PIL 50-125 Series Shielded Relay Card SPST

1. Shielded reed relay

2. High channel density

3. Instrument-grade ruthenium contacts

4. Fast action speed

5. 200-pin LFH connector


The Pickering 50-125 series is a single-slot, short-form PCI-format shielded general-purpose reed relay card, offering 32-channel (50-125-021) or 50-channel (50-125-121) SPST (normally open) shielded reed relay arrays.
Product Description

This PIL 50-125 Series Shielded Relay Card SPST is a functionally equivalent shielded version of the unshielded 50-115 series, designed for automated test applications requiring 50MHz bandwidth signal switching, high isolation, and low crosstalk.

The 50-125 series utilizes Pickering Electronics' highest quality instrument-grade reed relays, equipped with sputtered ruthenium contacts, offering excellent performance in low-level and small-signal switching scenarios. The complete mu-metal magnetic shielding enclosure effectively reduces inter-relay magnetic crosstalk from 40% to just 1%, ensuring signal integrity even in high-density installations.

Attention: The 50-125 series has been replaced by Pickering's updated 50-115B series (50-125-021 → 50-115B-021, 50-125-121 → 50-115B-121). The new 50-115B series has been optimized and upgraded while maintaining full pin compatibility and functional equivalence.

 

 

MXTD Wholesaler

Forging a Decade of Technical Excellence: Industrial Solutions Engineered by MXTD

For over ten years, Xi'an Mingxi Taida Information Technology Co., Ltd. (MXTD) has been a pioneer in industrial optimization, delivering tailored, high-performance technical solutions that maximize efficiency. Our unique business model seamlessly integrates precision R&D, international commerce, and full-lifecycle engineering support to safeguard and optimize your critical assets. Leveraging our deep manufacturing expertise, we engineer ruggedized hardware portfolios that ensure unwavering operational stability in the most demanding, heavy-duty environments.

Our core operational advantages include:

  • Robust Global Footprint: We operate a highly resilient international supply chain and distribution network, reliably deploying mission-critical equipment to industrial leaders throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.
  • Unified Technology Procurement: We simplify your sourcing and supply workflows by combining our proprietary, custom-engineered hardware with an elite selection of authorized instruments from world-renowned brands.
  • Rigorous Quality Assurance: Zero failure is our baseline. Every instrument, component, and module undergoes automated functional profiling, extreme environmental stress testing, and uncompromising QA validation before leaving our facilities.

 

 

Features- PIL 50-125 Series

Shielded reed relay The entire series uses SPST reed relays with mu-metal magnetic shielding, supporting 50MHz bandwidth signal switching
High channel density A single-slot PCI card provides 32 or 50 independent relay channels
Instrument-grade ruthenium contacts Sputtered ruthenium contacts ensure excellent contact performance for low-level signal switching
Fast action speed Typical action time <0.5ms, release time <0.5ms, typical value 250µs
Ultra-long service life Low power >1×10⁸ operation, full power >1×10⁶ operation
Low contact resistance Path resistance <800mΩ (typical value 400mΩ)
High insulation resistance Off-state resistance >10⁹Ω
Standard PCI interface Single-slot short-form PCI format, compliant with PCI specification 2.0.1
200-pin LFH connector Front panel features 200 female LFH connectors, with a rich set of matching cables and accessories
Complete software driver Provides VISA, IVI, and Windows kernel drivers
eBIRST supports Compatible with Pickering eBIRST switch system test tools, enabling quick location of relay faults

 

Blocked version vs. Unblocked versionPIL 50-125 Series Shielded Relay Card SPST

Items 50-125(Blocked) 50-115(Unblock)
Magnetic shielding ✅Complete mu-metal shielding ❌Unshielded
Signal Bandwidth 50MHz /
Inter-channel crosstalk Extremely low (shielding reduced to 1%) Lower
Application RF/high-frequency signal switching, high-density matrix General low-frequency signal switching

 

The 50-125 series is positioned as a high-density shielded general-purpose reed relay card in Pickering's PCI switch card product line. It forms a complete product matrix with other models in the same series:

Model Function Shield
50-110 32/64×SPDT reed relay Unshielded
50-115 32/64×SPST or 25/50×DPST reed relay Unshielded
50-125 32/50×SPST reed relay Shield
50-120 32×SPDT reed relay Shield
50-131A/132A 16/32×SPDT/SPST Electromechanical relays /

 

Functions- PIL 50-125 Series Shielded Relay Card SPST

SPST normally open signal switching All relays are Form A (normally open), establishing a C-to-A signal path after energization
Independent channel control Each relay channel is independently controlled by software to maintain its on/off state
High-density signal routing Flexible signal matrix configuration is achieved with 32 or 50 independent channels
Shielding signal switching Fully magnetically shielded to support high-isolation switching of 50MHz bandwidth signals
Low-level signal switching Sputtered ruthenium contacts ensure reliable switching of small signals at the µV level

Modular Architecture

The PIL 50-125 Series employs an uncommitted SPST relay array architecture:

  • Default state: All signal paths are disconnected (open circuit)
  • After power-on: A signal path is established between terminals C (Common) and A
  • Each relay is independently driven by a single control bit

Control and Drive

  • Direct control via PCI bus
  • Supports Pickering standard software drivers (VISA, IVI, Kernel)
  • Compatible with mainstream test and development environments such as LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, C/C++, and Visual Basic
  • Supports eBIRST relay self-diagnostic test tool

General technology- PIL 50-125 Series Shielded Relay Card SPST

Relay type Reed Relay, sputtered ruthenium contacts
Contact type Form A (SPST Normally Open)
Maximum switching voltage 150VDC / 100VAC
Maximum power 20W
Maximum switching current 1A
Maximum carrying current 1.25A
Path resistance <800mΩ (typical value 400mΩ)
Off-state resistance >10⁹Ω
Differential thermal offset <10µV
Action Time <0.5ms (typical value 0.25ms)
Release time <0.5ms (typical value 0.25ms)
Connector 200-pin Female LFH connector
Shape Single-slot short-size PCI format
Bus interface PCI (+5V signal)
Security Certification CE(EN61010-1:2001, EN61000-6-1:2001, EN55011:1998)

RF/Shielding Performance

Signal Bandwidth 50MHz Blocked version
Crosstalk (100Ω balanced) 80dB @1MHz, 72dB @10MHz, 62dB @25MHz
Isolation (100Ω balance) 75dB @1MHz, 60dB @10MHz, 55dB @25MHz

 

Environment and Safety

Operating temperature 0°C to +55°C
Storage temperature -20°C to +75°C
Humidity (operating/storage) ≤90% Non-condensing
Altitude (Work) 5000m
Altitude (storage/transportation) 15000m
Safety standards EN61010-1:2001
EMC immunity EN61000-6-1:2001
EMC launch EN55011:1998
CE compliance Yes, it meets all applicable EU directives

 

50-125 series compatible with Pickering standard PCI module software driver architecture:

Type Description
VISA driver Plug and play compatible, supports NI-VISA environment
IVI driver Instrument drivers compliant with IVI standards
Kernel driver Windows kernel-level drivers provide low-level APIs

Supported Development Environments

Environments Support Status
LabVIEW ✅Full support
LabWindows/CVI ✅Full support
C/C++ ✅Call via Kernel API
Visual Basic ✅Support
Python ✅Controllable via VISA interface

 

Typical Programming Operations- 50-125 series

Relay on/off control The on (close C-to-A) and off (open) states of individual relay channels are controlled by the control bit
Channel status reading Query the current on/off status of each relay
Subunit operations Batch operation of relay bits by sub-unit
Self-test function Execution module self-test and relay status verification
eBIRST Diagnosis Perform relay health status diagnostics using the eBIRST tool to quickly locate faulty relays

Migration Guidelines: 50-125 → 50-115B

Old Model New Model Changes
50-125-021 50-115B-021 Pin compatible, functionally equivalent, and with universal software drivers
50-125-121 50-115B-121 Pin compatible, functionally equivalent, and with universal software drivers

Migration Notes:

  • 100% pin compatible with 50-115B and 50-125 series
  • Fully compatible software drivers, no test program modifications required​​​​​​​
  • Spare parts kits may differ; please refer to the spare parts list for the new model
  • We recommend contacting the Pickering sales office to confirm specific migration details

 


 

Customization Services

 

Tailored OEM & ODM Engineering Services

We recognize that off-the-shelf, pre-packaged hardware rarely satisfies the intricate requirements of specialized engineering applications. To eliminate these operational bottlenecks, our highly skilled technical division delivers end-to-end, made-to-order OEM and ODM services custom-tailored to your precise project specifications. Whether you require modifying delicate signal spectrum parameters, integrating complex triggering sequences, or designing custom physical enclosures, we collaborate as your transparent development partner to transform raw concepts into deployable, high-performance machinery.

Our custom design framework focuses on three core operational advantages:

  • Tailored System Alignment: Every hardware modification is meticulously validated against your specific operational, structural, and electrical environments to guarantee flawless compatibility.
  • Accelerated Prototype Iteration: Our agile engineering methodology compresses development timelines, keeping you ahead of market demands while remaining highly responsive to design adjustments.
  • Uncompromising Benchmarking Rigor: Every custom build undergoes the exact same thorough automated diagnostics and reliability screening as our flagship product lines.

By balancing ultimate design flexibility with rigorous stress-testing, we deliver application-specific instruments that integrate seamlessly into your existing workflows while maintaining maximum safety and peak operational performance.

 

Customization Process

Using:

  • ATE Switch Matrix: Construct high-density, low-crosstalk test signal routing matrices
  • Multiplexer: Route sensor signals in multi-channel data acquisition systems
  • RF/High-Frequency Signal Switching: 50MHz bandwidth coverage, suitable for low-to-mid-frequency RF applications
  • Semiconductor Testing: Switch low-level analog signals in chip testing
  • Data Acquisition Systems: High-density signal routing and configuration switching
  • Board-Level/Functional Testing: Route stimulus and measurement signals in ICT/FCT systems

 

Certifications and Certificates

Logistics and Transportation

FAQs:

QWhat are the advantages of the 50-125 series compared to the regular 50-110/50-115 series?

A:  

The 50-125 is a shielded reed relay board. The standard 50-110 series is prone to magnetic or capacitive coupling between channels during high-frequency or multi-channel simultaneous switching. The 50-125, through its physical shielding structure, significantly improves signal bandwidth and reduces crosstalk between channels, making it more suitable for high-precision weak signal testing or mid-to-low frequency (hundreds of kHz to several MHz) signal switching.

 

QWhich Pickering driver should be used when developing in LabVIEW or C#/C++?

A:  

Pickering employs a general driver architecture. For System 50 (PCI) hardware of the 50-125 series, it primarily provides the following two driver solutions, which can be found in the Pickering driver download center:

Direct I/O Driver (pipx40): This is the lowest-level and most commonly used direct control driver, supporting various Windows development languages ​​and offering extremely fast response times.

IVI-Switch Driver (pi40iv): If your test system architecture requires compliance with IVI instrument standards, this driver can be used to achieve instrument interchangeability.

 

QWhy does the error "Resource Name Error" occur when initializing a board in LabVIEW?

A: 

Cause: 50-125 is a PCI card, but many developers directly used the PXI module example, misconfiguring it as a PXI resource format such as PXI::14::INSTR.

Solution: PCI cards are usually identified in the Pickering driver by their card number or bus/slot number. Please open the Pickering Client Bridge (the official hardware management tool) to check the specific Card ID assigned to the PCI card by the system (e.g., Card 1), and pass the correct integer ID or VISA resource name in the initialization function.

 

QHow to quickly check if a relay on a 50-125 board is damaged?

A: 

A key feature of Pickering is its support for its self-developed eBIRST testing tool.

Software Diagnostics: By running Pickering's diagnostic software, it closes specific relays via serial commands, guiding the user through the diagnostic channels of external measuring instruments.

Dedicated Fixture: By purchasing the matching eBIRST hardware tool, simply plug it into the 200-pin (or related high-density) interface on the front panel of the board. With a single click, it automatically identifies which relay's contact resistance is exceeding the limit (fully automatic fault detection).

 

QWhat interface does the 50-125 board use on the front end? How do I connect the cables?

A: 

This series of high-density PCI cards typically uses a 200-pin LFH (Low Force Helix) female connector or a 78-pin D-type connector.

Due to the very dense pin configuration, users are advised against attempting to add additional wiring themselves.

Official cables are provided for the 50-125 series (such as a 200-pin LFH to open-end adapter, or an adapter for four 50-pin D-sub connectors). During system integration, a picking terminal block is usually used for signal wiring to ensure that the shielding effect is not compromised.

 

/contact-us/

Contact Us

Ready to integrate reliable Shield Relay Card control into your system? Our team is here to help you select the right configuration and provide ongoing support.

Contact our technical specialists at manager03@mxtdinfo.com  / manager02@mxtdinfo.com for detailed specifications, pricing information, or to discuss your custom requirements. We're committed to delivering the perfect PIL 50-125 Series Shielded Relay Card SPST solution for your application needs.

 

Online Message

Our customers’ satisfaction speaks for our quality — contact us to experience the same reliable service.

Online Message

Our customers’ satisfaction speaks for our quality — contact us to experience the same reliable service.