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Safety Summary
The following safety precautions apply to both operating and
maintenance personnel and must be observed during all phases of
operation, service, and repair of this instrument. Before applying
power, follow the installation instructions and become familiar with
the operating instructions for this instrument.
If this device is damaged or something is missing, contact the place
of purchase immediately.
This manual contains information and warnings that must be
followed to ensure safe operation as well as maintain the meter in
a safe condition.
GROUND THE INSTRUMENT
To minimize shock hazard, the instrument chassis and cabinet
must be connected to an electrical ground. This instrument is
grounded through the ground conductor of the supplied, three-
conductor ac power cable. The power cable must be plugged into
an approved three-conductor electrical outlet. Do not alter the
ground connection. Without the protective ground connection, all
accessible conductive parts (including control knobs) can render an
electric shock. The power jack and mating plug of the power cable
must meet IEC safety standards.
DO NOT OPERATE IN AN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE
Do not operate the instrument in the presence of flammable gases
or fumes. Operation of any electrical instrument in such an
environment constitutes a definite safety hazard.
KEEP AWAY FROM LIVE CIRCUITS
Instrument covers must not be removed by operating personnel.
Component replacement and internal adjustments must be made
by qualified maintenance personnel. Disconnect the power cord
before removing the instrument covers and replacing components.
Under certain conditions, even with the power cable removed,
dangerous voltages may exist. To avoid injuries, always
disconnect power and discharge circuits before touching them.
DO NOT SERVICE OR ADJUST ALONE
Do not attempt any internal service or adjustment unless another
person, capable of rendering first aid and resuscitation, is present.
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE PARTS OR MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT
Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized
modifications to this instrument. Return the instrument to B&K
Precision for service and repair to ensure that safety features are
maintained.
WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
WARNING and CAUTION statements, such as the following
examples, denote a hazard and appear throughout this manual.
Follow all instructions contained in these statements.
A WARNING statement calls attention to an operating procedure,
practice, or condition, which, if not followed correctly, could result in
injury or death to personnel.
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A CAUTION statement calls attention to an operating procedure,
WARNING:
Do not alter the ground connection. Without the protective ground
connection, all accessible conductive parts (including control
knobs) can render an electric shock. The power jack and mating
plug of the power cable meet IEC safety standards.
WARNING:
To avoid electrical shock hazard, disconnect power cord before
removing covers. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
CAUTION:
Before connecting the line cord to the AC mains, check the rear
panel AC line voltage indicator. Applying a line voltage other than
the indicated voltage can destroy the AC line fuses. For continued
fire protection, replace fuses only with those of the specified
voltage and current ratings.
CAUTION:
This product uses components which can be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). To avoid damage, be sure to follow proper
procedures for handling, storing and transporting parts and
subassemblies which contain ESD-sensitive components.
practice, or condition, which, if not followed correctly, could result in
damage to or destruction of part or all of the product.
Compliance Statements
This product is subject to
Directive 2002/96/EC of the
European
Parliament and the Council of the
European Union on waste
electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE) , and in
jurisdictions
adopting that Directive, is marked
as being put on the market after
August 13, 2005, and should not
be disposed of as unsorted
municipal waste. Please utilize
your local WEEE collection
facilities in the disposition of this
product and otherwise observe all
applicable requirements.
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Applicable
in the European
Union and other European countries with separate collection
systems)
CE Declaration of Conformity
The power supplies models 9171B, 9172B, 9173B, 9174B, 9181B,
9182B, 9183B, 9184B, 9185B meet the requirements of 2006/95/EC
Low Voltage Directive and 2004/108/EC Electromagnet Compatibility
Directive with the following standards.
Low Voltage Directive
-EN61010-1: 2001
Safety requirements for electrical equipment for
measurement, control, and laboratory use.
Part 1: General requirements
EMC Directive
-EN 61000-3-2: 2006
-EN 61000-3-3: 1995+A1: 2001+A2: 2005
-EN 61000-4-2: 1995+A1: 1998+A2: 2001
-EN61000-4-3: 2006+A1: 2008
-EN61000-4-4: 2004
-EN61000-4-5: 2006
-EN61000-4-6: 2007
-EN61000-4-11: 2004
-EN 61326-1: 2006
Electrical equipment for measurement, control,
and laboratory use.
Safety Symbols
Refer to the user manual for warning information to
avoid hazard or personal injury and prevent damage to
instrument.
Chassis (earth ground) symbol.
On (Power). This is the In position of the power switch
when instrument is ON.
Off (Power). This is the Out position of the power switch
when instrument is OFF.
On (Supply). This is the AC mains connect/disconnect
switch at the back of the instrument.
Off (Supply). This is the AC mains connect/disconnect
switch at the back of the instrument.
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Table of Contents
1 General Information ......................................................... 13
Current Calibration ................................................................... 175
Voltage Calibration ................................................................... 178
External Analog Input Calibration............................................. 180
Index ........................................................................................... 185
SERVICE INFORMATION ........................................................ 186
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1 General Information
1.1 Product Overview
The 917xB and 918xB series are high-performance dual range linear
DC power supplies that provide clean and reliable power with high
resolution and accuracy. All models are programmable via standard
USB interface or optional RS232, GPIB and LAN interface. Interface
cards and I/O cards come in a modular form factor. Selected models
feature high voltage outputs or dual channels to provide
series/parallel tracking functionality. All models include front and rear
panel outputs for flexibility, and feature programmable list mode for
storing and running customized test sequences. Additionally, a
unique LED test mode function can be enabled for LED test
applications requiring minimal inrush current output. These power
supplies are suitable for bench or rack mount operation with the
available rack mount kit option.
Features
Single and dual output models with up to 210W output power
High accuracy and low noise output
Dual range output with automatic range selection (except of
high voltage models 9184B and 9185B)
Fast transient response of < 50 μs of most models
Very low ripple and noise
LED test mode for low inrush current output
Programmable list mode for creating test sequences
Front and rear remote sense terminals for single output
models (except of high voltage models 9184B and 9185B)
OVP, OCP, and OTP protection
Two interchangeable interface slots accepting any of the
following optional interface cards: LAN/GPIB, Digital I/O and
Analog control, RS485, RS232
Standard USB interface (virtual COM)
Programmable voltage and current slew rates
13
1.2 Package Contents
Please inspect the instrument mechanically and electrically upon
receiving it. Unpack all items from the shipping carton, and check for
any obvious signs of physical damage that may have occurred
during transportation. Report any damage to the shipping agent
immediately. Save the original packing carton for possible future
reshipment. Every power supply is shipped with the following
contents:
917xB/918xB Power supply
User Manual
AC Power Cord
USB Type A to Type B Cable
Line fuse (for 115V or 230V operation)
Certificate of Calibration
Test Report
Verify that all items above are included in the shipping container.
If anything is missing, please contact:
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14
1.3 Front Panel Overview
19
1
25 6
16
212018
17
1011 81213
14
3 497
15
1
19
25171067 11 8129133 4
16
14
15
18
Figure 1 - Front Panel for 9171B/9172B/9181B
Figure 2 - Front Panel for 9173B/9174B
15
Figure 3 - Front Panel for 9182B/9183B
1
25
17
1067 11 8129133 4
16
14
15
18
201921
1
25171067 11 8129133 4
16
14
15
18
19
Figure 4 - Front Panel for 9184B/9185B
16
Front Panel Description
Power ON/OFF button
LCD display
Esc / CLR button
Menu button
ISET button
VSET button
Decimal/LCL(Local) button
Numeric keypad
RCL (Recall) button
OVP indicator
OCP indicator
RMT (Remote mode) indicator
LOCK (Key lock) indicator
Enter button
Up, Down arrow keys
Left, Right arrow keys
Output button (Dual channel models have CH1 and CH2 output
buttons)
Output ON/OFF indicator light
Main output terminals (Models 9182B,9184B,9185B have larger
binding post terminals for high current/voltage outputs)
Front terminal shorting bars
Front panel +S/-S sense terminals (Not available with models
9173B, 9174B, 9184B, 9185B)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
12
13
17
1.4 Rear Panel Overview
22
23
24
31
29
30
28
2526 27
Figure 5- Rear View for 9171B/9172B/9181B
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18
29
28
22
2524
23
30
29
28
312526 27
29
28
22
2524
23
30
312526 27
Figure 6- Rear View for 9173B/9174B
Figure 7- Rear View for 9182B/9183B
19
S1 interface slot (shown with optional LAN/GPIB interface card)
S2 interface slot (shown with optional DIO/Analog interface card)
USB interface
Temperature controlled cooling fan(s)
AC input fuse box
Line input receptacle
Rear panel outputs (++/--) and sense (+S/-S) terminals
Shorting pins
Line voltage selection switch (bottom of power supply) See
“2.2Line Voltage Selection” for details.
29
28
2223
30
312426 27
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
22
23
Figure 8- Rear View for 9184B/9185B
Rear Panel Description
20
Chassis ground
Model
Description
DRGL
GPIB/LAN interface card
DR1DIO
Single channel digital I/O and analog control card
DR2DIO
Dual channel digital I/O and analog control card
DRRS485
RS485 interface card
DRRS232
RS232 interface card
Model
Description
DRRM2U1
Rackmount kit for single 2U power supply
DRRM2U2
Rackmount kit for two 2U power supplies mounted
side by side
DRRM3U1
Rackmount kit for single 3U power supply
DRRM3U2
Rackmount kit for two l 3U power supplies mounted
side by side
31
1.5 Optional Accessories
The following lists all optional accessories supported by the
917xB/918xB series power supplies.
Interface Card Options
Rack mount Options
Rackmount kits are available for all 9 models. Refer to the following
Figure 13- 3U Single Supply Rackmount Installation
29
Step 1
3
Step 1:
1
2
Remove the parts
4
2143
6
9
6
Step 3
Step 3:
Removethe parts
Step 5
7
7
7
Step 2
Step 2:
Fasten the parts
6
6
5
6
6
5
6
Step 4:
Fasten the parts
Step 4
8
8
7
7
7
Fasten the parts
Remove the parts
Step 5:
Step 7:
Step 7
96
6
6
9
6
6
6
Step 6
Step 6:
6
6
Fasten the parts
6
6
6
6
6
6
Figure 14–3U Dual Supplies Rackmount Installation
30
WARNING:
The included AC power cord is safety certified for
this instrument operating in rated range. To change
a cable or add an extension cable, be sure that it
can meet the required power ratings for this
instrument. Any misuse with wrong or unsafe
cables will void the warranty.
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2 Getting Started
2.1 Input Power and Fuse Requirements
Input Power
The rated AC input power source for powering the supplies must be
within:
Before connecting to an AC outlet or external power source, be sure
that the power switch is in the OFF position and verify that the AC
power cord, including the extension line, is compatible with the rated
voltage/current and that there is sufficient circuit capacity for the
power supply. Once verified, connect the cable firmly.
Fuse Requirements
An AC input fuse is necessary when powering the instrument.
Below is a table showing the required fuses for AC line input 115V
and 230V operation for all models.
31
Table 1- Input Fuse Table
Model
115 V AC
230 V AC
9171B
2.5 A
1.25 A
9172B
2.5 A
1.25 A
9173B
4 A
2 A
9174B
4 A
2 A
9181B
3.15 A
1.6 A
9182B
5 A
2.5 A
9183B
4 A
2 A
9184B
4 A
2 A
9185B
4 A
2 A
CAUTION:
For safety, no power should be applied to the
instrument while changing line voltage operation.
Disconnect all cables connected to the instrument
before proceeding.
Note: All fuses listed have the specifications: T250V, slow
blow (slow acting), 5 x 20mm.
2.2Line Voltage Selection
The power supplies can be selected to operate with 115V input or
230 V input. To ensure that your instrument is properly configured to
operate at the desired AC line voltage, please follow the steps
below:
32
Step 1 - Check and/or Change Fuse
Fuse box slit
Fuse box
Check/Remove Fuse
-Locate the fuse box next to the AC input connector in the rear
panel.
-With a small flat blade screwdriver, insert into the fuse box slit to
pull and slide out the fuse box as indicated below.
-Check and replace fuse (if necessary) for the desired line
voltage operation (see Table 1).
Step 2 - Check and/or Change Line Voltage Switch
-Carefully lift and turn the instrument upside down.
-Locate the red Line Voltage Switch, which has markings that
indicate “115” for 115V or “230” for 230V line operation. Set the
switch to the desired line voltage operation.
33
WARNING:
Do not connect power to the instrument until the
line voltage selection is setup correctly. Applying
an incorrect line voltage or configuring the line
voltage selection improperly may damage the
instrument and void all warranty.
2.3Output Connections
Line Voltage Switch
Rear Panel
Front Panel
(Bottom View)
Front Feet
Rear Feet
These power supplies have both front panel binding posts and rear
panel terminals for output connections, and they are paralleled
together. The two (+) and two (-) (per channel for dual channel
models) rear output terminals can accept wire sizes AWG 24 to
AWG 12 (See Table 2).However, we recommend using 12 AWG if
current output is between 5 to 10 A. For current output above 10 A,
remove the shorting bars from the front panel, but do not remove the
shorting pins on the rear panel. Use two separate wires/leads to
connect both (+) terminals and (-) terminals as shown below:
34
WARNING:
DO NOT output 10 A or more with only one pair of
(+) and (-) terminals. Both (+) and (-) terminals
must all be connected for applications requiring
more than 10 A output. Each terminal can only
accept a maximum of 10 A. Exceeding this may
damage the power supply.
AWG
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
Imax(A)
40
25
20
13
10 7 5
3.5
2.5
1.7
mΩ/meter
3.3
5.2
8.3
13.2
21
33.5
52.8
84.3
133.9
212.9
Rear Panel Output
+S
+
+
-
- - S
DUT
+ -
+S+--S
Remove shorting bars
Front Panel Output
For 10 A or higher current output
Table 2- Wire Gauge Rating
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35
WARNING:
Before connecting wires to the front or rear panel
output terminals, turn OFF the power supply to
avoid damage to the instrument and the device
under test (DUT). For safety, load wires must have
a wire gauge size large enough to prevent
overheating when the power supply operates at
maximum short circuit output current. It will also
prevent large voltage drops from resistances in the
wires.
2.4Preliminary Check
POWER
Complete the following steps to verify that the power supply is ready
for use.
1.Verify Line Voltage Selection
Complete the steps as described in “2.2 Line Voltage
Selection” to make sure the supply is correctly setup to
operate with the line voltage source to be used.
2.Connect Power and Self Test
Connect AC power cord to the AC receptacle in the rear
panel and press turn on the instrument. It will run
through a self test procedure, as well as check for installed
interface cards. The following screens will display before it’s
ready for use (Display will vary based on the model and
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37
Output Check
Vset
Enter
OUTPUT
CH1
CH2
Voltage Check
Follow the steps below to check basic voltage output with no load
connected.
1. Turn on the power supply. The display will show the OFF
annunciator next to the setting voltage on the left side of the
display.
2. Enable the output by pressing (or and for
dual channel models). The output indicator light will be lit
and display will show the measured output voltage. The
OFF annunciator will change to CV.
3. Using the numeric keypad, press and enter a voltage
value. Then press the key. For dual channel models,
select the channel first before setting the voltage. The
selected channel is indicated by a flashing CH1 or CH2
annunciator on the display. Press or to select
the channel.
4. The measured output voltage should change to a value close
to or exactly what you entered (For example, if voltage value
is 30.000 V, it may show 29.998 V).
5. (Optional) You may also verify the output voltage by
connecting either the (+) and (-) terminals on the front panel
or the rear panel to an external voltmeter. The measured
value should match or be close to the entered voltage value.
38
Current Check
OUTPUT
Enter
Iset
CH1
CH2
Follow the steps below to check basic current output of the power
supply.
1. Turn on the power supply. The display will show the OFF
annunciator next to the setting voltage on the left side of the
display.
2. Short the (+) and (-) output terminals with test leads, shorting
bar, or clip. (Refer to Table 2 to select appropriate test
leads)
3. Enable the output by pressing (or and for
dual channel models). The output indicator light will be lit
and display will show the measured output voltage. The
OFF annunciator will change to CC.
4. Using the numeric keypad, press and enter a current
value. Then press the key. For dual channel models,
select the channel first before setting the voltage. The
selected channel is indicated by a flashing CH1 or CH2
annunciator on the display. Press or to select
the channel.
5. The measured output current should change to a value close
to or exactly what you entered (For example, if current value
is 5.0000 A, it may show 4.9998 A).
6. (Optional) You may also verify the output current by
connecting either the (+) and (-) terminals on the front panel
or the rear panel to an external current meter capable of
measuring the current that you set. The measured value
should match or be close to the entered current value.
39
7. Press to turn off the power supply and remove the
LCD VER = 2.00 / WEB VER = 1.04
MODULE VER = 1.10 / 1.10
POWER
Menu
8
Esc
short on the output terminals.
Check Model and Firmware Version
The model and firmware version can be verified from one of the boot
up screens, or from using the *IDN? query remote command,
described in “4.2 Remote Commands”. Additionally, other system
version and information can be found by following the steps below:
1. Press , then to enter INFORMATION. The
following screen will be displayed.
2. There are multiple version numbers shown. However, the
firmware version is displayed under MODULE VER. In the
example screen above, firmware version is shown as 1.10.
3. Press twice to exit the menu.
40
Menu
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3 Front Panel Operation
3.1 Menu Options
All settings and parameters can be configured from the built-in menu
system of the power supply. To access the menu, press .
The menu system is divided into 8 categories and organized as
follows:
1. SYSTEM SETTING
REMOTE(USB,ETHERNET,GPIB,RS232 (optional))
GPIB ADDR(1-30)
KEY LOCK(ON,OFF)
IP CONFIG(STATIC)
IP ADDRESS(xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx, where x = 0-9)
BEEP(ON,OFF)
LCD BACKLIT(ALWAYS ON, 1,5,10,30 MINS OFF)
RECALL DEFAULT(NO,YES)
POWER ON STATE (OFF,LAST)
OUTPUT MODE (MULTI,SINGLE)*
TRACKING MODE (ON,OFF)*
EXTERN CONTROL (VOLT,RES,OFF) (optional)
EXTERN LEVEL (5V,10V) (optional)
EXTERN TRIG (ON,OFF) (optional)
2. OUTPUT SETTING
1. VOLT LIMIT SETTING
VOLT LIMIT MAX (0 – Max. Voltage)
VOLT LIMIT MIN (0 – Max. Voltage)
2. CURR LIMIT SETTING
CURR LIMIT MAX (0 – Max. Current)
CURR LIMIT MIN (0 – Max. Current)
3. VOLT SLEWRATE SETTING
V SLEWRATE
4. CURR SLEWRATE SETTING
I SLEWRATE
5. MEASURE AVERAGE(1-10)
6. LED MODE SETTING
LED MODE (ON,OFF)
41
Low Current Mode (ON,OFF)**
Note: All optional menu items appear only when their respective optional
interface cards are installed inside the power supply.
Note: The menu cannot be accessed when the output(s) is turned ON or
when it is in remote mode (indicated by RMT light).
3. PROTECTION
1. OVP SETTING
OVP (ON,OFF)
SET (0 – Max. Voltage)
2. OCP SETTING
OCP (ON,OFF)
SET (0 – Max. Current)
4. MEMORY SETTING(0-9)
5. PROGRAM MODE
6. TIMER FUNCTION
TIMER (ON,OFF)
TIME (hr:min:sec)
7. CALIBRATION
8. INFORMATION
9. CHAIN SETTING (optional)
CHAIN ON/OFF (ON,OFF)
CHAIN ADDRESS(1-31)
*Dual channel models 9173B and 9174B only.
**Models 9184B and 9185B only.
How to Access the Menu
Before using the instrument, it is important to be familiarized with its
menu structure and how to view or change settings and parameters.
Follow the steps below to guide you in selecting menu options.
42
1. From the front panel, press to enter the main menu
1 . SYSTEM SETTING
4 . MEMORY SETTING
Menu
1
and the below screen will display. The on the bottom right
indicates that there are more categories below that can be
displayed.
2 . OUTPUT SETTING
2. Press to display those categories. The on the
upper right indicates that there are categories above the
current displayed categories shown. Press and the
screen will display the previous menu categories.
5 . PROGRAM MODE
3. Each main category, as well as some submenu items within
the category, has a number next to their respective category
heading. Whenever you see a number next to a menu item
(i.e. 1. SYSTEM SETTING, 4. MEMORY SETTING), use the
numeric keypad to enter that number to access that
category’s menu or submenus. For example, press to
access the SYSTEM SETTING menu.
4. Within the category menus or submenus, adjustable settings
and parameters will have a cursor (indicated by an underline
of a digit or character) to indicate the current selection. Use
43
the and keys to select the setting you want to
Note: Changes to settings and parameters apply only when the
key is pressed to confirm the changes. Otherwise, they will
default to previous set option or value.
REMOTE = USB
Enter
Enter
Enter
change. Below is an example of the Remote settings being
selected. Note the underline below the first character of the
setting “USB”.
GPIB ADDR = 1
5. Settings have selectable options that are not numeric (i.e.
REMOTE settings shown above). To change them, press
or . To save the changes, press the .
6. Parameters have numerical set values (i.e. GPIB ADDR
parameter shown above). To change them, use the numeric
keypad to enter the value you want to change to. To save
the changes, press the key.
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44
3.2Remote Interface Setup
Menu
1
.
Enter
The standard remote interface available on all models in the series
is the USB (virtual COM) interface. Other optional supported
interfaces such as GPIB, Ethernet (LAN), RS-232, and RS-485are
available, but dependent on the interface card(s) installed on the
instrument. This section will describe how to setup all the supported
interfaces.
Note: The RMT LED will automatically light up when the power
supply is successfully connected to a PC remotely through any
remote interface. Keys on the front panel will be locked until
(LCL) is pressed to set the instrument back to LOCAL mode.
USB Interface (virtual COM)
The USB interface comes standard on every power supply in the
series. A USB Type A to Type B cable (i.e. USB printer cable) is
required to connect the USB port ( in the rear panel to a PC.
Follow the steps below to setup the power supply for USB (virtual
COM) remote communication.
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
REMOTE and verify that it shows USB, which is the default
option. If not, press or until “USB” is displayed.
Press to save changes.
45
2. Install the USB driver. Visit www.bkprecision.com to
Note: Do this before connecting the USB cable from the
power supply to the PC.
download the driver. Run the setup executable after
unzipping the downloaded file.
3. Once the installation is successful, connect the USB cable
between the power supply and the PC. Drivers should be
automatically recognized. To verify, go to “Device Manager”
in Windows, and under “Ports (COM & LPT)”, a new device
listed as “210x USB to UART Bridge (COM#)” will be listed.
The “#” is the COM port number assigned by your computer
to interface with the instrument via USB virtual COM.
4. The serial (virtual COM) settings to use are:
BAUDRATE: 57600
PARITY: NONE
DATA BITS: 8
STOP BIT: 1
FLOW CONTROL: NONE
46
GPIB Interface
STATIC
Allows you to configure a static IP address
for the power supply.
Menu
1
Enter
Enter
Menu
1
Enter
Enter
GPIB interface is available when the LAN/GPIB card is installed in
the “S1” or “S2” slots in the rear panel. To setup the power supply
for GPIB interface, follow the steps below:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
REMOTE and press or until “GPIB” is displayed.
Press to save changes.
2. Select GPIB ADDR and use the numeric keypad to enter the
GPIB address (1 – 30). Press to save changes.
Ethernet (LAN) Interface
LAN interface is available when the LAN/GPIB card is installed in the
“S1” or “S2” slots in the rear panel. To setup the power supply for
LAN interface, follow the steps below:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
REMOTE and press or until “ETHERNET” is
displayed. Press to save changes.
2. Select IP CONFIG and choose STATIC. Press to
save changes.
47
3. If STATIC is selected, then select IP ADDRESS and use the
Enter
Menu
1
Enter
Enter
numerical keypad to enter the static IP. After entering each
group of 3 digits, press to go to the next group. The
cursor will automatically move to the next group. Do this until
all 12 digits are entered. Be sure to press one more
time after entering the last 3 digits for the complete IP
address entry to be saved.
RS-232 and RS-485 Interface (Optional)
Both RS-232 and RS-485 interface are supported by the power
supply through an optional RS-232 or RS-485 interface card. Both
of these card options must be properly installed before they can be
used. See “1.7 Installing Optional Interface Cards” for details.
RS-232 Interface
The setup for remote control via RS-232 interface is very similar to
the same for USB virtual COM interface. To setup the power supply
for RS-232 operation:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
REMOTE and press or until “RS232” is displayed.
Press to save changes.
2. The settings used for RS232 communication are:
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BAUDRATE: 57600
PARITY: NONE
DATA BITS: 8
STOP BIT: 1
FLOW CONTROL: NONE
RS-485 Interface
Multiple power supplies (up to 31) can be connected together in
series and be controlled via USB (virtual COM) interface. Here is an
illustration of how the setup will look like:
Figure 15- RS-485 Setup to Control Multiple Supplies (USB)
To setup and configure the power supplies, follow these steps:
Requirements:
-Optional RS485 cards must be installed on each power supply
-For N number of power supplies, you will need N-1 number of
Ethernet CAT5 straight (pin-to-pin) cables. (Example: To connect
5 power supplies, 4 cables are required)
49
Note: The cables are used to link the power supplies together.
It is recommended to keep the cables as short as
possible between each unit.
Communicate via USB
Note: The terminator switch should only be set to “On” for the
last power supply in the chain. All other power supplies
should have the terminator switch set to “Off”.
1. Take one Ethernet CAT5 cable and connect one end to
labeled “OUT” on the RS485 interface card of the first power
supply (the one that will be connected to the PC via USB
cable).
2. Connect the other end to labeled “IN” on the RS485
interface card of the second power supply.
3. To connect a third power supply, use another Ethernet CAT5
cable and connect one end to labeled “OUT” on the
second power supply. Connect the other end to labeled
“IN” on the interface card of the third power supply.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each subsequent power supplies
added to the multi connection, making sure the connections
follow the “IN” and “OUT” scheme as described.
5. After connecting to the “IN” port of the last power supply in
the connection, if there are more than 10 units connected,
set the physical switch labeled “Terminator” on the RS485
interface card of this last unit to “On”.
6. With a USB Type A to Type B cable, connect one end to the
USB interface of the first power supply. Connect the other
end to a PC to be used to control all the supplies. Refer to
Figure 15 to verify your connections.
50
7. With the connections setup properly, on the first power
Menu
1
Enter
Esc
9
Enter
Enter
Esc
supply, press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING.
Select REMOTE and verify that “USB” is selected. Press
to save changes.
8. Press once to go back to the main menu and press
to enter CHAIN SETTING.
9. Select CHAIN ON/OFF and press or to set it to “ON”.
Press to save changes.
10. Select CHAIN ADDRESS and set it to “1”. Press to
save changes and then press twice to exit the
menu.
11. Repeat steps 7 thru 10 for each of the power supplies in the
chain. However in step 10, set the CHAIN ADDRESS of
each power supply to a different number. (i.e. Set to 1 for
power supply #1, 2 for power supply #2, 3 for power supply
#3, …etc.) The address is used to reference the power
supply during remote operation.
12. Refer to “4.2 Remote Commands” for the list of remote
commands specific for RS485 communication.
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3.3Adjusting LCD Display, Key Lock, Key
Options
Description
ALWAYS ON
Default – Display never dims.
1 MINS OFF
Display dims after 1 minute
5 MINS OFF
Display dims after 5 minutes
10 MINS OFF
Display dims after 10 minutes
30 MINS OFF
Display dims after 30 minutes
Menu
1
Enter
Menu
1
Sound
LCD Backlight Timer
The LCD backlight has a timer that can be set to dim its brightness
within a set time from when the instrument is idle. To set this:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
LCD BACKLIT. Press or to change the backlight
timer setting. Selectable options are:
2. Press to save changes.
Key Lock
Users can manually lock the front panel keypad. To set this:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
KEY LOCK. Press or to change it. Selectable
options are:
52
Options
Description
OFF
Default
ON
Lock keypad
2. Press to save changes. Press twice to exit the
Options
Description
ON
Default
OFF
Disable key beep
Enter
.
Esc
.
Menu
1
Enter
menu.
3. If ON is selected, all keys from the front panel, except
for , will be locked. The Lock LED indicator will be lit.
4. To unlock, press and the Lock LED indicator will turn off.
The KEY LOCK option under SYSTEM SETTING category
will automatically default back to OFF.
Disabling Key Sound
To disable the beep from key presses:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
BEEP. Press or to change it. Selectable options
are:
2. Change it to OFF, and press to save changes. All key
3. To enable it again, set BEEP to ON.
presses will no longer beep.
53
3.4Restore to Factory Default
WARNING:
Restoring the instrument to factory default will
change all current instrument settings and
parameters back to their default values.
Options
Description
OFF
Default
ON
Resets instrument with factory
default settings and parameters
ARE YOU SURE TO RECALL DEFAULT?
Menu
1
Enter
All instrument settings can be reset back to their factory default
values by doing the following:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
RECALL DEFAULT. Press or to change it.
Selectable options are:
2. Change it to ON, and press . The following prompt will
display:
(YES/NO) NO
54
3. To cancel this action, press with NO marked by the
REMOTE
USB
GPIB ADDR
1
KEY LOCK
OFF
IP CONFIG
STATIC
IP ADDRESS
255.255.255.255
BEEP
ON
LCD BACKLIT
ALWAYS ON
VOLT LIMIT MAX
Max. rated voltage of model
VOLT LIMIT MIN
0.000V
CURR LIMIT MAX
Max. rated current of model
CURR LIMIT MIN
0.0005A
MEASURE AVERAGE TIME
2
LED MODE
OFF
OVP SETTING
OFF, SET = Max. rated voltage
of model
OCP SETTING
OFF, SET = Max. rated current
of model
TIMER FUNCTION
OFF
Enter
Enter
cursor. To confirm resetting the instrument to factory default,
press to select YES and press .
4. After approximately 5 seconds, the instrument will
automatically jump back to the normal display. All settings
are now set back to their factory default values.
Table 3 Factory Default Settings
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3.5Configure Voltage and Current Output
Menu
2
1
Enter
Enter
Esc
Voltage and Current Limit Settings
The power supply has software voltage and current limit protection
settings that can be configured to limit the settable range for output
from front panel or remote operation. Follow the steps in this section
to adjust these settings.
Voltage Limit Set
1. Press , then to enter OUTPUT SETTING. Press
to select VOLT LIMIT SETTING.
2. VOLT LIMIT MAX should be selected. Use the keypad to
enter the maximum voltage set limit and press to save
changes. The maximum voltage that can be set depends on
the power supply’s maximum output voltage.
3. VOLT LIMIT MIN is now selected. Again, use the keypad to
enter the minimum voltage set limit and press to save
changes.
4. Press once to return to previous menu items, or press
three times to exit the menu when finished.
Dual Channel Models
For models with dual channels, the display will look different, with
CH1 and CH2 indicators on the left side of the display to indicate
their respective VOLT LIMIT MAX/MIN parameters.
56
CH1 VOLT LIMIT MAX = _20.400 V
CH1 VOLT LIMIT MIN = 0 V
CH2 VOLT LIMIT MAX = _20.400 V
CH2 VOLT LIMIT MIN = _ 0.000 V
Menu
2
2
Enter
Enter
Esc
Current Limit Set
1. Press , then to enter OUTPUT SETTING. Press
to select CURR LIMIT SETTING.
2. CURR LIMIT MAX should be selected. Use the keypad to
enter the maximum current set limit and press to save
changes. The maximum current that can be set depends on
the power supply’s maximum output current.
3. CURR LIMIT MIN is now selected. Again, use the keypad to
enter the minimum current set limitand press to save
changes.
4. Press once to return to previous menu items, or press
three times to exit the menu when finished.
Dual Channel Models
For models with dual channels, the display will look different, with
CH1 and CH2 indicators on the left side of the display to indicate
their respective CURR LIMIT MAX/MIN parameters.
57
CH1 CURR LIMIT MAX = _10.200 A
CH1 CURR LIMIT MIN= 0.000 A
CH2 CURR LIMIT MAX = _10.200 A
CH2 CURR LIMIT MIN = _ 0.000 A
Vset
Enter
Configure Voltage and Current Output
Voltage and current can be set and output from the front panel and
the rear panel terminals. Refer to “3.7 Remote Sense” for setup
instructions if remote sense will be used for voltage compensation at
the output.
Setting Voltage
Follow the steps below to set the output voltage:
1. For single channel models, skip to step 2 below. For dual
channel models, from the main display press or
to select the channel for setting voltage. The channel
indicators CH1 or CH2 will flash to indicate the selected
channel.
2. With the main display shown, press se the numeric
keypad to enter your set voltage. Then press . Below is
an example screen for setting 5 V.
58
SET = 5.000 V
OFF5 . 000 V 1 . 000 A
SET = 5.000 V
CH2 OFF5 . 000 V 1 . 000 A
VOLT RANGE = HIGH ( : H / : L )
For Dual Channel models:
CH1 OFF5 . 000 V1 . 000 A
3. Models 9184B and 9185B do not have auto ranging
available. The range must be selected manually and can be
set as HIGH or LOW range.
9184B: HIGH range – 200 V / 1 A
LOW range – 100 V / 2 A
9185B: HIGH range – 600 V / 0.35 A
LOW range – 400 V / 0.5 A
To select HIGH range, press from the normal display
where VOLT RANGE is indicated.
OFF200 . 00 V 1 . 000 A
To select LOW range, press instead.
59
Note: The voltage setting range is dependent on the unit’s
maximum voltage output specification as well as the
voltage limits set from the system menu. Verify VOLT LIMIT MAX and VOLT LIMIT MIN settings if you are
unable to set a voltage within the specifications of the
power supply.
VOLT RANGE = LOW ( : H / : L )
SET = 2.000 A
Iset
Enter
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OFF100 . 00 V 2 . 000 A
Setting Current
Follow the steps below to set the output current:
1. For single channel models, skip to step 2 below. For dual
channel models, from the main display press or
to select the channel for setting current. The channel
indicators CH1 or CH2 will flash to indicate the selected
channel.
2. With the main display shown, press and use the
numeric keypad to enter your set current. Then press .
Below is an example screen for setting 2 A.
OFF5 . 000 V 2 . 000 A
60
For Dual Channel models:
Note: The current setting range is dependent on the unit’s
maximum current output specification as well as the
current limits set from the system menu. Verify CURR LIMIT MAX and CURR LIMIT MIN settings if you are
unable to set a current within the specifications of the
power supply.
SET = 2.000 A
CH2 OFF5 . 000 V 2 . 000 A
CH1 OFF5 . 000 V 2 . 000 A
3. Models 9184B and 9185B do not have auto ranging
available. The range must be selected manually and can be
set as HIGH or LOW range.
9184B: HIGH range – 200 V / 1 A
LOW range – 100 V / 2 A
9185B: HIGH range – 600 V / 0.35 A
LOW range – 400 V / 0.5 A
To select HIGH range, press from the normal display
To select LOW range, press instead.
61
Enable/Disable Output
WARNING:
Before connecting wires to the front or rear panel
output terminals, output should remain OFF to
avoid shocks and damage to the device under test
(DUT), especially when setting the supply for high
voltage output. For safety, load wires must have a
wire gauge size large enough to prevent
overheating when the power supply operates at
maximum short circuit output current. It will also
prevent large voltage drops from resistances in the
wires.
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
CH1
CH2
OUTPUT
The button is used to enable or disable the supply output
from both the front panel and the rear panel output terminals. A
green LED light next to the button will be lit when is
pressed to turn ON (enable), and the OFF annunciator will
disappear from the display. This will reappear when output is OFF
(disable) upon pressing again, and the green LED light
will disappear. For dual channel models, and are used
in place of as output ON/OFF for CH1 and CH2
respectively. Dual channel models can also be configured so that
both channels’ output states (ON or OFF) can be synchronized. See
“3.6Dual Channel Configurations” under “Multi/Single Output
Control” for setup instructions.
62
Controlling Voltage/Current Output with Keys
Note: The voltage setting range is dependent on the unit’s
maximum voltage output specification as well as the
voltage limits set from the system menu. Verify VOLT
CV
CH1CV
CH2CV5 . 000 V1 . 000 A
Enter
When the output is ON (enabled), the voltage (CV mode) or current
(CC mode) output can be controlled incrementally by key presses.
To do this, press or and a cursor will appear, highlighting the
last digit of the measured voltage or current display. Use or
to change and select the digit you want to change, and press
or to increase or decrease that digit. The output voltage or
current will change immediately as you change the digits. Press
at any time or allow the supply to idle for 10 seconds (without any
key presses) to go back to the normal display.
5 . 000 V1 . 000 A
For Dual Channel models:
5 . 000 V1 . 000 A
63
LIMIT MAX and VOLT LIMIT MIN settings if you are
unable to set a voltage within the specifications of the
power supply.
V SLEWRATE = _ 7.000 V / ms
CH1 V SLEWRATE = _ 7.000 V / ms
Menu
2
3
Enter
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Slew Rate Configuration
Voltage and current slew rate of the output can be configured by
doing the following:
1. Press , then to enter OUTPUT SETTING. Press
to select VOLT SLEWRATE SETTING. The following will be
displayed:
For Dual Channel models:
CH2 V SLEWRATE = _ 7.000 V / ms
2. Use the keypad to enter the voltage slew rate. (Refer to
Table 4) Then press the save the changes.
64
3. Press once to return to the previous menu items, and
Model
V Slew Rate (V/ms)
I Slew Rate (A/ms)
9171B
0.001 – 2.500
0.001 – 1.250
9172B
0.001 – 7.000
0.001 – 0.300
9173B
0.001 – 2.500
0.001 – 1.250
9174B
0.001 – 7.000
0.001 – 0.300
9181B
0.001 – 4.500
0.001 – 1.000
9182B
0.001 – 2.500
0.001 – 2.500
9183B
0.001 – 7.000
0.001 – 0.600
9184B
0.001 – 6.666
0.001 – 0.066
I SLEWRATE = _ 0.600 A / ms
CH1 I SLEWRATE = _ 0.600 A / ms
Enter
Esc
Esc
4
press to select CURR SLEWRATE SETTING. The
following will be displayed:
For Dual Channel models:
CH2 I SLEWRATE = _ 0.600 A / ms
4. Use the keypad to enter the current slew rate, then press
to save changes.
5. Press once to return to previous menu items, or press
three times to exit the menu when finished.
Table 4- Voltage and Current Slew Rate Ranges
65
9185B
0.001 – 15.00
0.001 – 0.0125
Output Timer Function
TIMER = OFF
Menu
6
Enter
Enter
Enter
Esc
The power supply has a built-in output timer function that can be
enabled to allow setting a time in which output is remained ON.
Follow the steps below to setup this function:
1. Press , then to select TIMER FUNCTION. The
following screen will be displayed:
TIME = 0 Hr 0 Min 0 Sec
2. While the cursor is selecting TIMER, press so that ON is
selected, then press to set and select TIME. This will
be the time for which the output will remain ON.
3. Use the numeric keypad to enter the Hr (hour) for the output
4. The acceptable ranges are:
5. Press once to return to previous menu items, or press
6. Upon returning to the main display, it will show the following:
to remain ON. Press to select Min (minute). Enter a
value and press again to select Sec (second).
Hr: 0 – 999, Min: 0 – 59, Sec: 0 – 59
three times to exit the menu when finished.
66
Note: For dual channel models, the timer function will work
only with both channels ON (enabled) simultaneously
regardless of the OUTPUT MODE setting configured in
SYSTEM SETTING menu. The internal timer is shared
by both channels.
TIMER = 000 : 00 : 00 Sec
OFF10 . 000 V1 . 000 A
TIMER = 000 : 00 : 00 Sec
CH2OFF10 . 000 V1 . 000 A
OUTPUT
CH1
CH2
For Dual Channel models:
CH1OFF10 . 000 V1 . 000 A
7. Press ( or for dual channel models) to
turn the output ON, and the TIMER on the display will start
running. The ON annunciator will display, and the output will
remain ON until the configured time period (from step 3)
ends.
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67
Measurement Average Setting
AVERAGE TIME = _ 2
Menu
2
5
Enter
Esc
The averaging measurements used to display a reading can be
adjusted by following the steps below:
1. Press , then to enter OUTPUT SETTING. Press
to select MEASURE AVERAGE. The following will display:
2. Use the numeric keypad to enter the number of
measurements the instrument will average out prior to
displaying the value. Valid numbers are from 1 to 10.
3. Press to save changes, then press three times
to exit the menu.
3.6 Dual Channel Configurations
Features described in this section pertain to dual channel models
9173B and 9174B only. They are not available for all other models.
Multi/Single Output Control
Dual channel outputs can be configured so that pressing the output
buttons can turn ON (enable) or OFF (disable) both channels’
outputs simultaneously.
68
Note: When multiple output control is setup, there will be a maximum of 3
Enter
Esc
Menu
1
Enter
Esc
Menu
1
ms delay between channel 1 and channel 2 when both channels change
output from OFF (disable) state to ON (enable) state.
Follow the steps below to configure this setting:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Go
down the list of settings and select OUTPUT MODE.
2. Press to select MULTI. Press to confirm the
changes, and press twice to exit the menu. If SINGLE
is selected, output control of the two channels will not be
simultaneous; their output states can be controlled
independently.
Series/Parallel Tracking Mode
Tracking mode can be enabled so that both channels can be
synchronized, especially when connected together in series or
parallel. To turn on tracking mode, follow the steps here:
1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Go
down the list of settings and select TRACKING MODE.
2. Press to select ON. Press to confirm the changes,
and press twice to exit the menu. To disable it, select
OFF.
69
3. The TRK annunciator will appear on the display to indicate
TRK
CH2OFF 10 . 000 V 1 . 000 A
tracking mode is enabled. Both channels are now
synchronized.
CH1OFF 10 . 000 V 1 . 000 A
3.7Remote Sense
Single channel models 9171B, 9172B, 9181B, 9182B, and 9183B
have both front and rear panel remote sense terminals. Dual
channel models 9173B and 9174B, and high voltage single channel
models 9184B and 9185B have rear panel remote sense terminals
only. Remote sense can be used to compensate for voltage drops
due to resistance from test leads connected to your device under
test (DUT), thus providing more accurate output voltage. The power
supply is initially setup to local sense mode by default. Refer to the
following sections for details of local and remote sense setup.
Local Sense
All power supplies are setup with local sense by default. In local
sense mode, shorting bars between the sense terminals and output
terminals are connected on the front panel (if available) and rear
panel outputs. Refer to Figure 16 below (Note: Some models do not
have front panel sense terminals, indicated by +S and -S):
70
For front panel, +S and + terminals are shorted together, and –S
Note: For calibration, local sense should be used.
+S + +
-
-
-
S
+S+--S
Front Panel Shorting Bar
Rear Panel Shorting Bar
Figure 16-Local Sense with Shorting Bar
and – terminals are shorted together with shorting bars. For rear
panel, +S and + (next to +S) are shorted together, and –S and –
(next to –S) are shorted together with small metal shorting bars.
Remote Sense
To setup and use remote sense from the front panel (if available),
both the front panel and rear panel shorting bars must be removed.
The front +S and –S sense ports are then connected directly to the
DUT, like Figure 17 below:
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71
Figure 17- Front Panel Remote Sense Setup
WARNING:
In remote sense where both the front and/or rear
panel shorting bars are removed, never connect a
device directly to the front (if applicable) and/or
back +S and –S terminals only. Always connect the
+ and – terminals first, then connect the +S and – S
terminals. Otherwise, the sense lines will burn out
internally and cause damage to the supply.
To use remote sense from the rear panel, both front panel (if
available) and rear panel shorting bars must also be removed. The
rear +S and –S ports are connected directly to the DUT, like Figure
18 below:
Figure 18- Rear Panel Remote Sense Setup
72
For operating with output current higher than 10 A, the connection is
DO NOT CONNECT LIKE BELOW:
the same as Figure 18 above, with the addition of connecting the
second pair of (+) and (-) terminals in the rear panel, like below:
73
WARNING:
DO NOT output 10A or more with only one pair of
(+) and (-) terminals in the rear panel. Both (+)
terminals and both (-) terminals must all be
connected for applications requiring more than
10A output. Each terminal can only accept
maximum of 10A. Exceeding this may damage the
power supply.
+S + + - - - S
Rear Panel Output
Remove Shorting bars
+S
+
+
-
- - S
DUT
+ -
+S+--S
Remove shorting bars
Front Panel Output
Rear Panel Output
Figure 19- Remote Sense Setup for 10A or Higher Current Output Operation
74
LED MODE = ON
Enter
Esc
Menu
2
6
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3.8 LED and Low Current Test Modes
LED Mode
All of these power supplies have LED mode, which enables them to
function specifically for LED test applications. When this mode is
ON (enabled), the power supply can operate in such a way as to
minimize or almost eliminate the inrush current drawn by the LED
load, which normally exists when the output switches from an OFF
state to an ON state.
To enable LED mode, follow these steps:
1. Press , then to enter OUTPUT SETTING. Press
to select LED MODE SETTING.
2. Press to select ON, then press to confirm the
changes. Press twice to exit the menu. For dual
channel models, both channels will have LED mode enabled.
Consider the following example for 9184B with setup in Figure 20:
75
The 9184B supply output is initially OFF (disabled). The LED light
Inrush current
LED Mode OFF (disabled)
LED Mode ON (enabled)
Output ON
Output ON
Figure 20- LED Testing Example
Figure 21 - Inrush Current With and Without LED Mode Enabled
bar is rated for 170 V. A 10 Ω resistor is placed in series with the
LED light bar. The power supply current setting (ISET) is 20 mA.
Using an oscilloscope to probe between the resistor to measure
current, the power supply’s output is then turned ON. The measured
results are shown in Figure 21, which compares the measured
results with and without LED mode ON (enabled):
76
With LED mode ON (enabled), the power supply can minimize or
Note: For LED mode to function correctly, the output must be turned
OFF when connecting between the power supply and the LEDs
under test. Turn ON the output after LED mode is enabled and
all other settings are configured.
WARNING:
For models 9184B and 9185B, Low Current MODE
must be set to OFF when using LED mode. If both
are ON, the supply may produce inrush current.
Menu
2
6
eliminate any inrush current from turning the output ON, which in
turn will minimize damage or life of the LEDs under test.
Low Current Mode
Available on models 9184B and 9185B only.
Low current mode is a unique function that enables the power
supply to minimize voltage rise times when operating with low
current (< 1 A) output with a high voltage change.
To enable Low current mode, follow these steps:
1. Press , then to enter OUTPUT SETTING. Press
to select Low Current MODE.
77
2. Press to select ON, then press to confirm the
LED MODE = OFF
Low Current MODE = ON
Low Current Mode OFF
Low Current Mode ON
20 ms
5 ms
Figure 22 - Inrush Current With and Without Low Current Mode Enabled
Enter
Esc
changes. Press twice to exit the menu.
Consider the following example screenshots measuring a voltage
chance from 0 V to 60 V with a load of 100 mA connected to the
output.
When operating with low current output, enabling Low Current mode
can reduce the voltage rise time upon a change in the voltage
output.
78
OVP = ON SET = 70.000 V
CH1 OVP = ON SET = 70.000 V
Menu
3
1
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3.9 Output Protection
Configure OVP
Overvoltage protection (OVP) is available to limit the voltage output
and to protect a connected DUT from an overvoltage condition.
When the power supply trips the OVP, a short beep will sound and
the OVP (OVP1/OVP2 for dual channel models) LED indicator on
the front panel will be lit. The green output light will also disappear
and output will turn OFF (disable) immediately. To clear the OVP
trip, press any key and the OVP (OVP1/OVP2 for dual channel
models) LED indicator will turn OFF. To activate OVP, follow the
steps below:
1. Press , then to enter PROTECTION, and press
to select OVP SETTING.
For Dual Channel models:
CH2 OVP = OFF SET = 70.000 V
79
2. Press to select ON. Press to confirm the changes,
OCP = ON SET = 10.000 A
Enter
Esc
Enter
Menu
3
2
and use the numeric keypad to set the voltage limit for the
protection to trip. Press again to save changes. When
the power supply voltage output reaches this limit, the OVP
will trip.
3. Press twice to exit the menu. To disable it, select
OFF.
Configure OCP
Overcurrent protection (OCP) is available to limit the current output
and to protect a connected DUT from an overcurrent condition.
When the power supply trips the OCP, a short beep will sound and
the OCP (OCP1/OCP2 for dual channel models) LED indicator on
the front panel will be lit. The green output light will also disappear
and output will turn OFF (disable) immediately. To clear the OCP
trip, press any key and the OCP (OCP1/OCP2 for dual channel
models) LED indicator will turn OFF. To activate OCP, follow the
steps below:
1. Press , then to enter PROTECTION, and press
to select OCP SETTING.
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For Dual Channel models:
CH1 OCP = ON SET = 10.000 A
Enter
Esc
Enter
CH2 OCP = OFF SET = 10.000 A
2. Press to select ON. Press to confirm the changes,
and use the numeric keypad to set the current limit for the
protection to trip. Press again to save changes. When
the power supply current output reaches this limit, the OCP
will trip.
3. Press twice to exit the menu. To disable it, select
OFF.
3.10 Save/Recall Output Settings
The power supply has internal memory to store up to 10 settings,
and each setting includes the set voltage (VSET) and set current
(ISET) values.
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Save Output Settings
MEM = 0
V = 0.000 V I = 0.000 A
MEM = 0
CH1 V = 0.000 V I = 0.000 A
CH2 V = 0.000 V I = 0.000 A
Menu
4
Enter
Enter
Enter
Follow these steps to save settings:
1. Press , then to enter MEMORY SETTING. The
following screen will be displayed:
For Dual Channel models:
2. Press or or use the keypad to select the memory
location to store settings into. Choose between 0 – 9.
3. Press to set, and use the keypad to enter a value for
voltage. Afterwards, press and enter a value for
current ess once more and the voltage and current
values will be stored into the selected memory location.
4. The cursor will then automatically move back to select MEM,
and the location number will automatically increment to the
next, except if number 9 (last memory location) was
previously selected.
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RECALL =
OFF 0.000 V 0.000 A
RECALL =
CH2OFF 10 . 000 V 1 . 000 A
RCL
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5. For dual channel models, repeat step 3 twice, once for CH1
and for CH2. Each memory location will store both channels’
voltage and current settings.
Recall Output Settings
To recall a saved setting:
1. Press the screen will display as follows:
For Dual Channel models:
ngton Street Melrose, MA 02176
CH1OFF 10 . 000 V 1 . 000 A
2. Use the keypad to enter the memory location that contains
the voltage and current values to recall. The voltage and
current settings will change immediately to the recalled
settings.
Configure Power-On State
The power supply can be powered up to a last known state, which
can be useful in the case of power interruption. To configure this,
follow the steps below:
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1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING. Select
Menu
1
Enter
POWER ON STATE. Press or to change it to LAST
for setting the power on state to last known configuration.
Select OFF to turn it off.
2. Press to confirm the change.
3.11 Sequence Program Mode
Up to 10 (1 – 10) programmed sequences can be stored into the
internal memory of the power supply and be executed from the front
panel or via remote commands. A sequence consists of various
steps of voltage and current values with a user defined time to hold
at each step. This allows the user to change the voltage and current
output of the power supply at different timings in a sequence. The
maximum number of steps per sequence is 150, and the
minimum timing in between steps is 10 ms. For dual channel
models, the programmed sequence will control both channels
per every step. Programming a sequence for each channel
independently is not supported.
Sequences must be programmed into the memory via remote
interface (i.e. USB, GPIB, Ethernet) before it can be executed from
the front panel. See “4 Remote Operation” for details.
Assuming that sequences are already programmed into the internal
memory, follow these steps to execute a program.
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1. Press , then to enter PROGRAM MODE. The
PROGRAM NUMBER = 0
PROGRAM OFF
Menu
5
Enter
OUTPUT
CH1
CH2
OUTPUT
CH1
CH2
following screen will be displayed:
2. Use the keypad to select the program number where the
sequence is stored. Valid number is 1 – 10. Press to
confirm the program.
3. Press ( or for dual channel models) to
enable the output and execute the programmed sequence.
For dual channel models, both outputs will turn ON.
4. To disable the sequence at any time, press
( or for dual channel models) again. This will also
turn OFF the output. For dual channel models, both outputs
will be OFF.
3.12 External Analog Control
The power supply output(s) can be controlled by external DC voltage
sources (0 – 5 V or 0 – 10 V) or resistances (0 – 5kΩ). The
optional DIO/Analog Card must be installed for this function to
be available.
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Note: The external control circuit uses a 12-bit D/A converter, thus
resolution for voltage and current is limited to 10 mV and 10 mA
respectively.
WARNING:
The terminals for external analog control of voltage and
current have no input protection. Therefore take
caution when connecting to a DC source or a
resistance. For voltage source control, do not input a
voltage outside of the range -0.7 V to 5.7 V for the 0-5 V
scale, or -0.7 V to 10.7 V for 0-10 V scale. This will
damage the supply. For resistance control, do not
connect with resistance greater than 5 kΩ. Doing so
may damage the instrument and cause it to go out of
calibration.
WARNING:
External analog control inputs do not have reverse
polarity protection. Therefore, for external voltage
control, do not connect to a live DC source until
verifying that the positive side is connected properly to
the (+) terminal and negative side to the (-) terminal for
both current and voltage. Never short the (+) and (-)
terminals together as it may damage the instrument.
Voltage Control
You can select the voltage control scale between 0 – 5 V or 0 – 10 V,
with 5 V and 10 V setting the maximum voltage/current output
respectively, and 0 V being the minimum voltage/current output,
which is 0 V/0 A(The scale factor is linear to the full scale
voltage/current output). With model 9172B (rated 35V/3A, 70V/1.5A)
as an example, using the 0 – 10 V scale and applying 0 V input for V
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Note: Two separate DC voltage sources must be used for the setup.
One for controlling voltage and one for current. Using one for
either voltage or current will not operate correctly. If source is
used for voltage, current setting will remain 0. If source is used
for current, voltage setting will remain 0.
+- +
-
I
V
EXT CTL
Dual channel DIO/Analog Card
Single channel DIO/Analog Card
+ -
DC
+ -
DC
0 – 5 V
0 – 10 V
0 – 5 V
0 – 10 V
Figure 23- External Voltage Control
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will output 0 V. Applying 10 V input for V will output 35 V or 70 V
depending on the range. Likewise, 10 V for I will set current to 3A or
1.5 A depending on the range. See the setup below:
OR
OR
Resistance Control
You can externally control the voltage/current output with variable
resistances 0 – 5 kΩ. 5kΩ sets the maximum voltage/current output,
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and 0 kΩ will set the minimum voltage/current output, which is 0 V/0
Note: Two separate variable resistances must be used for the setup.
One for controlling voltage and one for current. Using one for
either voltage or current will not operate correctly. If resistance is
used for voltage, current setting will remain 0. If resistance is
used for current, voltage setting will remain 0.
+- +
-
I
V
EXT CTL
Dual channel DIO/Analog Card
Single channel DIO/Analog Card
0 – 5 kΩ
0 – 5 kΩ
Figure 24- External Resistance Control
A (The scale factor is linear to the full scale voltage/current output).
See the setup below:
Follow the steps below to setup the supply for external analog
control:
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1. Press , then to enter SYSTEM SETTING.
OFF
Menu
1
Enter
Enter
Esc
2. Go down to EXTERN CONTROL (this option is only
available with DIO/Analog Card installed) and press or
to select between OFF, VOLT, or RES. Select VOLT
for external voltage control or RES for external resistance
control. Select OFF to disable external analog control.
3. Press to save the change. If VOLT is selected in the
previous step, go to EXTERN LEVEL setting right below
EXTERN CONTROL and press or to select
between 5V or 10V. Selecting 5V means a 0 – 5V source
will be used to control the full range of the voltage/current.
Similarly, 10V means a 0 – 10V source will be used.
4. Press again to save the change, and press twice
to go to the main screen, which will look like the following
below (Note that voltage and current resolution will be 10 mV
and 10 mA for external analog control):
0.00 V 0.00 A
For Dual Channel models:
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Note: When external analog control is enabled, all front panel keys are
locked except for and ( or for dual
channel models). Output voltage and current is locked to be
controlled with the connected external voltage sources or
resistances only. To return to normal control and display mode,
follow the steps above to disable external analog control.
CH1OFF 0.00 V 0.00 A
CH2OFF 0.00 V 0.00 A
Menu
OUTPUT
CH1
CH2
OUTPUT
5. Press to turn the output ON (enabled), and output
voltage and current will change as your external DC voltage
sources or resistances change.
3.13Digital I/O
Digital I/O functions are supported with the DIO/Analog card
installed.
The instrument uses a DB-9 9-pin interface for digital I/O operations.
A total of 9 pins are available, 8 of which can be configured as
INPUT or OUTPUT and 1 for ground (GND) via remote commands
(Refer to Table 5). The maximum voltage for input is 5 V, and
maximum voltage for output from the supply is also 5 V.
90
Pin#
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Type
I/O
I/O
I/O
I/O
GND
I/O
I/O
I/O
I/O
Binary Bit #
7 6 5 4 - 3 2 1 0
Decimal
Representation
128
64
32
16 8 4 2 1
I/O – Can be set to either input or output.
GND – Ground pin
Dual Channel DIO/Analog Card
Single Channel DIO/Analog Card
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Figure 25- Digital I/O Interface
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Below are the pin assignments for each of the 9 pins.
Table 5- Digital I/O Pin Assignment
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WARNING:
Do not input more than 5 V to any of the digital I/O pins.
Doing so may damage the instrument and void its
warranty.
INPUT
Pin
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 1 0 1 - 0 1 0 0
Digital input for representing logic high (1) is 5 V, and for logic low
(0) is 0 V.
Minimum voltage for logic high (1) must be at least 3.15 V.
Maximum voltage for logic low (0) must not exceed 1.35 V.
To setup any of the 8 pins (except pin 5) as input pins, the remote
command GPIO:DIR is used. All pins (except pin 5) are represented
as 8-bits binary, according to Table 5 above. A “1” represents
OUTPUT, and a “0” represents INPUT. When using the GPIO:DIR
command, the decimal representation of the 8-bits binary is used.
For example, to set pins 7, 4, 2 and 1 as INPUT pins, their values
must be set to 0, and the rest 1. Send:
GPIO:DIR 212
212 is used to represent11010100 in binary. Only pins 7, 4, 2, and 1
have the value “0”, which represents INPUT.
To check the status of the input pins to be either 5 V (1) or 0 V (0),
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use the GPIO? query command. It will return the decimal
Pin
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 1
1
representation of the 8-bits binary that represents all the pins. The
pins with bit value “1” have 5 V at the input, and “0” for 0 V at input.
For example, suppose all pins are set as INPUT pins, but only pin 2
and 1 have a 5 V logic high (1) signal, then only these two pins
return “1” and the rest “0”. Sending GPIO? command will return: 3.
The complete 8-bit binary would be 00000011.
Note if there are output pins configured, those pins are ignored and
will have the value “0”.
OUTPUT
To setup any of the 8 pins (except pin 5) as output pins, the remote
command GPIO:DIR is used. All pins (except pin 5) are represented
as 8-bits binary, according to Table 5 above. A “1” represents
OUTPUT, and a “0” represents INPUT. When using the GPIO:DIR
command, the decimal representation of the 8-bits binary is used.
For example, to set pins 8, 6, and 3 as OUTPUT pins, their values
must be set to 1, and the rest 0. Send:
GPIO:DIR 84
84 is used to represent 01010100 in binary. Only pins 8, 6, and 3
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have the value “1”, which represents OUTPUT.
Pin
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 0 1 - 0 1 0
0
Pin
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 - 0 1 0
0
Error Message
Description
Digital output for representing logic high (1) is 5 V, and for logic low
(0) is 0 V. To set an output pin’s logic level, use the GPIO remote
command. Again, all pins (except pin 5) are represented as 8-bits
binary, according to Table 5 above. When using the GPIO
command, the decimal representation of the 8-bits binary is used.
Taking the example above with pins 8, 6, and 3 set as OUTPUT
pins, if pins 8 and 3 are to be set with logic high (5 V) and pin 6 set
with logic low (0 V), send the following command:
GPIO 68
68 is used to represent 01000100 in binary. Only pins 8 and 3 have
the value “1” to represent logic high and output 5 V. Pin 6 has the
value “0” to represent logic low and output 0 V. All other pins should
be “0” as they are input pins and thus, are ignored.
3.14 Display Errors
The following errors may be displayed under certain operating
conditions. Their descriptions are shown in the table below.
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INPUT RANGE ERROR!
TURN OFF OUTPUT
FIRST
The input value is out of the settable
range of the power supply.
Disable output first before accessing
menu.
3.15 Connecting in Series and Parallel
Some of the models in the series are capable of connecting to
another model of the same kind in series or in parallel to double the
voltage output or current output respectively. While these are
possible for some models, some models cannot be connected in
such a way. Please see the below list of warnings pertaining to such
connections.
WARNING:
Do not connect multiple units of models 9184B or 9185B
in series or in parallel. Due to their high voltage output
design, these cannot be configured to increase voltage
or current in a series connection or parallel connection
setup respectively.
Only connect multiples units in series or parallel of the
same model. Do not mix models together. For example,
you can connect two 9171B together, but not 9171B and
9172B together.
Do not connect more than 2 units of models 9174B when
series/parallel tracking is used.
Do not connect more than 3 units of models 9172B and
9183B.
Never connect more than 4 units at a time in series or
parallel.
Total voltage output can never exceed maximum 240 V.
Do not use rear output terminals when connecting
multiple units in series or in parallel. Use front panel
output terminals only.
95
When increasing the total output current by connecting
multiple units in parallel, be sure that the connecting
wires have enough thickness to handle the amount of
current. Otherwise, they may overheat and/or drop
voltage levels significantly.
96
4 Remote Operation
1 2 3 4 5
6
7 8 9
Figure 26- RS-232 Interface
4.1Interface Connection
USB (Virtual COM) & RS-232
All models have a standard USB interface (virtual COM) that can be
used for remote communication. Optionally, an RS232 interface
card is available for remote control via RS-232 interface. Both USB
(virtual COM) and RS-232 have the same serial settings listed
below:
BAUDRATE: 57600
PARITY: NONE
DATA BITS: 8
STOP BIT: 1
FLOW CONTROL: NONE
For RS-232 connectivity, refer to the diagram below for pin out
information:
97
Table 6- RS-232 Pin Out
PIN
Description
1 - 2
Transmit Data
3
Receive Data
4 - 5
GND 6 -
7 - 8 - 9
-
Figure 27- GPIB Interface
A straight pin-to-pin DB9female to DB9male serial cable is
required for using RS-232 interface. Do not use a null modem
or crossover DB9 serial cable.
GPIB
GPIB option is available when the supply is installed with the
optional LAN/GPIB interface card. Each model can be configured
with a GPIB address from 1 – 30. To communicate via GPIB,
connect a GPIB cable to the GPIB interface of the LAN/GPIB
interface card, as illustrated below.
98
Ethernet (LAN)
Ethernet (LAN) option is available when the supply is installed with
the optional LAN/GPIB interface card. There are three ways to
control the power supply via LAN interface: Web server, Telnet
connection, Socket connection.
Web Server
There is an embedded web server GUI that can access the power
supply via LAN interface using a java enabled web browser. The
GUI provides a simple way of setting voltage and current, as well as
monitoring the output, using a web browser from a computer
connected to the same local area network as the power supply. To
access this, do the following:
1. On the computer, open up a java-enabled web browser.
2. From the power supply menu, copy down the IP ADDRESS
that you or the server configured and type in that address in
the URL bar of your browser with http:// prefix (i.e.
http://192.168.1.150 for IP Address 192.168.1.150)
3. If correctly configured, the following screen will be shown:
Test Equipment Depot - 800.517.8431 - 99 Washington Street Melrose, MA 02176
TestEquipmentDepot.com
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4. A password is required to login and access any of the menu
Home
Provides general information of the power supply:
Model Number, Manufacturer, Short Description,
MAC Address, IP Address, Firmware Version.