
- Analog triggering
- Digital triggering
- External event synchronization
- Hardware-timed measurement
Advantage: Enables reliable and repeatable automated measurement sequences.
PCI Bus Interface
The PCI-6225 is designed for installation into compatible desktop and industrial computers.
- PCI interface
- Industrial PC integration
- Desktop DAQ systems
- Automated test stations
Advantage: Provides an economical solution for existing PCI-based DAQ platforms.
NI-DAQmx Software Support
The PCI-6225 is supported by NI-DAQmx software for configuration, programming, and measurement development.
- NI-DAQmx driver support
- LabVIEW integration
- NI MAX configuration
- TestStand support
- C/C++ and .NET programming
Advantage: Provides a complete software environment for developing custom automated measurement applications.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Type | PCI M Series Multifunction DAQ Device |
| Analog Input Channels | 80 Single-Ended / 40 Differential |
| Analog Input Resolution | 16-bit |
| Maximum Analog Input Rate | 250 kS/s |
| Analog Output Channels | 2 |
| Analog Output Resolution | 16-bit |
| Digital I/O | 24 Lines |
| Counter/Timers | 2 × 32-bit Counters |
| Triggering | Analog and Digital Triggering |
| Host Interface | PCI |
| DAQ Family | NI M Series |
| Driver | NI-DAQmx |
| Primary Applications | High-Channel Data Acquisition, Industrial Monitoring, Sensor Measurement and Automation |
Software Ecosystem
The NI PCI-6225 integrates with NI software tools for data acquisition, automation, analysis, and control development.
- NI-DAQmx: Provides drivers and APIs for analog input, analog output, digital I/O, counters, timing, and triggering.
- LabVIEW: Enables graphical development of measurement, control, visualization, and automated testing applications.
- NI MAX: Provides hardware configuration, diagnostics, self-test, and verification tools.
- TestStand: Allows PCI-6225 measurement functions to be integrated into automated production and validation systems.
Industries
- Industrial Automation
- Electronic Manufacturing
- Automated Test Equipment
- Automotive Testing
- Scientific Research
- Laboratory Measurement
- Process Monitoring
- Embedded Systems
Applications
High-Channel Sensor Measurement
The PCI-6225 is suitable for applications requiring measurement of many analog sensors.
- Temperature monitoring
- Pressure measurement
- Voltage acquisition
- Industrial sensor systems
Industrial Data Logging
The high number of analog input channels makes the PCI-6225 suitable for long-term monitoring applications.
- Machine monitoring
- Process measurement
- Equipment diagnostics
- Signal recording
Automated Testing
The multifunction architecture enables cost-effective automated test system development.
- Functional testing
- Electronic validation
- Production testing
- Device characterization
Laboratory Automation
The PCI-6225 provides flexible analog and digital resources for research systems.
- Experimental measurement
- Prototype testing
- Automated experiments
- Data acquisition
Control Applications
The analog output and digital I/O capabilities support simple control and automation tasks.
- Relay control
- Device switching
- Voltage control
- Equipment automation
Comparison with Similar Multifunction DAQ Devices
| Model | Main Difference | Best Application |
|---|---|---|
| NI PCI-6225 | High-channel M Series DAQ with 80 AI, 2 AO, 24 DIO and 250 kS/s sampling. | Large-scale general measurement |
| NI PCI-6255 | Higher-speed version with 1.25 MS/s acquisition capability. | Faster multi-channel acquisition |
| NI PCI-6259 | High-performance M Series DAQ with more analog output and digital I/O resources. | Complex automated test systems |
| NI PCI-6232 | Lower-channel low-cost M Series DAQ for general measurement tasks. | Cost-sensitive industrial applications |
Recommended Related Products
| NI PCI-6255 | Higher-speed M Series DAQ for applications requiring faster multi-channel acquisition. |
| NI PCI-6259 | High-performance multifunction DAQ for advanced automated testing and control systems. |
| NI PCI-6232 | Cost-effective M Series DAQ for general industrial measurement applications. |
| NI PXI-6225 | PXI version of PCI-6225 for modular automated test and measurement platforms. |
Why Choose PCI-6225?
- 80 analog input channels
- 16-bit ADC resolution
- 250 kS/s analog input sampling
- 2 analog output channels
- 24 digital I/O lines
- 32-bit counter/timer capability
- Analog and digital triggering
- PCI-based integration
- High-channel-density measurement
- NI-DAQmx software support
- Suitable for industrial and laboratory DAQ systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NI PCI-6225?
The NI PCI-6225 is a high-channel M Series multifunction PCI DAQ device designed for analog measurement, analog output, digital control, and industrial data acquisition applications.
How many analog inputs does PCI-6225 provide?
The PCI-6225 provides up to 80 single-ended analog inputs or 40 differential analog inputs.
What is the resolution of PCI-6225?
The PCI-6225 provides 16-bit analog input resolution.
What is the maximum sampling rate of PCI-6225?
The PCI-6225 supports analog input sampling rates up to 250 kS/s.
Does PCI-6225 have analog outputs?
Yes. The PCI-6225 provides two analog output channels for programmable voltage generation.
What is the difference between PCI-6225 and PCI-6255?
Both devices provide 80 analog input channels. The PCI-6255 offers a higher 1.25 MS/s acquisition rate, while the PCI-6225 is optimized for cost-effective measurement applications requiring moderate sampling speed.
What is the difference between PCI-6225 and PCI-6259?
The PCI-6259 provides higher multifunction capability with additional analog output and digital I/O resources, while the PCI-6225 focuses on high-channel-count general measurement.
Can PCI-6225 be used for industrial applications?
Yes. The PCI-6225 is widely suitable for industrial monitoring, sensor acquisition, automation systems, and long-term data logging applications.
Conclusion
The NI PCI-6225 M Series multifunction DAQ device provides a cost-effective solution for high-channel-count data acquisition, industrial monitoring, sensor measurement, and automated testing. With 80 analog inputs, 16-bit resolution, 250 kS/s sampling, two analog outputs, 24 digital I/O lines, counter/timer capability, and NI-DAQmx support, the PCI-6225 is an excellent choice for reliable general-purpose measurement systems.
