ADLINK PXES-2314T Chassis Deployment and Troubleshooting Guide

ADLINK PXES-2314T Thunderbolt 3 PXIe Chassis Deployment and Troubleshooting Complete Guide

Today, with the increasing popularity of portable testing and measurement systems, the PXI Express platform is no longer limited to rack or desktop deployment. ADLINK PXES-2314T is a compact 4-slot PXI Express chassis that uses dual Thunderbolt technology ™  Three ports enable high-speed connection with host PCs or laptops, breaking the traditional PXI system's reliance on embedded controllers or MXI interfaces. This chassis provides up to 40 Gb/s bidirectional bandwidth (up to 22 Gb/s effective data bandwidth) and supports USB Power Delivery (up to 60W), which can power devices such as laptops. Its cooling capacity per slot is up to 58W, with a total DC output of 160W. Combined with intelligent fan control and ChassisWatch monitoring software, it provides a highly flexible solution for on-site testing, field data acquisition, and laboratory automation.

Overview and Core Technical Specifications of Chassis

The PXES-2314T complies with the PXI-5 PXI Express hardware specification Rev. 1.0 and provides 4 hybrid peripheral slots (Slot 2-5). Slot 2 and Slot 3 support PCIe x1 Gen2 links and 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus (5V I/O), while Slot 4 and Slot 5 support PCIe x4 Gen3 links and are also compatible with PCI bus. This differentiated link design allows users to flexibly allocate slots based on module bandwidth requirements - high-throughput digitizers or vector transceivers should be prioritized for installation in Slot 4/5, while low-speed control modules can be placed in Slot 2/3.

The key parameters of the DC power supply are as follows:

Input voltage range: 9-32 VDC (wide voltage input), maximum total output power depends on the input voltage:

When 16V-32V input: 160W

When 9V-12V input: 120W

Output capacity of each voltage rail (total):

+12V/15A (Ripple 120mV)

+3.3V/12A (ripple 50mV)

+5V/12A (ripple 50mV)

-12V/1A (Ripple 120mV)

+5Vox/1A (ripple 50mV)

Each peripheral slot can allocate current:+ 5V@6A ，+ 3.3V@9A ，+ 12V@6A ， -12V@1A ，+ 5Vaux@1A .

Excellent reference clock accuracy: PXI_CLK10 slot to slot skew ≤ 280 ps, accuracy ± 1 ppm, phase jitter 0.44 ps RMS; PXIE_CK100 slot skew ≤ 100 ps, accuracy ± 1 ppm, jitter 2.41 ps RMS. The dimensions of the chassis are 207.9 × 148.4 × 220.5 mm (width × height × depth), with a net weight of only 3.8 kg. Coupled with the top handle, it is very suitable for mobile applications.

Hardware installation and peripheral connection specifications

2.1 Unboxing and Attachment Confirmation

The standard packaging includes:

PXES-2314T chassis

DC input connector (DECA MC311 # 50803, 3-pin spacing 5.08mm)

The separately sold toolkit (PXES-2314T Kit) includes:

Thunderbolt 3 certified cable (0.7m)

160W AC-DC power adapter and corresponding national power cord

Cable tie

Be sure to use certified Thunderbolt 3 cables, as regular USB Type-C cables cannot support high-speed protocols and can result in connection failures or severe bandwidth degradation.

2.2 Power Budget and Power Connection

Before connecting the DC power supply, it is necessary to calculate the total power consumption of all peripheral modules and the power consumption of laptops or USB devices powered through Thunderbolt 3 ports. The manual recommends that the total power consumption should not exceed 80% of the rated output of the power supply. For example, when using a 160W adapter, the total load should be ≤ 128W. If the input voltage is below 16V, the total power is automatically limited to 120W, and more careful planning is required.

DC input connector pin definition (refer to Phoenix Contact FRONT-MSTB 2,5/3-STF-5,08):

Pin 1:+VDC

Pin 2: Reserved (unused)

Pin 3: GND (ground)

Be sure to use the matching DC connector and tighten the screws to avoid poor contact causing pressure drop or overheating.

2.3 Heat dissipation and placement requirements

The PXES-2314T adopts a horizontal air duct with left in and right out (viewed from the front of the chassis), and a single 136 CFM fan at the rear sucks in cold air from the left side, flows through the module, and is discharged from the right side. The minimum heat dissipation gap on both sides is 101.6 mm (4 inches), and the chassis must be placed horizontally without stacking or blocking ventilation holes.

All unoccupied slots must be equipped with a Wind Block Module to optimize the airflow path, otherwise it will cause wind pressure leakage and reduce cooling efficiency. The cooling capacity of each tank is related to the working temperature:

When the power consumption of all modules is ≤ 38W/slot, it can operate in an environment of 0-50 ° C;

If the power consumption of any module is between 38W and 58W, the upper limit of ambient temperature will be reduced to 40 ° C.

2.4 Installation of Peripheral Modules

Similar to the standard PXIe chassis, push the module into the corresponding slot along the guide rail, ensuring that the pop-up latch is fully raised, and then tighten the front panel fixing screws. Attention: Slot 2/3 is x1 link, Slot 4/5 is x4 link. Before installation, confirm the module's link width requirements to avoid bandwidth bottlenecks.