HomeModulesModule 1.3 (Labview Loops) → Tutorial 2

TEMPERATURE CONTROL 2 TUTORIAL


INTRODUCTION

In this tutorial, you will add a While Loop to your VI, an On/Off switch to control the loop, a loop iteration counter and a Wait Millisecond function to slow down the loop. You will:

  • Open Temperature 2.VI and Save As to Temperature_Control_3.vi
  • Add a While Loop
  • Move the Threshold Terminal Outside the Loop and Rewire It
  • Add an ON/OFF Switch
  • Run the VI and Observe the Results
  • Move the Threshold Terminal Back Inside the Loop and Rewire
  • Run the VI Again and Observe the Results
  • Save and Exit Labview

OPEN TEMPERATURE 2.VI AND SAVE AS

Open Temperature_Control_2.vi and Save-As to Temperature_Control_3.vi


ADD A WHILE LOOP

Right-Click in the Block Diagram Window

The Function Palette should appear:

Bring the cursor over the Structures Button

The Structures Sub-Menu should Appear

Bring the cursor over the While Loop > Left-Click on the selection and drag a rectangle around all of the nodes on the Block Diagram.

Your Block Diagram should look like this:


MOVE THE THRESHOLD TERMINAL OUTSIDE THE LOOP AND REWIRE IT

Drag the Threshold Terminal outside the While Loop

Delete the bad wires

Rewire the Threshold terminal to the Greater? function

Your Block Diagram should look like this:

Notice the "Tunnel" for the wire to go to the external terminal


ADD AN ON/OFF SWITCH

On the Front Panel, place a Controls > Boolean > Vertical Switch on the Front Panel just to the upper right of the Thermometer Indicator

Change the label to On/Off

Position the Vertical Switch terminal to the left of the Conditional Terminal of the Loop

Your Front Panel and Block Diagram should look like this:


RUN THE VI ANDOBSERVE THE RESULTS

Change the threshold value to 50 (if you haven't already)

Flip the On/Off switch up to the On position

Note: You may have to select the Operate Value on the Tools Palette instead of Automatic

Click on the Run (Not Run Continuously) button

With the program loop running, change the threshold value to 10

Notice that even though the Threshold control value changes , the program still operates as if the Threshold value was at 50. This is because the control is outside the loop.

Stop the program with by flipping the On/Off switch to the Off position


MOVE THE THRESHOLD TERMINAL BACK INSIDE THE LOOP AND REWIRE

Select the Automatic Tool Selection on the Tools Palette

Drag the Threshold control terminal back inside the loop

Delete the bad wires and tunnel

Re-wire the Threshold control terminal to the Greater? function

Your Block Diagram should look like this:


RUN THE VI AGAIN AND OBSERVE THE RESULTS

Change the threshold value back to 50

Flip the On/Off switch up to the On position

Note: You may have to select the Operate Value on the Tools Palette

Click on the Run (Not Run Continuously) button

With the program loop running, change the threshold value to 10

Notice that changes in the Threshold control,immediately changes the operation of the program because the control is inside the loop.

Stop the program with by flipping the On/Off switch to the Off position


SAVE THE VI AND EXIT LABVIEW