K-BOXGetting started

K-BOX quick start guide

Updated

Wire and power a K-BOX and install K-CAL with the driver for your CAN interface. Then set up the channels and export the DBC file your logger needs. This guide follows the printed quick start in the box.

Before you start

K-BOX is the stackable instrumentation module of the K-Series. It sends everything it measures on CAN. It works with REXGEN and REBEL loggers, any tool that reads a DBC file and the REBEL Dash display. Each module has:

  • 8 analogue inputs with software switchable ranges of ±80 V, ±40 V, ±20 V or ±10 V
  • Sampling at 1 kHz on all eight inputs, 2 kHz on four or 10 kHz on two
  • 8 thermocouple inputs for type K, J or T
  • 4 digital channels, with Digital 1 to 3 able to measure frequency and pulses
  • Regulated 5 V and 24 V outputs for external sensors

You need:

  • A Windows PC on which you have administrator rights.
  • A CAN interface, such as a Kvaser Leaf Light or Memorator, or a REXGEN or REBEL logger.
  • An external supply of 6 to 36 V DC, or a REBEL to power the module.

K-BOX has no PC port, so all setup goes over CAN.

Get the software

  1. Download K-CAL. The installer is in Software downloads: installers, drivers and firmware.
  2. Install it. Run the K-CAL .msi file. The printed card calls it K-BoxCal.msi, the name of earlier releases. Select Next to start, then Finish.
  3. Install the driver for your interface. Do this before you configure K-BOX. Use the Kvaser drivers for a Kvaser Leaf Light or Memorator, or the REXGEN or REBEL driver for an Influx logger.

See K-CAL: installing the software and CAN interface drivers.

Connectors

K-BOX has two 9-way D-Sub CAN connectors. CAN in is male and CAN out is female, with the same signals on both.

K-BOX CAN in and CAN out, 9-way D-Sub
Pin Function
1 Digital 4, or +4.5 V instrumentation supply
2 CAN-L
3 CAN ground (signal ground)
4 Digital 1
5 Power ground
6 Digital 3
7 CAN-H
8 Digital 2
9 Supply, 6 to 36 V DC
K-BOX and K-AN8 CAN in, 9-way D-sub D-SUB 9 · MALE K-BOX and K-AN8 CAN in, 9-way D-sub Front view of the male connector on the module. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1Digital out 4 / +4.5 V 2CAN-L 3GND 5Power GND 4Digital I/O 1 6Digital I/O 3 7CAN-H 9Supply +6 to +36 V 8Digital I/O 2 Power Ground CAN bus pins Linked pins are a differential pair
CAN in, seen from the front. CAN out is the female twin.

The ADC connector is a 25-way male D-Sub. Each analogue input is a differential pair. Input 0 uses pins 6 and 18, and input 7 uses pins 13 and 25.

K-BOX ADC connector, 25-way male D-Sub
Pin Function
1 +24 V output
2 +5 V output
5 Analogue ground
6 Analogue input 0 positive
7 Analogue input 1 positive
8 Analogue input 2 positive
9 Analogue input 3 positive
10 Analogue input 4 positive
11 Analogue input 5 positive
12 Analogue input 6 positive
13 Analogue input 7 positive
14 Ground out
15 Ground out
17 Analogue ground
18 Analogue input 0 negative
19 Analogue input 1 negative
20 Analogue input 2 negative
21 Analogue input 3 negative
22 Analogue input 4 negative
23 Analogue input 5 negative
24 Analogue input 6 negative
25 Analogue input 7 negative
K-BOX and K-AN8 ADC connector, 25-way D-sub D-SUB 25 · MALE K-BOX and K-AN8 ADC connector, 25-way D-sub Front view of the male connector on the module. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1+24 V out 2+5 V out 3NC 4NC 5Analogue GND 6Analogue in 0+ 7Analogue in 1+ 13Analogue in 7+ 12Analogue in 6+ 11Analogue in 5+ 10Analogue in 4+ 9Analogue in 3+ 8Analogue in 2+ 14GND out 15GND out 16NC 17Analogue GND 18Analogue in 0− 19Analogue in 1− 25Analogue in 7− 24Analogue in 6− 23Analogue in 5− 22Analogue in 4− 21Analogue in 3− 20Analogue in 2− Power Ground Linked pins are a differential pair NC: not connected

The eight thermocouple sockets, TC0 to TC7, are miniature flat sockets. Each takes a plug one way round only.

Thermocouple socket, IEC miniature
Contact Function
Top, narrow blade Positive (+)
Bottom, wide blade Negative (−)

See K-BOX: connector pinouts.

Connect and power

  1. Wire the sensors. Connect them to the ADC connector, for example through the INF4214 screw terminal.
  2. Plug in the thermocouples. Fit each plug with its narrow, positive blade at the top.
  3. Connect the supply. Give the module 6 to 36 V DC on pin 9, with its return on pin 5. A REBEL can power it through the AUX/CAN1 lead instead.
  4. Connect the CAN bus. Plug your CAN interface or logger into CAN in.
  5. Terminate the bus. Fit a 120 Ω terminator (INF4310) to the CAN out of the last module.

See K-Series: connecting and powering modules.

Configure the analogue channels

  1. Connect K-CAL. Open K-CAL. When it finds the module, the status bar shows its serial number and firmware version.
  2. Find the module if it is not shown. On the General tab, select your interface in the Interface list. Then select Baud Rate Scan.
  3. Load the settings. Open the Analog Channels tab and select Load.
  4. Set CAN IDs and rates. Choose a CAN ID and Rate for ADC(0-3) and ADC(4-7).
  5. Set the voltage ranges. Under Software Ranges, choose a range for each channel. Use the smallest range that covers your signal.
  6. Set the thermocouples. Choose a CAN ID and rate for TC(0-3) and TC(4-7). Set Type to K, J or T.
  7. Commit. Select Commit. K-BOX keeps the settings without power.

A conversion table or formula turns a reading into engineering units. For example, it can turn a pressure sensor's output voltage into pascals. See K-BOX: conversion tables and formulas.

Configure the digital channels

Open the Digital Channels tab and select Load. Each digital pin has its own panel.

  • For an input, set the CAN ID and rate on which K-BOX sends it.
  • As inputs, Digital 1 to 3 can measure pulse duration, frequency, duty cycle, event counts, cycle duration or RPM.
  • For outputs, set the CAN ID on which K-BOX receives output commands. As outputs, Digital 1 to 3 drive 3.3 V and Digital 4 works as an open collector.
  • Digital 4 also works as a wake-up output or as the +4.5 V instrumentation supply. Give every extra module in a chain an external supply.

Select Commit when you are done. See K-BOX: digital measurement modes.

Export the DBC file

  1. Export the DBC file. Select Export. K-CAL generates the DBC file and asks where to save it.
  2. Load it into your logger software. DIALOG, REXDESK or any tool that reads DBC files then decodes the K-BOX messages.
  3. Export again after a change. Export a new DBC file every time you change the configuration.
From K-CAL to a REBEL recording K-CAL AND DIALOG · DBC FLOW From K-CAL to a REBEL recording K-CALConfigurechannels, IDsCommitto the moduleExportDBC fileDBC filefrom K-CALDIALOGAdd a busCAN 1 (MS)Add protocolCAN MonitorLoad the DBCImport tabPick signalsto DAQ listSendto the loggerREBEL recordsmodule messagesK-CAL configures the module and exports its DBC file; DIALOG loads that file into a CAN Monitor protocol on CAN 1 (MS), the bus the AUX/CAN1 lead carries. The bus baud rate in DIALOG must match the module's baud rate in K-CAL.
With a REBEL, the DBC file goes from K-CAL into DIALOG.

Printed quick start

The card from the box:

Next steps

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K-BOX

Multi-sensor data acquisition

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