ELE480 LabVIEW Laboratory Exercise 01
LabVIEW Lab 01
Exe01: Building a Temperature Conversion Virtual Instrument (VI)
Overview
This lab guides you through creating a simple LabVIEW VI that converts a temperature value from degrees
Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit using numeric controls, indicators, arithmetic functions, and basic wiring.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this exercise, you will be able to:
• Navigate the LabVIEW Project window, Front Panel, and Block Diagram.
• Place and configure numeric controls and indicators.
• Use numeric constants and arithmetic nodes to implement the formula F = (9/5) × C + 32.
• Wire data terminals correctly and run the VI to observe results.
Prerequisites
• LabVIEW installed on your computer.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW interface basics (opening palettes, switching between Front Panel and Block
Diagram).
• Basic understanding of temperature units.
Procedure
A. Create the Front Panel (User Interface)
1. From the menu, select File ➤ New VI to open a blank VI.
Tip: Select Window ➤ Tile Left and Right to view the Front Panel and Block Diagram simultaneously.
2. Add a numeric control for the Celsius input:
• Right‑click on the Front Panel to open the Controls Palette.
• Navigate to Numeric ➤ Numeric Control, then click on the panel to place it.
• Label the control deg C.
3. Add a numeric indicator for the Fahrenheit output:
• From the same palette, choose Numeric ➤ Numeric Indicator and place it on the panel.
• Label the indicator deg F.
The two terminals representing these objects automatically appear on the Block Diagram.
A. Build the Block Diagram (Program Logic)
4. Display the Block Diagram (press Ctrl + E or choose Window ➤ Show Diagram).
5. Place arithmetic functions:
• On the Functions Palette, select Programming ➤ Numeric and drop Multiply, Divide, and Add nodes
onto the diagram.
6. Place three numeric constants:
• From Programming ➤ Numeric, choose Numeric Constant and click three times to place three
constants.
• Enter 9, 5, and 32 respectively.
Tip: If a constant loses focus before you type, double‑click it with the Labeling tool to edit.
7. Wire the components to implement the formula:
a. Build the ratio 9 ÷ 5
• Wire constant 9 to the top-left (x) input of the Divide node.
• Wire constant 5 to the bottom‑left (y) input of the same Divide node.
• The right‑hand output of Divide now carries the value 1.8 (9 ⁄ 5).
b. Compute C × (9 ⁄ 5)
• Wire the numeric control deg C to the top‑left (x) input of the Multiply node.
• Wire the output of Divide to the bottom‑left (y) input of Multiply.
• The Multiply output now represents deg C × 9/5.
c. Add the 32 °F offset
• Wire the output of Multiply to the top‑left (x) input of the Add node.
• Wire constant 32 to the bottom‑left (y) input of Add.
• The Add output now yields the final Fahrenheit temperature.
d. Display the result
• Wire the output terminal of the Add node to the numeric indicator deg F.
Tips:
• Hover over a terminal until it blinks to start or complete a wire.
• Click once while wiring to tack bends, and press Spacebar to flip wire corners.
• Cancel an unfinished wire with Esc.
D. Save, Run, and Test
4. Save the VI as Convert_C_to_F.vi in your course directory (File ➤ Save As).
5. Enter a sample Celsius value (e.g., 25) in deg C, then click Run. Verify the corresponding Fahrenheit
value (77 °F).
6. Experiment with several inputs to confirm correct operation.
7. Close the VI (File ➤ Close) when finished.
Deliverables
• A working Convert_C_to_F.vi LabVIEW file. Submit the VI via the course LMS.
Troubleshooting Tips
• If palettes are hidden, right‑click an open area of the panel/diagram to redisplay them.
• Thick‑border terminals indicate controls; thin‑border terminals indicate indicators.
• If a wire appears broken (dashed), ensure all sources and terminals are connected to compatible data
types.
