National Instruments 778636-02 PXI Chassis

The National Instruments 778636-02, popularly referred to as the PXI-1042Q, is a sophisticated eight-slot PXI chassis made to satisfy the rigorous cooling and power needs of contemporary PXI applications. This chassis is ideal for usage in office, laboratory, and educational settings where it is important to limit acoustic noise emissions. With its expanded temperature range and detachable, high-performance AC power supply, the 778636-02 is compatible with both 3U PXI and CompactPCI modules.

This instrument combines a robust 8-slot PXI backplane with a high-output power supply, all within a structural design optimized for maximum usability across a wide range of applications. Because of its modular architecture, which guarantees great maintainability, the mean time to repair (MTTR) is low. The chassis is very adaptable to different system requirements because it accepts PXI and CompactPCI (PICMG 2.0 R 3.0) modules. The small 3U-sized chassis features an automated voltage and frequency ranger on its universal AC input, which removes the requirement for AC-input fuses. A push-reset circuit breaker is also included for over-current protection.

The 778636-02's detachable modular power-supply shuttle, which offers convenience and flexibility in maintenance, is a noteworthy feature. The chassis has an easy-to-access On/Off (Standby) power switch on the front panel and remote voltage monitoring and interrupt capabilities via a rear-panel connector. It also features a temperature-sensing module that optimizes cooling performance by adjusting fan speed in response to air intake temperature while reducing audible noise. Reliability is increased by the front-panel LED indication, which notifies users when the power supply fails.

For portability and ease of use in bench-top applications, the 778636-02 features a carrying handle and tilt feet. Its cooling system employs forced air circulation through two 51 cfm fans with a HIGH/AUTO speed selector, ensuring efficient cooling with a per-slot capacity of 25 W. To efficiently cool the modules from bottom to top, airflow is directed from the bottom rear of the chassis and moves from P1 to P2.