GPIB Translator | Emulator

Product Specifications

Functionality
• Measures inport export energy flow change in <20mS
• A crucial control element in MicroGrid environments to switch and direct energy
• Measures Watts, VARs, VA, PF, Vrms, Vpk, Vcf, Arms, Apk, Acf, Freq and Ainrush
• Measures 3 phase totals: Sum HP, Sum Watts, Sum VARs, Sum VA, Sum PF
• Accurate with all waveshapes or load types: DC and variable frequency AC
• Works with frequencies from DC to 5000Hz fundamentals, bandwidth DC-50kHz
• Measures continuous and burst-type waves, pulsing loads and waveforms

Basic Specification
• Available input ranges from 2V to 600V ac or dc from 5%-125% of range
• Analog Outputs x3, isolated: 0-5V, 0-10V, 4-20mA: assigned to any measurement like kW or kVAr
• Fast response time 1mS, Auto or manual scaling
• Rated working voltage insulation 1.5kVpk, flash tested 2.5kV for 1 minute
• Screw terminal input/output connections with terminals covers
• Auxiliary power input 12/24/48/110/230 Vdc or Vac

Approvals and Environment
• Certified accuracy Class 0.2% or Class 0.5% at +23°C ±5°C, traceable to NIST/NPL
• Working temperature range 0°C - 50°C / Functional temp range –10°C - 70°C
• CE Marked, FCC and UL Compliant
• UL94V0, IEC1010 cat II, IEC348, DIN 57411
• Case IP50, terminals IP30 complies with IEC529

Connectivity
• HMI options for local set-up and display
• Modbus TCP/IP (over Ethernet)
• Supplied with LV Modbus Test Panel for Windows and Master-Slave configurations
• NI Labview Driver support
• Interface via WiFi Bridge to mobile devices, Profibus, ProfiNet and RS485

Description

The GPIB Translator is an advanced translation and emulation controller designed to bridge compatibility gaps between legacy IEEE-488 (GPIB) instruments and modern host systems. By intercepting communication on the GPIB bus, it enables seamless interaction between devices with differing protocols, command structures, and behavioural responses. This allows legacy instruments to be replaced or integrated without requiring any modification to existing host software, including bespoke and non-LabVIEW systems. The system provides intelligent handling of both command and status-level communication. ASCII commands can be modified to accommodate syntax differences between devices, while register bits can be passed through, masked, or fully redefined to emulate expected instrument behaviour. This ensures that critical status, error conditions, and system responses are accurately reproduced, preventing software failures and maintaining operational continuity. Independent initialisation routines are supported for both host and instrument, allowing compatibility with differing startup processes and communication sequences. Built on a dual-core dsPIC architecture, the GPIB Translator enables independent processing of input and output channels, reducing timing constraints and preventing timeout errors. It supports bidirectional communication with full talker/listener capability on both interfaces, ensuring reliable and efficient data exchange. With data transfer rates of up to 250 kB/s and a stable interrupt-driven architecture, the system delivers fast and consistent performance in demanding environments. In addition to translation and emulation, the system incorporates a powerful GPIB bus analyser, sniffer, and data recording capability. Using an external LabVIEW-based debug utility, users can monitor bus activity, analyse non-standard timing behaviour, and configure translation parameters remotely. This makes the GPIB Translator an effective tool not only for system integration but also for diagnostics, troubleshooting, and site analysis. The GPIB Translator is ideally suited for applications involving legacy system maintenance, instrument replacement, and complex test environments where communication compatibility is critical. By extending the usable life of existing equipment and eliminating the need for costly software redevelopment, it provides a flexible and future-ready solution for modernising GPIB-based systems.

Applications

The WT3ph Multi-function power transducer uses fast sampling and dual-core DSP to accurately compute ac power measurements with all waveshapes and load types, operating as a full-blown ac power analyser. The WT3ph has exceptionally fast-response capability aligned to all load types including pulsating loads. In addition, it operates as part of a control system for renewable energy sources found in Microgrids. The WT3ph can monitor import-export energy from the grid allowing operation in grid-connected or island mode - improving the utilisation of available energy, capturing short-term energy bursts previously lost or discarded

The ESP32 is a popular, low-cost microcontroller with integrated Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) and Bluetooth, designed by Espressif Systems for IoT projects, supporting Station (client), Access Point, and combined AP+Station modes for flexible network connectivity, enabling it to connect to routers, create its own network, or act as a repeater for applications like sensors, audio streaming, and web servers, programmable via Arduino IDE or ESP-IDF

Data sheets

GPIB Data sheets