Question :
How do I use the Tek Power Sensor Meter PSM in LabVIEW?
Answer :
In this guide I intend to show you how to get setup and running with the Tek PSM Series instruments in the LabVIEW development environment.
Getting Started
Before attempting to use the PSM Series in LabVIEW, be sure to first download and install the PSM Software from the link below. The PSM Software includes the necessary Windows device driver for the PSM. You should install this software before plugging the PSM into your system.
Power Sensor Meter Software V4.5.0.0
Downloading and Installing the LabVIEW Driver
The LabVIEW driver for the Power Sensor Modules is available on NI's Instrument driver network. You can download the file from the following url.
http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_d ... 144F1EF859
The file you download will be named tektronix_psm_series_power_meter.zip. Inside this .zip file will be a folder named Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter). Inside the Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter) folder will be two folders named Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x32 and Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x64. These two folders contain the LabVIEW driver itself, one for 32-bit LabVIEW and one for 64-bit LabVIEW, and are what you will copy into your LabVIEW installation's inst.lib folder.
Important Note!!!
The LabVIEW driver for the PSM Series includes in its folder a driver .dll named LV_LB_API2.dll which does the actual communication with the PSM. This driver .dll is either 32-bit or 64-bit and will only work on the corresponding version of Windows. What does this mean? This means that if you are using 64-bit Windows then you must use the 64-bit PSM LabVIEW driver. If you are using the 64-bit PSM LabVIEW driver, then you must use the 64-bit version of LabVIEW. Even though 32-bit LabVIEW will run on 64-bit Windows, the 32-bit PSM LabVIEW driver will not work because the .dll in the 32-bit PSM LabVIEW driver only works in 32-bit Windows.
LabVIEW 32-bit PSM Driver Installation:
Note: This driver only works on 32-bit Windows.
Copy the Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x32 to your C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW<year>\instr.lib\ folder.
LabVIEW 64-bit PSM Driver Installation:
Note: This driver will only work on 64-bit Windows.
Copy the Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x64 to your C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW<year>\instr.lib\ folder.
Updating the Driver .DLL
This step is optional for 5000 Series PSMs (and 4000 Series?), but is require to fix an issue with the driver and 3000 Series PSMs.
The driver .dll that is included in the PSM LabVIEW driver download is older than the driver .dll that is included in the Power Sensor Meter Software. For PSM5000 Series (and maybe 4000 Series?) this isn't really a problem. However, for 3000 Series PSMs the .dll included in the LabVIEW driver has an issue that will cause you to get back nonsensical readings. To correct this you will need to update the .dll to the one included with the PSM Software.
To update the PSM driver .dll in the LabVIEW driver do the following:
You should now be able to control the Tek Power Sensor Meter from within your LabVIEW environment.
Happy Coding!
Getting Started
Before attempting to use the PSM Series in LabVIEW, be sure to first download and install the PSM Software from the link below. The PSM Software includes the necessary Windows device driver for the PSM. You should install this software before plugging the PSM into your system.
Power Sensor Meter Software V4.5.0.0
Downloading and Installing the LabVIEW Driver
The LabVIEW driver for the Power Sensor Modules is available on NI's Instrument driver network. You can download the file from the following url.
http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_d ... 144F1EF859
The file you download will be named tektronix_psm_series_power_meter.zip. Inside this .zip file will be a folder named Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter). Inside the Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter) folder will be two folders named Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x32 and Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x64. These two folders contain the LabVIEW driver itself, one for 32-bit LabVIEW and one for 64-bit LabVIEW, and are what you will copy into your LabVIEW installation's inst.lib folder.
Important Note!!!
The LabVIEW driver for the PSM Series includes in its folder a driver .dll named LV_LB_API2.dll which does the actual communication with the PSM. This driver .dll is either 32-bit or 64-bit and will only work on the corresponding version of Windows. What does this mean? This means that if you are using 64-bit Windows then you must use the 64-bit PSM LabVIEW driver. If you are using the 64-bit PSM LabVIEW driver, then you must use the 64-bit version of LabVIEW. Even though 32-bit LabVIEW will run on 64-bit Windows, the 32-bit PSM LabVIEW driver will not work because the .dll in the 32-bit PSM LabVIEW driver only works in 32-bit Windows.
LabVIEW 32-bit PSM Driver Installation:
Note: This driver only works on 32-bit Windows.
Copy the Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x32 to your C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW<year>\instr.lib\ folder.
LabVIEW 64-bit PSM Driver Installation:
Note: This driver will only work on 64-bit Windows.
Copy the Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)x64 to your C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW<year>\instr.lib\ folder.
Updating the Driver .DLL
This step is optional for 5000 Series PSMs (and 4000 Series?), but is require to fix an issue with the driver and 3000 Series PSMs.
The driver .dll that is included in the PSM LabVIEW driver download is older than the driver .dll that is included in the Power Sensor Meter Software. For PSM5000 Series (and maybe 4000 Series?) this isn't really a problem. However, for 3000 Series PSMs the .dll included in the LabVIEW driver has an issue that will cause you to get back nonsensical readings. To correct this you will need to update the .dll to the one included with the PSM Software.
To update the PSM driver .dll in the LabVIEW driver do the following:
- Rename LV_LB_API2.dll in your C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW<year>\instr.lib\Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)<x86|x64>\ to LV_LB_API2.dll.old if you'd like to keep it as backup or delete it.
- Copy LB_API2.dll from C:\Program Files\Tektronix\Tektronix Power Sensor Applications\ to C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW<year>\instr.lib\Tektronix PSM Series (Power Meter)<x86|x64>\.
- Rename LB_API2.dll to LV_LB_API2.dll
You should now be able to control the Tek Power Sensor Meter from within your LabVIEW environment.
Happy Coding!
FAQ ID 72181
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