The NI PCI-232/16 is a sixteen-port asynchronous serial interface for PCI bus systems, enabling direct communication with RS-232 instruments and devices. This plug-and-play card converts a single PCI slot into sixteen isolated serial channels, each capable of 115.2 kb/s operation. A breakout box assembly converts the onboard SCSI 100-pin female connector to sixteen standard DB-9 connectors, simplifying field deployment and instrument integration.
Technical Specifications
• Serial Ports: 16 asynchronous RS-232 channels
• Maximum Transfer Rate: 115.2 kb/s per port
• FIFO Buffer: 64 bytes
• Connector: SCSI 100-pin female (onboard); DB-9 female (via breakout box)
• Data Line ESD Protection: Up to 115.2 kV
• Power Consumption: 250 mA at +5 VDC from PCI bus
• Card Dimensions: 4.2 × 6.9 inches (10.7 × 17.5 cm)
• Operating Systems: Windows 2000, NT, XP, ME, 9x
– Key Features
• Sixteen isolated serial ports eliminate channel crosstalk and simplify multi-instrument control scenarios
• High ESD protection (115.2 kV) guards against transient damage in industrial and laboratory environments
• 64-byte FIFO reduces interrupt overhead and improves throughput stability
• Direct PCI bus integration; no external power supply required
• Breakout box assembly provides standard DB-9 connectors for legacy instrument compatibility
– Typical Applications
• Multi-channel instrument communication in automated test systems
• Data acquisition from networked serial devices
• Industrial process monitoring and control via RS-232 gateway devices
• Laboratory automation requiring parallel serial instrument access
– Compatibility & Integration
Fully compatible with LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows/CVI. Standard serial port recognition in Windows applications enables use with Visual C++, Visual Basic, and Excel. NI-VISA drivers provide abstraction-layer access for instrument control frameworks. Operates natively as standard COM ports without specialized application-level configuration.
