PCI-6513 | Product Overview

The NI PCI-6513 is a National Instruments (NI) industrial-grade 64-channel isolated digital output card (±30 V, 8 groups of isolation, source / sink current output, high current type), PCI bus, half-length card, featuring:

64 channels of isolated DO (±30 VDC, 8 groups of independent optocouplers, sink output, 120 mA/channel continuous, peak 500 mA, watchdog, programmable power-on state)

Suitable for 24 V relays, solenoids, contactors, LEDs, industrial actuators, factory automation, switch quantity control in strong interference environments (requiring sink current / negative logic drive **).

Part number: 778970-01; discontinued (EOL), replacement model PCIe-6513NI.

I. Basic Information

Model: PCI‑6513

Brand: National Instruments (NI)

Series: 651x Industrial Isolated DIO Series

Bus: PCI (5 V compatible, half-length card)

Connector: 1 × 100-pin SCSI (high density)

Isolation: 64 channels divided into 8 groups (Bank 0–7, 8 channels per group), optical isolation between groups, NI

Driver: NI‑DAQmx

Operating Temperature: 0 ~ 55 °C

Features: ±30 V withstand voltage, 8 groups of isolation, Sink (drain) output, large current 120 mA/channel, peak 500 mA, watchdog, programmable power-on state, high immunity to interference

II. Digital Output DO (64 channels, isolated type, Sink output)

Channels: 64 isolated digital outputs (single-ended), divided into 8 groups (8 channels per group) NI

Isolation: Optical isolation between groups, each group isolated independently, grounded NI

Output Voltage Range: 0 ~ +30 VDC (Sink output, low active)

Load Current:

Continuous: 120 mA/channel

Peak (pulse): 500 mA/channel

Output Type: Sink (drain / current injection), outputs low level to pull the load to ground

On-Resistance: Low resistance, typical < 1 Ω

Power-On State: Programmable (high / low / hold) NI

Maximum Switching Rate: Approximately 100 kHz (software dependent)

Functions: Single-point control, group control, pulse output, PWM (software), fail-safe shutdown

III. Industrial Characteristics

Watchdog Timer: Programmable timeout (1–65535 ms), automatically switches to safe output (high / low) when a fault occurs NI

Programmable Power-On State: Prevents accidental actions during power-on NI

Group Independent Isolation: 8 groups completely independent, can be connected to different voltage domains, suppresses ground loop interference NI

High Common-Mode Suppression: Suitable for motor, frequency converter, relay, etc., strong interference sites NI

Overcurrent / Overvoltage Protection: Single-channel current limiting, prevents short circuit damage

IV. Physical and Environmental

Size: Half-length PCI, approximately 12.4 cm × 12.6 cm × 2.2 cm

Weight: Approximately 0.15 kg

Temperature: 0 ~ 55 °C (operating), -20 ~ 70 °C (storage)

Humidity: 10% ~ 90%, no condensation

Isolation Voltage: ≥ 500 Vrms (between groups / to ground) NI

Power Consumption: +5 V @ 150 mA; +3.3 V @ 300 mA (typical)

V. Installation and Usage Tips

Installation

Turn off and disconnect power, insert into a standard PCI half-length slot; turn on and identify in MAX, install NI‑DAQmx.

Cabling (100-pin SCSI)

8 independent isolated grounds: Each group's ground is isolated from the system ground to avoid ground loop NI.

Sink Output Cabling: Positive terminal of the load connected to +24 V, negative terminal connected to DO; when DO output is low, current flows from +24 V → load → DO → board isolation ground.

Load Voltage: 0 ~ 30 VDC, recommended 24 V industrial standard.

Do not short circuit: Single-channel current limiting, long-term short circuit will trigger protection.

Inductive Load (Relay / Electromagnetic Valve): Be sure to parallel a shunt diode (1N4007) to prevent reverse high voltage breakdown of the board.

Software Configuration (NI‑DAQmx)

Output Mode: Sink (drain)

Power-On State: Set to high level (default safe, output does not conduct) NI Watchdog: Must be enabled in industrial field, set timeout to 100-500 ms. In safe state, output level is high voltage NI.

Output rate: Relay control is recommended to be ≤ 10 Hz. Avoid contact burnout. Notes for Attention

8 independent isolation groups, with insulation voltage ≥ 500 Vrms between groups, can be connected to different voltage loads NI.

Long lines use shielded cables, with the shielding connected to the isolation ground of the same group and not connected to the system ground NI.

It is not suitable for directly connecting loads > 30 V; a intermediate relay needs to be added for conversion.

Capacitive loads must be equipped with a rectifier diode; otherwise, the output channel is prone to damage.

Six. Core features

64 isolated DO (±30 V, 8 independent optocouplers, Sink output, 120 mA per channel continuously, peak 500 mA)

**PCI half-length card, 100-pin SCSI, NI-DAQmx, watchdog, programmable power-on state, group independent isolation, large current Sink drive NI

Directly drives 24 V relays / solenoids / LEDs (negative logic / common anode connection), high anti-interference, suitable for large-scale switch quantity control NI

Applicable to: ** Factory automation, 64-channel actuator control, relay / solenoid drive, LED array, DO in strong interference environment, scenarios requiring Sink / current-sensing output NI