National Instruments 781420-16 Matrix Switch Card

The 781420-16 or NI 2816A is a high density matrix switch card designed for the National Instruments (NI) SwitchBlock system. This card is specifically used to create larger switching matrices by integrating multiple NI 2816 cards in a single chassis. It offers flexibility and scalability that allow users to expand their test configurations easily by adding more cards. This 781420-16 card is suitable for a wide range of applications that involve moderate voltage and current loads with a maximum switching voltage of 100 VDC or 70 VAC and a switching current of up to 0.25 A per channel. 

The maximum carry current per channel is 0.3 A which ensures reliable performance under continuous load conditions. The maximum switching power is rated at 3 W per channel and 3 W per crosspoint. This ensures that the card can handle moderate power loads during switching operations.This matrix switch card also boasts low initial DC path resistance (<1 Ω) which ensures minimal signal loss during switching. Over time, the resistance increases slightly but remains manageable (>2 Ω at end-of-life), ensuring long term reliability. In the event of an open channel the resistance exceeds 1 × 10^9 Ω. The card is equipped with reed relays that offer a mechanical relay life of up to 2.5 × 10^8 cycles under no load conditions. 

The NI 781420-16 card can drive up to 61 relays simultaneously that makes it suitable for high speed switching applications. The typical relay operate and release times are less than 1 ms for up to 8 relays and less than 2 ms for up to 50 relays. This makes it ideal for automated test systems that require quick switching between multiple signals. From a power consumption perspective each relay on this card consumes 63 mW with a total power consumption limit of 3.9 W per card. The card itself is capable of dissipating up to 3.9 W. The physical characteristics of the card include its lightweight design (320 g) and compact dimensions (11.2 cm x 1.2 cm x 17.1 cm). The card operates in a wide range of environmental conditions with an operating temperature range of 0 °C to 55 °C and a storage range of -20 °C to 70 °C.