K-TCGetting started

K-TC quick start guide

Updated

Wire and power a K-TC. Then record thermocouples to its internal storage with K-Log and send them on CAN with K-CAL, one at a time or both at once. This guide follows the printed quick start in the box.

Before you start

K-TC comes with 8, 16 or 32 thermocouple inputs. Modules stack and daisy-chain, so you can add channels as your test grows. You need:

  • The K-TC and a USB A to Micro-B cable, such as INF4300.
  • Type K, J or T thermocouples with miniature flat-pin plugs.
  • A Windows PC on which you have administrator rights.
  • An external supply of 4.5 to 31 V DC, or a REBEL to power the module.
Thermocouples in, three routes out K-TC · DATA ROUTES Thermocouples in, three routes out Thermocouplestype K, J or TK-TC8, 16 or 32These two run at the same timeLog standaloneK-LogInternal storage8 GB eMMCTransmit on CANDBC from K-CALData loggerREBEL, REXGEN, othersView liveUSB Micro-BK-CALoscilloscopeFor set-up at the deskStandalone logging to the eMMC and CAN transmission run at the same time. Over CAN, the DBC file exported from K-CAL lets REBEL, REXGEN or a third-party logger decode the readings.
The module records to internal storage and sends on CAN at the same time.

Get the software

Two free programs come with K-TC:

  • K-CAL configures up to five K-TC modules at once, sets the CAN messages they send and shows live data.
  • K-Log sets up standalone logging to the 8 GB internal storage and copies the logs to your PC.
  1. Download both. The installers are in Software downloads: installers, drivers and firmware.
  2. Install them. Run each installer and follow its steps.
  3. Install the USB driver. Open C:\Program Files (x86)\Influx Technology\Influx K-Cal\TCxxDriver. Run dpinst64.exe on a 64-bit PC or dpinst.exe on a 32-bit PC.

For the Kvaser, REBEL and REXGEN drivers, see K-CAL: installing the software and CAN interface drivers.

Connectors

K-TC has two 9-way D-Sub CAN connectors. CAN in is male and CAN out is female. Both carry the same signals, so a second module or a terminator plugs into CAN out. Pins not listed are not connected.

K-TC CAN in and CAN out, 9-way D-Sub
Pin Function
2 CAN-L
3 CAN ground (signal ground)
5 Power ground
7 CAN-H
9 Supply, 4.5 to 31 V DC
K-TC CAN in, 9-way D-sub D-SUB 9 · MALE K-TC CAN in, 9-way D-sub Front view of the male connector on the module. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1NC 2CAN-L 3CAN signal GND 5Power GND 4NC 6NC 7CAN-H 9Supply +4.5 to +31 V 8NC Power Ground CAN bus pins Linked pins are a differential pair NC: not connected
CAN in, seen from the front. CAN out is the female twin.

Each thermocouple socket takes a miniature flat-pin plug one way round only.

Thermocouple socket, IEC miniature
Contact Function
Narrow blade Positive (+)
Wide blade Negative (−)
K-TC and K-BOX thermocouple socket, miniature flat pin MINIATURE THERMOCOUPLE · FEMALE K-TC and K-BOX thermocouple socket, miniature flat pin Front view into one socket. Narrow blade positive, wide blade negative; match the + and − printed on the panel. + − +Positive (+), narrow blade −Negative (−), wide blade

See K-TC: connector pinouts.

Connect and power

  1. Plug in the thermocouples. Fit each plug so its + and − match the markings printed beside the row. The narrow blade is positive.
  2. Connect the supply. For standalone logging, power the module through an Influx auxiliary power cable. Any 4.5 to 31 V DC supply on pin 9, with its return on pin 5, also works.
  3. Or power it from a REBEL. The AUX/CAN1 lead of the REBEL multi-connect cable carries CAN and a switched supply to CAN in.
  4. Terminate the bus. On a CAN bus, fit a 120 Ω terminator (INF4310) to the CAN out of the last module.
  5. Connect USB for setup. Plug the USB cable into the module's Micro-B port.

See K-Series: connecting and powering modules.

Record on the module with K-Log

K-Log gives each group of channels its own sampling rate.

  1. Open K-Log. Connect the K-TC to the PC over USB.
  2. Set the sampling rates. In the Configuration panel, choose a rate for each group of channels.
  3. Name the channels. Enter a name for each channel.
  4. Save the configuration. Select Save Config. Keep the XML file, because it gives the exported data your channel names.
  5. Set the clock. Select Set Time, so your logs carry the right timestamps.
  6. Send it to the module. Select Send Config.

Retrieve and export the logs

  1. Connect the module. Connect the K-TC to the PC over USB. The status bar shows the logger status and the time.
  2. Open internal storage. Select Internal Storage. K-Log lists the log files on the module.
  3. Load your channel names. Select Import Config and open the XML file you saved.
  4. Select the files. Select the logs you want, then select Export.
  5. Choose the channels. Tick the thermocouple channels to export.
  6. Choose the format. Select the output format, for example CSV.
  7. Choose where to save. Select Browse and choose a folder.
  8. Export. Select Process.

See K-TC: standalone logging with K-Log.

Send temperatures on CAN

K-TC sends its readings on CAN while it records. A REBEL, a REXGEN or any other CAN logger can then record them beside the vehicle data.

  1. Connect K-CAL. Open K-CAL. The status bar shows ON Line when it finds the module.
  2. Set the channels. On the Thermo Couples tab, set a CAN ID and a rate for each group of four channels. Choose the thermocouple type.
  3. Commit. Select Commit. The module keeps the settings without power.
  4. Export the DBC file. Select Export, tick the messages and save the file.
  5. Load the DBC into your logger software. DIALOG, REXDESK or any other tool then decodes the temperatures.

A REXGEN Air can send the data on to your AWS S3 bucket. Contact technical support before you pair the two.

Add more channels

Daisy-chain K-TC modules to add thermocouples.

  1. Stack and link the modules. Link the CAN out of one module to the CAN in of the next with the INF4305.0 link cable. Give each module in the chain an external supply.
  2. Give each module its own CAN IDs. In K-CAL, tick Auto assign ID so the IDs do not clash.
  3. Export a DBC for every module. Repeat the export for each K-TC in the chain.
  4. Connect the chain to your logger. Plug the CAN in of the first module into a CAN channel of the REXGEN.
  5. Record the module bus. In REXDESK, set the REXGEN to record that CAN channel.
  6. Decode the data. In REXDESK, link every K-TC DBC file to the bus. Then export the data in the format you need.
A chain of modules on one CAN bus K-SERIES · DAISY CHAIN A chain of modules on one CAN bus REBELAUX/CAN1K-TC4.5 to 31 VK-BOX6 to 36 VK-AN86 to 36 VINF4305.0INF4305.0INF4310120 Ωfrom the loggerOwn supplyOwn supplyterminatorSupplyCANCAN in (left), CAN out (right)K-Series module, with its supply range on pin 9Link each module's CAN out to the next module's CAN in and plug the INF4310 into the last CAN out. Give each module its own CAN IDs. The link cables do not regulate the supply, so never put more on pin 9 than the lowest-rated module on the chain can take.
Each extra module has an external supply, and the last CAN out carries the terminator.

Printed quick start

The card from the box:

Next steps

Products in this guide

K-TC

Thermocouple data logger

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