How to Connect the Bridge Amp to PowerLab And LabChart

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Our step-by-step guide to connecting the Bridge Amp with the PowerLab and LabChart set-up.

Overview:

Our Head of Support, Mark de Reus, demonstrates how to connect the Bridge Amp with a PowerLab for the purpose of recording physiological signals such as force or pressure in LabChart software.


Equipment Required:
  • BNC cable.
  • USB cable.
  • I-Squared-C cable.
  • PowerLab.
  • Appropriate Transducer.
  • Computer with LabChart Software installed.

Hardware Set-Up:
  1.  Connect the Bridge Amp and PowerLab Units using the I-Squared-C input on the Bridge Amp and the output on the PowerLab.
  2.  Connect the BNC cable to the signal output on the Bridge Amp.
  3.  Connect the other end of the BNC cable to one of the channels of the PowerLab.
  4.  Connect one side of the USB cable to the PowerLab and the other to the computer with LabChart.
  5.  Connect the power cable and switch on the PowerLab.
  6.  Plug in the transducer that will be used to record the biopotential signal from your subject into the Bridge Amp.

Software Set-Up:
  1.  Launch your LabChart software.
  2.  The Bridge Amp should be automatically detected by LabChart.
  3.  The Status LED on the PowerLab should turn green.
  4.  Set the number of required channels.
  5.  You can find the Bridge Amp settings in the dropdown list of the channel it is connected to.
  6.  In the Bridge Amp dialogue box, you can:
    1.  Set up the range of the input signal
    2.  Set up the required low or high pass filters
    3.  Switch on the mains filter if mains noise is present
    4.  Invert the signal if needed
  7. Once the transducer is ready to be zeroed, click 'Zero' in the Bridge Amp dialogue box. 
  8. Once you have finished your setup in the dialogue box, click on OK.
  9. You can now calibrate your transducer. Please see this video if you need guidance on how to do this.
  10. Press start to begin recording.

Further Information: