PCI‑6516 | Product Introduction

The NI PCI‑6516 is a National Instruments (NI) industrial-grade 32-channel isolated source output (Source), single-group isolation, ±30 V, high current, economical PCI half-length card.

Highlights: 32-channel isolated DO (Source, 75 mA per channel, peak 350 mA, single group optocoupler, watchdog, programmable power-on state, 37-pin connector, low cost)

Suitable for: 24 V relays / solenoids / LED drivers, economical switch quantity control, strong interference sites, output-only applications.

Part Number: 779082‑01; Out of Production (EOL), replacement model PCIe‑6516.

I. Basic Information

Model: PCI‑6516

Brand: National Instruments (NI)

Series: 651x Industrial Isolated DIO Series

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

Connector: 1 × 37-pin D‑Sub (economy type)

Isolation: 32 channels all in 1 bank (Bank 0), inter-bank optical isolation by NI

Driver: NI‑DAQmx

Operating Temperature: 0 ~ 55 °C

Features: ±30 V, 32-channel Source output, single bank isolation, 75 mA continuous, watchdog, programmable power-on, 37-pin, low cost, high interference resistance by NI

II. Digital Output DO (32 channels, isolated, Source output)

Channels: 32 isolated digital outputs, 32 channels per bank by NI

Output Voltage Range: 0 ~ +30 VDC (Source, high active) by NI

Load Current:

Continuous: 75 mA / channel

Peak (pulse): 350 mA / channel

Output Type: Source (source type), output high-level drives load by NI

Conduction Resistance: < 1 Ω (typical)

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

Maximum Switching Rate: Approximately 100 kHz (software dependent)

Functions: Single point / group control, pulse, PWM (software), watchdog safe shutdown by NI

III. Industrial Characteristics

Watchdog Timer: 1–65535 ms programmable; automatically cuts safe output (high / low) when fault occurs by NI

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

Single Bank Isolation: 32 channels common-ground isolated, suppresses ground current flow by NI

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

High Common-Mode Suppression: Suitable for motors, frequency converters, relays in strong interference fields by NI

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 isolated ground and system ground) by NI

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

V. Installation and Usage Tips Installation

Power off and disconnect → Insert standard PCI half-length slot → Power on MAX identification → Install NI-DAQmx.

Wiring (37-pin D-Sub)

Single group isolated ground: All DO share 1 group of isolated ground, isolated from the system ground.

DO wiring (Source): DO → positive pole of the load; negative pole of the load → this group of isolated ground (24 V system).

Load voltage: 0 - 30 VDC, recommended 24 V industrial standard.

Strictly prohibit short circuit: single channel current limiting, long-term short circuit trigger protection.

Capacitive load (relay / solenoid valve): Must be connected in parallel with a shunt diode (1N4007) to prevent reverse high voltage from breaking the board.

Software configuration (NI-DAQmx)

DO: source type output, power-on low level, watchdog 100–500 ms safe low level.

Output rate: relay control ≤ 10 Hz, avoid contact burnout.

Notes

Single group isolated: 32 channels shared isolated ground, cannot be divided into different voltage domains.

Long lines use shielded wires, shield connected to isolated ground, not connected to the system ground.

Do not directly connect >30 V load, need to add intermediate relay for conversion.

Capacitive load must be connected with a shunt diode, otherwise it is prone to damage the output channel.

Six. Core features

32-channel isolated Source output (±30 V, 75 mA continuous, 350 mA peak, single group optocoupler)

PCI half-length card, 37-pin D-Sub, NI-DAQmx, watchdog, programmable power-on, low cost, high anti-interference NI

Directly drive 24 V relays / solenoid valves / LEDs, economical only output control, strong interference site, production line one-way actuator driver NI

Applicable: 32-channel isolated Source output, relay control cabinet, solenoid valve array, LED indicator group, low-cost industrial control