IJ-6 Software-based Temperature Controller

 
 

Description

The IJ-6 is a fully-featured software-based PID temperature controller which enables a wide range of temperature processes to be monitored and controlled. The unit, which is USB powered, provides connections to a thermocouple and solid-state relay for controlling an external process.

A user manual is available in the downloads section.

Click here to view a flyer (800KB PDF) for both the IJ-6 controller and IJ-7 demonstration module.

Hardware Features

 

Front panel

Rear panel

 

  • USB powered
    The control unit is powered entirely from the USB port and does not require an external power supply.

  • Thermocouple input
    Five common types of thermocouple are currently supported - E, J, K, N, T - allowing temperatures in the range -270°C to +1300°C to be measured. Actual voltage resolution at the thermocouple input is 2µV, corresponding to a temperature resolution of 0.03°C to 0.06°C, depending on the thermocouple type used. The input voltage range at the thermocouple connector is -30mV to +80mV.

  • Cold-junction compensation
    The temperature of the thermocouple connector is measured with a precision of 0.03°C and is used to perform cold-junction compensation in the software by using the NIST ITS-90 thermocouple lookup tables.

  • Relay outputs
    A DC-drive output is provided which can drive an external solid-state or reed relay. Two additional normally-open relay outputs are provided, rated at 50V 200mA, for general-purpose use.

  • Safety timeout
    If communication with the host computer is lost, the controller automatically turns all its outputs off after a delay of around 7 seconds.

Software features

The control software can be obtained freely from the downloads section. A screenshot is shown below.

 
software.gif
 

  • Control modes
    Can operate in either manual (fixed output power) or PID (automatically controlled temperature) modes.

  • Parameter display
    All parameters are displayed in real time - ambient temperature (temperature of the thermocouple connector, used for cold-junction compensation), process temperature, setpoint temperature, and output power. Ambient, process, and setpoint temperatures are all displayed graphically.

  • File logging
    All parameters (time, temperatures, and ouptut power) can be logged to a text file for later processing.

  • PID parameters and gain scheduling
    The PID parameters (gain, integral time, derivative time) can either be fixed, or varied "on-the-fly" as the temperature changes by using gain scheduling. This can be useful when a system is operated over a wide range of temperatures. PID tuning is entirely manual, but full instructions are provided for several different tuning techniques.

  • Programmable temperature profiles
    Programs can easily be written to perform user-defined temperature profiles, with an unlimited number of ramp/soak segments and full control over program start/stop/pause and the general-purpose relay outputs.

  • General-purpose relay control
    The two general-purpose relay outputs can be controlled either manually, by the current process temperature, or by the user-defined temperature program. Temperature limits can be set to define where the relays switch.

Ordering

You can either order the IJ-6 controller on its own, or along with the IJ-7 demonstration module. Each controller will be supplied with a CD containing the control software and user manuals, a USB cable, and two PTFE-insulated K-type thermocouples suitable for use from -50°C to +350°C.

Please visit the product page to order.