Hioki LR8450-01 -- Improve Multi-Channel Measurement Flexibility

Multi-channel measurement problems rarely fail because the instrument cannot measure enough channels. They fail because the channels you need are in places you cannot run cable to, because the fast signals need a different sampling rate than the slow ones, or because the recorder slows down the moment you add a module. The LR8450-01 is built around those three problems.

This page covers what the instrument actually does, how to choose a module mix, and when the LR8450-01 is — and is not — the right logger for the job.

What the LR8450-01 actually is

HIOKI builds two versions of the same logger platform:

Both models accept the same plug-in modules, so the choice between them is really a choice about reach: the LR8450-01 adds wireless modules for measurement points you cannot cable to. See the LR8450 Memory HiLogger and the LR8450-01 wireless data logger kit.

Why "adding modules doesn't slow it down" is the real feature

On a conventional logger, channel count and sampling rate trade against each other: the more channels you enable, the slower the whole instrument becomes, because channels share the same conversion path. The LR8450 platform avoids that by putting an A/D converter inside every module.

The practical result is that you can run different modules at different intervals in the same recording. HIOKI's own example: capture control signals at 1 ms with the high-speed voltage unit, while logging many channels of temperature once per second with a temperature unit — one file, one timeline, no compromise. That also lets you use a slower, heavily filtered module where you want to reject low-frequency noise, instead of forcing every channel to the fastest setting.

Choosing the module mix

There are 16 module types in total: eight plug-in modules and eight wireless equivalents. The pairing matters, because the wireless module you need is not always the same measurement target as the plug-in module you already own.

Two planning notes that come up in almost every quotation:

• CAN is a separate unit, not a channel on a voltage module. The LR8450-01 accepts up to four CAN units counting plug-in and wireless together, and the channel count on a CAN unit refers to bus signals — up to 50 of them can be logged at the 10 ms interval.
• Strain needs its own module. The strain unit has a built-in bridge box so it supports several wiring methods directly, which is what makes 1 ms strain measurement practical without external signal conditioning.

Wireless expansion: when seven wireless modules solve the problem

Wireless modules are not a convenience feature, they are a wiring-avoidance feature. Each one attaches a wireless LAN adapter (Z3231) and can run from an internal battery pack (Z1007), so a measurement point needs neither a cable run nor a power drop. Typical cases:

• Vehicle road testing, where sensors sit on the body, the drivetrain and inside the cabin
• Temperature mapping of large machines or panels where 20–200 thermocouples would otherwise mean 200 cable runs
• Remote or confined measurement points in substations and industrial plants
• Rotating or moving assemblies that cannot be hard-wired

Registration is handled by an AUTO key that configures the communication settings between the LR8450-01 and the wireless modules, so adding a module in the field does not mean bringing a laptop. The LR8450-01 can also record using wireless modules alone, with no plug-in module installed — useful if the instrument has to stay in a safe, dry location while the measurement points are elsewhere.

Sampling fast signals in electrically noisy places

The LR8450 platform is specified for high noise resistance, which is the reason it turns up in inverter, motor, battery and power-electronics test cells rather than only in clean laboratories. Two things make that work in practice:

• Speed where you need it: the high-speed voltage (U8553), strain (U8554) and current (U8556) units sample at 1 ms, covering sensor outputs such as pressure, vibration and fast current transients.
• Filtering where you do not: a slower module like the U8552 can be run with a lower notch frequency, rejecting low-frequency noise on multi-channel temperature work instead of logging that noise at high speed.

HIOKI's GENNECT software family (PC and mobile) is used to centralise instrument data and align multiple instruments on one timeline — a detail worth planning for if your test cell already has several instruments recording in parallel.

LR8450-01 or MR6000? A logger is not a recorder

This is the most common selection mistake we see. The LR8450-01 and the MR6000 look similar on a quotation and solve different problems:

If the question is "what happened in 200 µs?", you want the MR6000 Memory HiCorder. If the question is "what are 120 temperature, voltage and CAN signals doing over the next 72 hours, including the four points I cannot reach with cable?", you want the LR8450-01. Some test cells end up with both, which is why the MR8848 and the LR8450 module families share accessories in a lot of the same racks. RCC Electronics also carries the portable data logger range from Graphtec for teams that need a lighter channel count.

Buying, renting and supporting the LR8450-01 in Canada

RCC Electronics supplies the LR8450 and LR8450-01, the full plug-in and wireless module range, and the accessories that make a system complete — from the LR8450-01 kit and LR8450 data logger kit to carrying cases and battery packs. Equipment ships from our Concord (Toronto) facility across Canada, and the same team handles equipment rental and calibration and service, so a module mix can be validated on a real job before you commit capital.

FAQ: LR8450-01 multi-channel logging

What is the difference between the LR8450 and the LR8450-01?
The LR8450 accepts up to four plug-in modules for 120 channels. The LR8450-01 adds wireless module support — up to seven wireless modules — for a total of 330 channels, and it can record with wireless modules alone.

How many channels can the LR8450-01 measure?
330 in total: 120 through plug-in modules and 210 through wireless modules.

Can every channel sample at 1 ms?
No. 1 ms is available on the high-speed voltage, strain and current units. Temperature and CAN modules run at slower intervals by design, and mixing intervals in one recording is normal.

Does adding modules reduce the sampling speed?
No. Each module contains its own A/D converter, so adding modules does not slow the instrument down.

Do I need separate modules for strain and CAN?
Yes. Strain requires the strain unit (built-in bridge box), and CAN requires a dedicated CAN unit. Up to four CAN units can be used on the LR8450-01.

Can I rent an LR8450-01 in Canada?
Yes — rental is available for project and evaluation work, typically the fastest way to test a module configuration before purchase.

View the LR8450-01 Kit Ask RCC About a Module Mix