INFORMATION Connecting Single Ended and

Differential Analogue Inputs

A single ended input earns its name from the fact that you have only one input relative to ground for
each channel. A differential input provides two inputs for each channel that respond to the difference signal
between them. A data acquisition device with single ended inputs is only suitable for what are known as "floating"
sources. A floating signal source does not have any connection to ground at the signal source and can be wired to
the inputs as shown in Fig. 1.

INPUT
TO A/D
Input
Amplifier
Es Es

COM
Floating Signal Source
(No Local Connection to Ground)

FIG 1. Connecting a floating signal source to a single ended point

If the signal source has one side connected to a local ground, then a device with differential inputs should be
used. A differential input responds only to difference signals between the high (+) and low (-) inputs. In practice,
the signal source ground and the computer ground where the A/D card is, will not be exactly the same voltage as
they are connected through the ground returns of the equipment and the building wiring. The difference between
the ground voltages (see Fig. 2) forms a common mode voltage i.e. a voltage common to both inputs (Vcm)
which a differential input is designed to reject up to a certain limit.

RIGHT-ground loop avoided +ve

+
Es Es To A/D
–

-ve Input Amplifier (Differential)

Take -ve line out to signal source DO NOT join -ve

VCM to COM
VCM =VG1 -VG2
COM at computer

Computer Ground VG2

Signal Ground VG1

FIG 2. Right way to connect a grounded signal source

If a ground referred signal source is wired to a single ended input as shown in Fig. 3, the difference in voltage between
grounds ends up appearing in series with the input signal causing errors and noise and unreliable readings and forming
what is known as a ~ground loop~. For this reason, you should avoid connecting a ground referred signal to a single
ended input unless its ground is one and the same ground as the computer's.

+ve

+
Es Es To A/D
–

-ve Input Amplifier (Differential)

0 Volts
COM

Computer Ground
Signal Ground

FIG 3. Wrong way to connect a grounded signal source

If you have a combination of floating and ground referred signal sources, a device with differential inputs should be
used and the ground referred signals connected as shown in Fig. 2 and the floating signals connected as shown in Fig. 4.
Note that the link between -ve input and COM effectively turns the differential input into a single ended input.

+ve

+
Es Floating Source Es To A/D
–

-ve Input Amplifier (Differential)

A connection MUST exist between

-ve and COM to define VCM 0 Volts
COM

FIG 4. Connecting a floating source to a differential input

It is important to understand these distinctions between the input types, how to use them effectively and how to avoid ground
loops. Misuse of the inputs is the commonest difficulty that users experience in applying and obtaining the best performance
from data acquisition systems.
Current Inputs

A floating (isolated) current input should be connected as shown in Fig. 5.

+ve

+
Floating 4-20 mA Source 25R Es To A/D
–

-ve Input Amplifier (Differential)

A connection MUST exist between

-ve and COM to define VCM 0 Volts
COM

FIG 5. Connecting a floating current source to a differential input

If the current source is connected locally to ground then it should be connected as shown in Fig. 6. Care must be taken to
ensure that the common mode input range of the card is not exceeded.

RIGHT-ground loop avoided +ve

+
25R Es To A/D
4-20mA source non-isolated –

-ve Input Amplifier (Differential)

Take -ve line out to signal source DO NOT join -ve
V
VCM =VG1 -VG2 CM to COM
COM at computer

Computer Ground VG2

Signal Ground VG1

FIG 6. Right way to connect a grounded current source