Fluke 5500A Reference Guide

5500A

Multi-Product Calibrator

Programmer Reference Guide

PN 105783
December, 1994

© 1994 Fluke Corporation, Inc.
All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

®

Table of Contents

TYPES OF COMMANDS ..................................... 3

Device-Dependent Commands ......................... 3

Common Commands........................................ 3

Query Commands............................................ 3

Compound Commands..................................... 3

Coupled Commands.........................................3

Overlapped Commands....................................3

Sequential Commands..................................... 3

Commands for RS-232 Only............................. 3

COMMAND SYNTAX........................................... 4

Parameter Syntax............................................ 4

Extra Space or Tab Characters........................ 5

Terminators ..................................................... 5

Incoming Character Processing........................ 6

Response Message Syntax .............................. 6

CHECKING 5500A STATUS................................ 7

STB and SRE .................................................. 8

Service Request (SRQ) Line............................ 8

Service Request Enable Register (SRE)...........9

ESR and ESE ................................................ 10

ISR, ISCE, and ISCR..................................... 11

Output Queue................................................ 12

Error Queue ................................................... 12

COMMAND SUMMARY..................................... 13

COMMAND LIST............................................... 19

1

WARNING

The 5500A Calibrator can produce
voltages up to 1000 V rms and must be
programmed with caution to prevent
hazardous voltages from being
produced without sufficient warning to
the operator.

Programs should be written carefully
and tested extensively to ensure safe
operation of the 5500A Calibrator.
Fluke suggests that you include error
catching routines in your programs.
These error catching routines will
assist in detecting programming errors
that could result in the instrument
behaving differently to your intention.
By setting the Service Request Enable
(SRQ) register, described in paragraph
5-60, the 5500A Calibrator can be
programmed to cause an SRQ when an
error is detected. The following
program example shows a skeleton
program including error catching:

10 PRINT @4, “*CLS” ! Clear status
20 PRINT @4, “*SRE 8” ! Set SRE Error Avail.
30 ON SRQ GOTO 1000 ! Enable SRQ Function

100 ! Body of program here
900 STOP ! End of program
1000 REM Start of SRQ Handler ! Start routine

1010 PRINT @4, “FAULT?” ! Request fault code
1020 INPUT @4, A% ! Input fault code
1030 PRINT @4, “EXPLAIN? ”;A%! Request fault text
1040 INPUT @4, A$ ! Input fault text
1050 PRINT “Fault ”;A$“ detected” ! Print message
1060 PRINT @4, “STBY” ! Place 5500A in standby
1070 STOP

2

TYPES OF COMMANDS

Device-Dependent Commands

Commands unique to 5500A.

Common Commands

Commands defined by the IEEE 488.2 standard.

Query Commands

Commands ending with an ?.

Compound Commands

Two or more commands in a single command line.

Coupled Commands

Commands that could interfere with each other.

Overlapped Commands

Commands requiring more time to execute.

Sequential Commands

Commands that execute immediately.

Commands for RS-232 Only

Commands for RS-232 Only

IEEE-488 RS-232 Equivalent

GTL LOCAL command
GTR REMOTE command
LLO LOCKOUT command
SRQ SRQSTR command
SDC, DCL ^C (<Cntl> C) character [clear the

device]

GET ^T (<Cntl> T) character [execute a

group trigger]

SPE, SPD ^P (<Cntl> P) character [print the

serial poll string]

Also:

SP_SET SPLSTR SRQSTR
SP_SET? SPLSTR? SRQSTR?

3

COMMAND SYNTAX

Parameter Syntax

Units Accepted in Parameters and Responses

Units Meaning

HZ Frequency in units of hertz
KHZ Frequency in units of kilohertz
MHZ Frequency in units of megahertz
UV Volts in units of microvolts
MV Volts in units of millivolts
V Volts in units of volts
KV Volts in units of kilovolts
UA Current in units of microamperes
MA Current in units of milliamps
A Current in units of amps
PCT Percent
PPM Parts-per-million
DBM Volts referenced to 1 mW into 600Ω load.
OHM Resistance in units of ohms
KOHM Resistance in units of kilohms
MOHM Resistance in units of megohms
NF Capacitance in units of nanofarads
PF Capacitance in units of picofarads
UF Capacitance in units of microfarads
MF Capacitance in units of millifarads
F Capacitance in units of farads
CEL Temperature in degrees Celsius
FAR Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

4

COMMAND SYNTAX (cont)

General Rules

1. Separate parameters with commas.

2. Numeric parameters up to 15 significant digits

and exponents in the range +/-1.0E+/-20.

3. Null parameters cause an error, e.g., the

adjacent commas in OUT 1V, ,2A.

4. Expressions, for example 4+2*13, are not

allowed as parameters.

5. Binary Block Data can be in one of two IEEE

488.2 formats:

Indefinite Length Format Accepts data bytes
after #0 until the ASCII Line Feed character is
received with an EOI signal (for RS-232, a line
feed or carriage return will terminate the block).

Definite Length Format The non-zero digit
specifies the number of characters that will
follow in the <digits> field.

Extra Space or Tab Characters

One space after a command is required. You can
insert extra spaces or tabs as desired.

Terminators

Terminator Characters

Function ASCII Control C Co d e

# Code

Carriage
Return

Line Feed 10 Chr(10) <Cntl> J \r
Backspace 8 Chr(8) <Cntl> H \b
Form Feed 12 Chr(12) <Cntl> L \f

13 Chr(13) <Cntl> M \n

5

COMMAND SYNTAX (cont)

IEEE-488 Interface The 5500A sends the ASCII

character Line Feed with the EOI control line held
high as the terminator for response messages.

RS-232 Interface The 5500A Calibrator returns
an EOL (End of Line) character with each
response, selectable as CR, LF or both CRLF.

Incoming Character Processing

1. The most significant data bit (DIO8) is ignored.

2. All data is taken as 7-bit ASCII.

3. Lower-or upper-case characters.

4. ASCII characters less than 32 (Space) are

discarded, except for characters 10 (LF) and 13
(CR) and in the *PUD command argument.

Response Message Syntax

Response Data Types

DATA TYPE DESCRIPTION

Integer Decimal numbers to 32768.
Floating Numbers plus an exponent.
String ASCII characters within

double quotes (“string”).

Binary Block Data Defined by the IEEE-488.2.

6

CHECKING 5500A STATUS

Status Register Summary

Status Register Read Write

Serial Poll Status Byte

(STB)

Service Request Enable

Register (SRE)

Event Status Register

(ESR)

Event Status Enable

Register (ESE)

Instrument Status Register

(ISR)

Instrument Status Change

Register (ISCR)

ISCR 1 to 0 transition ISCR0?
ISCR 0 to 1 transition ISCR1?

Instrument Status Change

Enable Register (ISCE)

ISCE 1 to 0 transition ISCE0? ISCE0
ISCE 0 to 1 transition ISCE1? ISCE1

*STB?

*SRE? *SRE

*ESR?

*ESE? *ESE

ISR?

ISCR?

ISCE? ISCE












7

CHECKING 5500A STATUS (cont)

STB and SRE

76543210

RQS

0

RQS Requesting Service. Set to 1 whenever bits

ESB, MAV, EAV, or ISCB change from 0 to
1 and are enabled (1) in the SRE. When
RQS is 1, asserts the SRQ control line.

MSS Master Summary Status. Set to 1 whenever

bits ESB, MAV, EAV, or ISCB are 1 and
enabled (1) in the SRE. This bit can be read
using the *STB? command in serial remote.

ESB Event Status. Set to 1 when one or more

enabled ESR bits are 1.

MAV Message Available. The MAV bit is set to 1

whenever data is available in the 5500A’s
IEEE-488 interface output buffer.

EAV Error Available. An error has occurred and

an error is available to be read from the
error queue by using the ERR? query.

ISCB One or more enabled ISCR bits are 1.
For RS-232, transmitting the ^P character (hold

down the <Cntl> key and press P) returns the
SPLSTR (Serial Poll String) and the status byte.

ESB MAV EAV ISCB 0 0

MSS

Service Request (SRQ) Line

IEEE-488 Bus control line that asserts to notify

the controller that it requires some type of service.
RS-232 Sends the SRQSTR string over the serial

interface when the SRQ line is set.

Service Request Enable Register (SRE)

The SRE enables or masks the bits of t he S eri al
Poll Status Byte. The SRE is cleared at power up.

8

CHECKING 5500A STATUS (cont)

ESR and ESE

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

00000000

76543210

PON 0 CME EXE DDE QYE 0 OPC

PON Power on. Line power has been turned off

and on.

CME Command error. An incorrectly formed

command has occurred.

EXE Execution error. An error occurred while the

5500A tried to execute the last command.

DDE Device-dependent error. An error related to

a device-dependent command has occurred.

QYE Query error. No response data was

available or appropriate.

OPC Operation complete. All commands previous

to *OPC command have been executed.

9

CHECKING 5500A STATUS (cont)

ISR, ISCE, and ISCR

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

0 0 RPTBUSY SETTLED REMOTE 0 UUTBFUL UUTDATA

76543210

HIVOLT MAGCHG TMPCAL 0 IBOOST VBOOST 0

OPER

RPTBUSY Set to 1 when a calibration report is

being printed to the serial port.

SETTLED Set to 1 when the output has settled

or the TC measurement has settled.

REMOTE Set to 1 when the 5500A is under

remote control.

UUTBFUL Set to 1 when data from the UUT port

has filled up the UUT buffer.

UUTDATA Set to 1 when there is data available

from the UUT port.

HIVOLT Set to 1 when the 5500A is

programmed to voltage above 33 V.

MAGCHG Set to 1 when the output magnitude

has changed. Always 0 in the ISR.

TMPCAL Set to 1 when the 5500A is using

temporary calibration data.

IBOOST Set to 1 when a 5725A Amplifier is

sourcing a current.

VBOOST Set to 1 when a 5725A Amplifier is

sourcing a voltage.

OPER Set to 1 when the 5500A is in

operate; 0 to when it is in standby.

10

Output Queue

The output queue is loaded whenever a query is
processed, and holds up to 800 characters. If the
queue is empty, the 5500A Calibrator does not
respond to the INPUT statement. The Message
Available (MAV) bit in the Serial Poll Status Byte is
1 if there is something in the output queue and 0 if
the output queue is empty.

Error Queue

When a command error, execution error, or
device-dependent error occurs, its error code is
placed in the error queue where it can be read by
the ERR? command. The error queue contains up
to 16 entries.

11

COMMAND SUMMARY

Error Mode Commands

EDIT Sets edit field.
EDIT? Returns edit field setting.
INCR Increments or decrements output.
MULT Multiplies reference magnitude.
NEWREF Sets reference to output value.
OLDREF Sets output to previous reference.
OUT_ERR? Returns UUT computed error.
REFOUT? Returns reference value.

External Connection Commands

CUR_POST Selects terminals for current output.

&85B3267"

EARTH Selects earth ground is open or tied.
EARTH? Returns earth ground open or tied.
LOWS Selects low terminals open or tied.
LOWS? Returns low terminals open or tied.
RTD_TYPE Sets RTD sensor type.
RTD_TYPE? Returns RTD sensor type.
TC_REF Sets internal/external reference value.
TC_REF? Returns TC reference value.
TC_TYPE Sets TC sensor type.
TC_TYPE? Returns TC sensor type.

76(16B7<3(

76(16B7<3("

Returns terminals for current output.

Sets temperature sensor type.
Returns temperature sensor type.

12

COMMAND SUMMARY (cont)

Common Commands

*CLS Clears ESR, ISCR0, ISCR1, error

queue, RQS, and terminates

pending *OPC or *OPC?
*ESE Loads ESE register.
*ESE? Returns ESE contents.
*ESR? Returns ESR contents.

*IDN? Returns instrument identification.
*OPC Sets OPC bit in ESR to 1 when

device operations are complete.
*OPC? Returns 1 after operations are done.
*OPT? Returns hardware/software options.
*PUD Stores a string in nonvolatile memory.
*PUD? Returns contents of *PUD memory.
*RST Resets to power-up state.
*SRE Loads SRE register.
*SRE? Returns SRE contents.
*STB? Returns the status byte.
*TRG Triggers a TC measurement return

value.
*TST? Initiates self test;.return 0 for pass.
*WAI Waits until commands are executed.

Output Commands

BOOST Activates/deactivates 5725A.
BOOST? Returns 5725A use and output.
CFREQ? Frequency for capacitance modes.

'&B2))6(7

'&B2))6(7"

Applies DC offset to AC output.

Returns the DC offset voltage.

13

COMMAND SUMMARY (cont)

Output Commands (cont)

DPF Sets displacement power factor.
DPF? Returns displacement power factor.
DUTY Sets squarewave duty cycle.
DUTY? Returns duty cycle.
FUNC? Returns output function.
HARMONIC Sets harmonic output.

+$5021,&"

OPER Activates 5500A output.
OPER? Returns operate/standby setting.
OUT Sets output and reference point.
OUT? Returns output.
PHASE Sets phase for dual outputs.
PHASE? Returns phase output.
POWER? Returns power for power outputs.
RANGE? Returns output ranges.
RANGELCK Locks range or set autorange.
RANGELCK? Returns locked or autorange.
STBY Puts 5500A in standby.
WAVE Sets waveforms for AC outputs.
WAVE? Returns output waveform.
ZCOMP Activate/deactivate impedance

ZCOMP? Returns status of impedance

Returns harmonic location.

compensation.

compensation.

14

COMMAND SUMMARY (cont)

RS-232 Host Port Commands

LOCAL Puts 5500A into local.
LOCKOUT Puts 5500A into lockout state
REMOTE Puts 5500A into remote.
SPLSTR Sets Serial Poll response string.
SPLSTR? Returns Serial Poll response.
SRQSTR Sets serial mode SRQ response.
SRQSTR? Returns serial mode SRQ response.
^P (<cntl>p) Prints serial poll string.
^C (<cntl>c) Clears device.
^T (<cntl>t) Executes group trigger.

Setup and Utility Commands

FORMAT Restores default nonvolatile memory.
LIMIT Sets maximum output magnitudes.
LIMIT? Returns maximum output magnitudes.
ONTIME? Returns time since last powered up.

57'B7<3(B'

57'B7<3(B'"

SP_SET Sets serial HOST port settings.
SP_SET? Returns serial HOST port settings.
SRC_PREF Sets source preference.
SRC_PREF? Returns source preference.
TC_TYPE_D Sets default TC sensor.

7&B7<3(B'"

TEMP_STD Sets temperature standard.

7(03B67'"

Set the default RTD sensor.

Returns default RTD sensor.

Returns default TC sensor.

Returns temperature standard.

15

COMMAND SUMMARY (cont)

Status Commands

ERR? Returns first error code in queue

and removes it from the queue.
EXPLAIN? Explains an error code.
FAULT? Returns first error code in queue

and removes it from the queue.
ISCE Loads bytes into ISCE0 and ISCE1.
ISCE? Returns ISCE0 and ISCE1 contents.
ISCE0 Loads two bytes into ISCE0.
ISCE0? Returns contents of ISCE0.
ISCE1 Loads two bytes into ISCE1.
ISCE1? Returns contents of ISCE1.
ISCR? Returns contents of ISCR0/ISCR1.
ISCR0? Returns and clears ISCR0.
ISCR1? Returns and clears ISCR1.
ISR? Returns contents of ISR register.

Thermocouple (TC) Measurement Commands

TC_MEAS Changes mode to TC measurement.
TC_OFFSET Sets a TC temperature offset.

7&B2))6(7"

TC_OTCD Activates/deactivates otc circuit.
TC_OTCD? Returns status of otc circuit.
VAL? Returns last TC measurement.

UUT_FLUSH Flush UUT receive buffer.

887B5(&9"

UUT_SEND Sends string to UUT serial port.
UUT_SET Sets the UUT serial port settings.
UUT_SET? Returns the UUT serial port settings.

Returns TC temperature offset.

RS-232 UUT Port Commands

Return data from UUT serial port.

16

COMMAND LIST

BOOST

Parameters: ON

OFF

BOOST?

Responses: VOLTAGE

CURRENT
OFF

CFREQ?

Response: <value>

*CLS

Parameter: (None)

CUR_POST

Parameters: AUX

BOOST

CUR_POST?

Responses: AUX

BOOST

DC_OFFSET

Parameter: <value

DC_OFFSET?

Response: <value>

DPF

Parameters: <value>,LEAD

<value>,LAG

17

COMMAND LIST (cont)

DPF?

Responses: <value>,LEAD

<value>,LAG

DUTY

Parameter: <value> with optional PCT

DUTY?

Response: <value>

EARTH

Parameters: OPEN

TIED

EARTH?

Responses: OPEN

TIED

EDIT

Parameters: PRI

SEC
FREQ
OFF

EDIT?

Responses: PRI

SEC
FREQ
OFF

ERR?

Response: <value>, <string>

18

COMMAND LIST (cont)

*ESE

Parameter: <value>

*ESE?

Response: <value>

*ESR?

Response: <value>

EXPLAIN?

Parameter: <value>
Response: <string>

FAULT?

Response: <value>

FORMAT

Parameter: ALL

CAL
SETUP

FUNC?

Responses: DCV

ACV
DCI
ACI
RES
CAP
RTD
TC_OUT
DC_POWER
AC_POWER
DCV_DCV
ACV_ACV
TC_MEAS

19

COMMAND LIST (cont)

HARMONIC

Parameters: <value>, PRI

<value>, SEC

HARMONIC?

Response: <value>, PRI

<value>, SEC

*IDN?

Response: <manufacturer>,

<model>,

<serial number>,

<main firmware>+

<encoder firmware>+

<inguard firmware>+

<5725A CPU> (or *)

INCR

Parameters: <+ value>

<- value>

ISCE

Parameter: <value>

ISCE?

Response: <value>

ISCE0

Parameter: <value>

ISCE0?

Response: <value>

ISCE1

Parameter: <value>

20

COMMAND LIST (cont)

ISCE1?

Response: <value>

ISCR?

Response: <value>

ISCR0?

Response: <value>

ISCR1?

Response: <value>

ISR?

Response: <value>

LIMIT

Parameters: <positive value>,<negative value>

LIMIT?

Response: <positive value voltage>,

<negative value voltage>,
<positive value current>,
<negative value current>

LOCAL

Parameter: (None)

LOCKOUT

Parameter: (None)

LOWS

Parameter: OPEN

TIED

21

COMMAND LIST (cont)

LOWS?

Response: OPEN

TIED

MULT

Parameter: <value>

NEWREF

Parameter: (None)

OLDREF

Parameter: (None)

ONTIME?

Response: <days>,<hours>

*OPC

Parameter: (None)

*OPC?

Response: 1

OPER

Parameter: (None)

OPER?

Response: 1 (Operate)

0 (Standby)

*OPT?

Responses: <option string>,<option string>,...

0 (no options)

22

COMMAND LIST (cont)

OUT

Parameters: <value> V

<value> DBM
<value> V, <value> Hz
<value> DBM, <value> Hz
<value> A
<value> A, <value> Hz
<value> OHM
<value> F
<value> CEL
<value> FAR
<value> HZ
<value> V, <value> A
<value> DBM, <value> A
<value> V, <value> A, <value> HZ
<value> DBM, <value> A, <value> HZ
<value> V, <value> V
<value> DBM, <value> DBM
<value> V, <value> V, <value> HZ
<value> DBM, <value> DBM, <value> HZ

OUT?

Parameters: V

Response: <primary amplitude value>,

A
DBM
CEL
FAR
OHM

<primary units>,
<secondary amplitude value>,
<secondary units>,
<fundamental frequency value>

OUT_ERR?

Response: <value of error>,<units>

23

COMMAND LIST (cont)

PHASE

Parameter: <phase value> optional DEG

PHASE?

Response: <phase value>

POWER?

Response: <value>

*PUD

Parameter: #2<nn><nn characters string>

#0<character string>

“<character string>“

*PUD?

Response: #2nn<nn characters>

RANGE?

Response: <primary output>,<secondary output>

RANGELCK

Parameter: ON

OFF

RANGELCK?

Response: ON

OFF

REFOUT?

Response: <reference value>

REMOTE

Parameter: (None)

24

COMMAND LIST (cont)

*RST

Response: (None)

RTD_TYPE

Parameters: PT385

PT3926
NI120

RTD_TYPE?

Responses: PT385

PT3926
NI120

RTD_TYPE_D

Parameters: PT385

PT3926
NI120

RTD_TYPE_D?

Responses: PT385

PT3926
NI120

SP_SET

Parameters: <300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600>,

<TERM, COMP>,
<XON, NOSTALL, RTS>,
<DBIT7, DBIT8>,
<SBIT1, SBIT2>,
<PNONE, PODD, PEVEN>,
<CR, LF, CRLF>

25

COMMAND LIST (cont)

SP_SET?

Responses: <300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600>,

<TERM, COMP>,
<XON, NOSTALL, RTS>,
<DBIT7, DBIT8>,
<SBIT1, SBIT2>,
<PNONE, PODD, PEVEN>,
<CR, LF, CRLF>

SPLSTR

Parameter: “<string>\n”

SPLSTR?

Response: <string>

SRC_PREF

Parameters: P5500

P5725

SRC_PREF?

Responses: P5500

P5725

*SRE

Parameter: <value>

*SRE?

Response: <value>

SRQSTR

Parameter: “<string>\n”

SRQSTR?

Response: <string>

26

COMMAND LIST (cont)

*STB?

Response: <value>

STBY

Parameter: (None)

TC_MEAS

Parameters: CEL

FAR

TC_OFFSET

Parameters: <value> CEL

<value> FAR

TC_OFFSET?

Responses: <value> CEL

<value> FAR

TC_OTCD

Parameters: ON

OFF

TC_OTCD?

Responses: ON

OFF

TC_REF

Parameters: INT

EXT, CEL (or FAR)

TC_REF?

Responses: INT, <value>, CEL (or FAR)

EXT, <value>, CEL (or FAR)

27

TC_TYPE

Parameters: B

TC_TYPE?

Responses: B

TC_TYPE_D

Parameters: B

COMMAND LIST (cont)

C
E
J
K
N
R
S
T

X (10 µV/°C)

C
E
J
K
N
R
S
T

X (10 µV/°C)

C
E
J
K
N
R
S
T

X (10 µV/°C)

28

COMMAND LIST (cont)

TC_TYPE_D?

Responses: B

C
E
J
K
N
R
S
T

X (10 µV/°C)

TEMP_STD

Parameters: IPTS_68

ITS_90

TEMP_STD?

Responses: IPTS_68

ITS_90

*TRG

Responses: <measurement value>, CEL

<measurement value>, FAR

0.00E+00,OVER

0.00E+00,OPENTC

0.00E+00,NONE

TSENS_TYPE

Parameters: TC

RTD

TSENS_TYPE?

Responses: TC

RTD

*TST?

Response: 0 (pass)

1 (fail)

29

COMMAND LIST (cont)

UUT_FLUSH

Parameter: (None)

UUT_RECV?

Response: <data>

UUT_SEND

Parameter: #2<nn><nn characters string>

#0<character string>

“<character string>“

Special Case The character string sent to a UUT
must end in a carriage return (CR) or line feed (LF)
command or both.

Carriage Return ^J \n
Line Feed ^M \r
Tab Tab \t
Backspace ^H \b
Form Feed ^L \f

UUT_SET

Parameters: <300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600>,

<XON, NOSTALL, RTS>,
<DBIT7, DBIT8>,
<SBIT1, SBIT2>,
<PNONE, PODD, PEVEN>

UUT_SET?

Responses: <300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600>,

<XON, NOSTALL, RTS>,
<DBIT7, DBIT8>,
<SBIT1, SBIT2>,
<PNONE, PODD, PEVEN>

30

COMMAND LIST (cont)

VAL?

Responses: <measurement value>, CEL

<measurement value>, FAR

0.00E+00,OVER

0.00E+00,OPENTC

0.00E+00,NONE

*WAI

Parameters: (none)

WAVE

Parameter: <1st waveform> , (SINE, TRI,

SQUARE, TRUNCS, NONE)

<2nd waveform> (SINE, TRI,
SQUARE, TRUNCS, NONE)

WAVE?

Responses: <1st waveform> , (SINE, TRI,

SQUARE, TRUNCS, NONE)

<2nd waveform> (SINE, TRI,
SQUARE, TRUNCS, NONE)

ZCOMP

Parameter: NONE

WIRE2
WIRE4

ZCOMP?

Responses: NONE

WIRE2
WIRE4

31

32