NI PCI-232/4 Four-Port Serial Interface

The NI PCI-232/4 is a four-port RS-232 serial interface card for PCI bus systems, delivering asynchronous communication to legacy and modern serial devices. It installs directly into 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slots and functions as a standard serial port under Windows, requiring no external power supply beyond the PCI bus itself. The card supports data rates to 115.2 kbps and reaches distances up to 50 ft, making it suitable for industrial control, data acquisition, and instrument interfacing applications where multiple serial connections are essential.

– Technical Specifications

Serial Interface
• Protocol: RS-232
• Number of Ports: 4
• Maximum Baud Rate: 115.2 kbps
• I/O Connectors: 10-position modular jack (10P10C) with optional DB-9 or DB-25 conversion cables
• UART Controller: 6C650 compatible
• FIFO Buffer: 64 bytes per port
• Communication Distance: Up to 50 ft
• Isolation: Not isolated

Electrical
• Bus Type: PCI (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Connector Voltage Keys: 3.3V and 5V compatible
• Power Consumption from PCI: +5 VDC (70 mA typical, 150 mA maximum); ±12 VDC (40 mA typical, 400 mA maximum)

Physical
• Dimensions: 4.2 x 5.6 in. (10.7 x 14.22 cm)
• Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% relative humidity

– Key Features

• Plug-and-play installation on Windows platforms
• Four independent RS-232 channels on single PCI card
• Backward compatible with legacy serial devices
• Works directly with LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, LabWindows/CVI, and NI-VISA
• No galvanic isolation—direct RS-232 coupling

– Compatibility & Integration

Supported operating systems: Windows 2000, NT, XP, ME, and 9x. Native integration with National Instruments software development tools and VISA-compliant applications. Compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit PCI architectures. Optional modular-to-DB connector cables simplify integration with existing serial instrument libraries.