8B modules are an optimal solution for monitoring real-world process signals and providing high-level signals to a data acquisition system. Each 8B50 or 8B51 module isolates, filters, and amplifies a voltage input signal and provides an analog voltage output.

Signal filtering is accomplished with a 5-pole filter optimized for time and frequency response which provides 100dB per decade of normal-mode rejection above 20kHz. One pole of this filter is on the field side of the isolation barrier for anti-aliasing, and the other four are on the system side.

A special input circuit on the 8B50 and 8B51 modules provides protection against accidental connection of power-line voltages up to 240VAC. Clamp circuits on the I/O and power terminals protect against harmful transients.

Isolation is provided by optical coupling to suppress transmission of common mode spikes or surges. The module is powered from +5VDC, ±5%.

The modules are designed for installation in Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations and have a high level of immunity to environmental noise.
  • Accepts Millivolt and Voltage Level Signals
  • High-Level Voltage Outputs
  • 1500Vrms Isolation
  • ANSI/IEEE C37.90.1 Transient Protection
  • Input Protection to 240VAC Continuous
  • 100dB CMR
  • 20kHz Signal Bandwidth
  • ±0.05% Accuracy
  • ±0.02% Linearity
  • Low Drift with Ambient Temperature
  • CE Compliant
  • C-UL-US Listed
  • ATEX Compliance Pending
  • Mix and Match Module Types on Backpanel
Voltage Input Modules, 20kHz Bandwidth

8B50/51 Devices


Part Number Input RangeOutput RangeBandwidthMechanical FormatIsolation Voltage
-20 to +20 mV -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-50 to +50 mV -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-100 to +100 mV -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-20 to +20 mV 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-50 to +50 mV 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-100 to +100 mV 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-1 to +1 V -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-5 to +5 V -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-10 to +10 V -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-1 to +1 V 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-5 to +5 V 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-10 to +10 V 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-20 to +20 V -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-20 to +20 V 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-40 to +40 V -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-40 to +40 V 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-60 to +60 V -5 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms
-60 to +60 V 0 to +5 V 20 kHz Modular plug-in-board 1500 Vrms



Frequently Asked Questions


Can SCM5B modules be hot swapped?
Not just SCM5B modules, but any signal conditioning module series and MAQ20 I/O modules can be hot swapped. A minimal amount of signal settling time may result, but there will be no damage to the device.

Can Dataforth provide calibration reports for modules I purchased?
Yes we can provide calibration reports for the modules that you purchased.

You can either
a) visit https://www.dataforth.com/TestDataReport.aspx to search for Test Report Datasheets by Serial Number or
b) you can send us a list of model numbers and their serial numbers to support@dataforth.com

Is the calibration of Dataforth modules traceable to NIST standards?
Yes, calibration of Dataforth modules is traceable to NIST standards.

Analog Devices announced a last time buy and discontinuance of their signal conditioning modules. Can I replace them with Dataforth signal conditioning modules?
Yes, in general, Dataforth signal conditioning modules are a direct replacement for all Analog Devices signal conditioning modules. e.g. "SCM5B35-xx: Linearized 4-Wire RTD Input Modules" will replace Analog Devices "5B35: Isolated 4 Wire RTD Input Signal Conditioning Module".

Please note that Dataforth signal conditioning modules are RoHS II compliant.

Can I power multiple 8B backplanes off of a single power supply?
You can use a single 5V power supply to power multiple backplanes, but you need to be aware of the current rating of your power supply and the current draw of your 8B modules. The current rating of your power supply needs to be greater than the total current draw of all the modules in your system (ideally 1.5x the total current draw). You can check the current draw of various 8B modules by checking their datasheets.

What is the recommended power supply for Dataforth SCM5B and 8B modules?
The recommended power supply for the Dataforth SCM5B and 8B modules are the linear power supplies in our SCMXPRT/SCMXPRE series. The SCMXPRT/SCMXPRE power supplies output 5V and have options for 1A output current (SCMXPRT-001) or 3A output current (SCMXPRT-003).

The SCMXPRE series is identical to its SCMXPRT counterpart, but is configured for European voltage standards.

The SCMXPRT-001/SCMXPRE-001 both have the option for DIN rail mounting as well (SCMXPRT-001D/SCMXPRE-001D).

Other power supplies that meet that power requirements of the SCM5B and 8B modules can be used as well, but it is strongly recommended to use a linear power supply rather than a switch-mode power supply. Switching power supplies can add noise artifacts to the output of your modules.

If I purchase a backplane with no CJC, will I still be able to use modules that require the CJC enable jumper to be installed?
Yes. Backplanes with no CJC will still come with the CJC enable installed on the backplane.

What does "Response time, 90% span" mean on the datasheet for my module?
Normally, a response time figure refers to how quickly a module's output can "respond" to a change in the input signal. "Response time, 90% span" refers to how fast a module can adjust its output when a step signal is applied at the input, where the magnitude of this step input is 90% of the input span of the module.

Where can I find the MTBF of my module?
Information on MTBF for SCM5B, SCM7B, 8B and DSCA is available on our website. Please see application note AN802 for more details. Application notes can be found under the "Literature" tab on the top navigation bar.

If I don’t have an 8BPWR-2, can I use a +5VDC power supply to power my 8B backplane?
Yes, you can. The 8BPWR-2 is not required to power the 8B backplanes, it is used in situations where you don't have a +5VDC power supply and need to regulate the voltage of whatever current power supply you are using down to +5VDC so that it can be used for the 8B backplane.

Please make sure when choosing your +5VDC power supply that the current rating of the supply is acceptable for the total current draw of your system.

On the 8B51, can I apply the + and – input leads “backwards” to reverse the polarity of the output signal?
This can be done only if the voltage source is floating (isolated); this pertains also to the SCM7B modules.
Better modules for true differential operation for which a floating source is not needed are the DSCA30/31/40/41. Other modules for this type of operation are the SCM5B30/31/40/41 used with an SCMPB07-x with the I/O COM jumpers Jn removed in the channels for which true differential operation is desired. Both the DSCA and the SCM5B outputs can float +/-50V with respect to power supply common.

Keywords/Phrases: 8B51, reverse input leads, true differential

How does the load resistance of a module affect the noise at the output?
Noise at the output of a module is independent of load resistance.

What is the output resistance, how does the filtering work and what are the overshoot characteristics for a 8B51-03?
The 8B51-03 has an output resistance < 1 Ohm.
Its filter is a five-pole low pass filter which attenuates gradually up to the -3dB frequency of 20kHz above which it attenuates sharply at 100dB per decade of frequency. The filter has no overshoot because it is critically damped.

Is there an 8B module which can accept up to +/-50V, has >10k input resistance, <100 Ohm output resistance and can be sampled up to 250kHz?
The 8B51-12 can accept up to +/-60V input.
It has >500k Ohms input and <1 Ohm output resistance.
It could be sampled at 250kHz, but it will present unchanging data within +/-0.08% up to 92% of the samples. For it to provide new data it can be sampled up to a 20kHz sample rate.

How do I convert an RMS voltage to its corresponding peak voltage?
To convert an RMS voltage to its corresponding peak voltage, you simply take the RMS voltage value and multiply it by the square root of 2, or roughly 1.414.

For example, 1500Vrms corresponds to a peak voltage of 1500 * 1.414 = 2121 Vp

Why do only a few 8B modules have a +/-5V output?
Some 8B modules (such as 8B34 and 8B47) cannot have bipolar output due to limitations in the internal linearization circuitry.

If the input range of my signal conditioner is -1V to +1V and the output range is 0 to 10V, does this mean that it ignores polarity?
A signal conditioner with these I/O ranges does not mean that the module ignores the polarity of your voltage input. The output of voltage input modules are scaled linearly, meaning an input of -1V would correspond to an output of 0V, an input of 0V would correspond to an output of 5V, an input of +1V would correspond to an output of 10V, and so on.

What does it mean when an input module has for example a 3kHz bandwidth?
A 3kHz bandwidth on an input module means it can accept voltages from DC to 3000Hz. Any frequency higher than that and the signal will start to be attenuated by the filter at the input.

Does the 8B series backplanes identify the module slots on the PWB via silkscreen or other methods? Does it also mark the terminal blocks +/- inputs?
The 8B backpanels identify the module slots and their associated terminal block with silkscreen text (this includes the +/- inputs). The text is descriptive and matches up with the diagrams in our datasheets.

Due to resource constraints on my computer, I'm unable to open the three dimensional CAD models provided on your website. Does Dataforth provide two demensional CAD models for download as well?
Two dimensional CAD models can be generated upon customer request. Please contact Customer Service for assistance.

Is the SCMXPRT-003 DIN rail mountable?
The SCMXPRT-001 has an option for DIN rail mounting (part number: SCMXPRT-001D) but the SCMXPRT-003 does not. Instead, it can be mounted on the SCMXRK-002 which is a 19 inch metal rack for mounting the SCMXPRT-003 as well as various Dataforth backpanels and the SCMXIF interface board.

What is the correct backpanel for my 8B38 module?
Any of the backpanels in the 8B series will work for the 8B38 module. In fact, any of the 8B modules can be mounted to any of the 8B backpanels.

Can Dataforth analog modules be used in high vibration environments? If so, what type of testing or certification was completed?
SCM5B, SCM7B, 8B SensorLex, and DSCA modules are well suited for use in high vibration environments. These modules and their associated accessories have undergone testing for random vibration, shock, and swept sine wave vibration. Details of each of these testing methods are provided below:

Random Vibration (Operating):
○ MIL-STD 202G, Method 214A, Condition 1
- Frequency Range: 50-2000Hz, flat spectrum
- Vibration Intensity: 7.56 Grms
- Duration: 10min/axis (X, Y, Z)

Shock (Operating):
○ MIL-STD-810F, Method 516.5
- Pulse Shape: Sawtooth
- Test Level: 30G
- Duration 11ms
- Orientation: +/-X, +/-Y, +/-Z

Swept Sine Vibration (Operating)
○ MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6, modified
- Frequency Range: 10-2000Hz
- Vibration Intensity: 5Gp-p
- Sweep Rate: 1 octave/min
- Orientation: X, Y, Z

Declaration of conformity for the above-listed tests can be provided upon customer request. Please contact customer service if a copy of the declaration is needed.
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Model NumberInput UnitsInput RangeOutput UnitsOutput RangeBandwidthSensor TypeStatus*Comments
8B51-1751
V-40V TO +40VV-5V TO +5V20kHzVOLTAGE INPUTPR 
8B51-1831
V-200V TO +200VV-5V TO +5V20kHzVOLTAGE INPUTPRInput Resistance = 10MOhm min
8B51-1832
V-200V TO +200VV-5V TO +5V20kHzVOLTAGE INPUTPRInput Resistance = 1MOhm min
8B51-1837
V-120V TO +120VV-5V TO +5V20kHzVOLTAGE INPUTPRInput Resistance = 1MOhm min
* ... Status Codes: PR = Production, PT = Prototypes, QU = Quoted

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