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Re: Pasco/Vernier





May I draw on the experience of this group to ask if anything bad happens
when you mix Pasco and Vernier datalogging interfaces and probes? They look
the same. Are they?

Mark.


Nothing bad happens, but you can't always mix and match.

The Vernier and PASCO interfaces that "look the same" are indeed the
same, and have +/- 10V inputs. The Vernier unit is called the MPLI,
and both can be identified by the need for both an internal board to
the PC and the external connection box.

Those can use either the PASCO or Vernier probes. The MPLI has 8 pin
DIN inputs, but you can still use the 5pin plugs found on the Vernier
probes.

However, since all of the Vernier analog probes are 0-5V, and some of
the PASCO probes (but not all) are +/- 10V output, things are
different if you're talking about the more recent interfaces.

The Vernier ULI and Serial Box have 0-5V inputs for optimum
resolution with the Vernier probes. (Ditto for the TI CBL). The PASCO
interfaces all seem to have +/- 10V input ranges. So, using a Vernier
probe with a PASCO unit may sacrifice resolution. You may not get
anything useful if you use a +/-10V PASCO probe on a Vernier
interface designed for 0-5V input. Then again, you might, depending
on the probe and its typical output.

In any case you'll have to do your own calibration.

Note that there's nothing inherently better about 0-5 or +/- 10V
probes as long as the range of the interface matches the range of the
probe so that there are not unused bits.

JEG

==================
John E. Gastineau (304) 296-1966
900 B Ridgeway Ave. gastineau@badgerden.com
Morgantown, WV 26505
www.badgerden.com/~gastineau