Keysight U1273A, U1273AX Quick Start Manual

Keysight U1273A/
U1273AX Handheld
Digital Multimeter

Quick Start
Guide

Contacting Keysight

CAUTION

WARNING

CAT III

1000 V

CAT IV

600 V

Safety symbols

www.keysight.com/find/assist

(worldwide contact information for
repair and service)

Safety and EMC Information

This meter is safety-certified in
compliance with EN/IEC
61010-1:2001, ANSI/UL
61010-1:2004, and CAN/
CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1-04 for
CAT III 1000 V/CAT IV 600 V
pollution degree 2 environment.
EMC is designed in compliance
with IEC 61326-1:2005/EN
61326-1:2006. Use with standard
or compatible test probes.

Safety Notices

A CAUTION notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could
result in damage to the product or
loss of important data. Do not
proceed beyond a CAUTION notice
until the indicated conditions are
fully understood and met.

Earth (ground) terminal

Equipment protected
throughout by double
insulation or reinforced
insulation

Caution, risk of electric
shock

Caution, risk of danger
(refer to this manual for
specific Warning or Caution
information)

Category III 1000 V
overvoltage protection

Category IV 600 V
overvoltage protection

A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could
result in personal injury or
death. Do not proceed beyond a
WARNING notice until the
indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.

For further safety information details, refer to the

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Handheld Digital Multimeter User’s Guide.

2 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Table of Contents

Install the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Turn On the Multimeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Multimeter at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Understanding the Rotary Switch . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Understanding the Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Understanding the Input Terminals . . . . . . . . 11

Performing Measurements and Tests . . . . . . . 12

Voltage measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Resistance measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Continuity tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Diode tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Capacitance measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Temperature measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Current measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Check the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 3

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4 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Verify that you received the following items in the

NOTE

shipment of your multimeter:

✔ One pair of red and black test leads
✔ One pair of 4 mm test probes
✔ One K-type thermocouple lead kit
✔ Four 1.5 V AAA alkaline batteries (for U1273A)

or lithium batteries (for U1273AX)

✔ Printed copies of the Certificate of Calibration

(CoC) and the U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start
Guide (this manual)

If any item is missing or damaged, keep the
shipping materials and contact the nearest
Keysight Sales Office.

The descriptions and instructions in this guide apply
to the U1273A/U1273AX handheld digital
multimeter.

All related documents and software are available for
download at www.keysight.com/find/hhTechLib.

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 5

Install the Batteries

NOTE

Your multimeter is powered by four 1.5 V AAA
batteries (included with the shipment).

1 Turn the rotary switch to OFF

and remove the test leads
from the terminals.

2 Lift the tilt stand and loosen

the screws with a suitable
Phillips screwdriver.

3 Remove the battery cover and observe the

polarity markings.

4 Insert the batteries and replace the battery

cover and screws.

Turn On the Multimeter

To power ON your multimeter, turn the rotary
switch from the OFF position to any other
position.

Your multimeter is capable of remote data logging.
To use this feature, you will need an IR-USB cable
(U1173A, purchased separately) and the Keysight
GUI Data Logger Software (downloadable from

www.keysight.com/find/hhTechLib).

6 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Auto Dim

By default, the multimeter’s Auto Dim function is
enabled. The multimeter’s backlight will dim
automatically after 90 seconds of inactivity. Press
any button to cancel this effect and reset the Auto
Dim timer.

You may change how the multimeter’s backlight
behavior through the Setup menu. Refer to the
User’s Guide for further instructions.

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 7

The Multimeter at a Glance

Display screen

Keypad

Rotary switch

Input terminals

Test lead/probe holders

IR communication port

Battery cover

Tilt stand

(Lift tilt stand for access)

8 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Understanding the Rotary Switch

NOTE

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Z

LOW

Smart

Auto

Press to switch between the primary and

shifted functions shown on the rotary switch.

Legend Description

Z

(low input impedance) AC/DC V for eliminating ghost

LOW

voltages

Off

AC V

AC V with Low Pass Filter

AC mV

AC mV with Low Pass Filter

DC V

AC V or AC+DC V

DC mV

AC mV or AC+DC mV

Resistance

Continuity or Smart Ω (offset compensation)

Diode

Auto-diode

Capacitance

Temperature

DC mA (or A)

AC mA (or A) or AC+DC mA (or A)

DC μA

AC μA or AC+DC μA

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 9

Understanding the Keypad

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H

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Exit

Dual

Setup

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Key response when pressed for:

Legend

Less than 1 second More than 1 second

Sets the Null/Relative mode.

Starts the MaxMin recording.

Freezes the present reading in
the display.

Switches between available
dual-combination displays.

Increases the OLED brightness
incrementally when LOW,
MEDIUM, or HIGH setting is
selected.

Switches between frequency,
pulse width, and duty cycle
measurements.

Sets the Scale mode for the
specified ratio and unit display.

Starts and stops the Peak
recording.

Automatically freezes the
present reading once the
reading is stable.

Exits the Hold, Null, MaxMin,
Peak, frequency test, and dual
display modes.

Enters and exits the
multimeter’s Setup menu.

Starts and stops the Data
Logging.

Sets a manual range and
disables autoranging.

Switches between the primary
and shifted functions.

10 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Enables auto-ranging.

Enters and exits the Log
Review menu.

Understanding the Input Terminals

WARNING

Z

LOW

Smart

Auto

or

Ensure that the terminal connections are correct for
that particular measurement function before starting
any measurement. To avoid damage to the device, do
not exceed the input limit.

Rotary position Input terminals Overload protection

1000 Vrms

1000 Vrms for short

circuit <0.3 A

11 A/1000 V

fast-acting fuse

440 mA/1000 V

fast-acting fuse

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 11

Performing Measurements and Tests

Voltage measurements

The figure below highlights the primary functions
allowing voltage measurements in your
multimeter.

Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform voltage measurements. When
measuring DC voltage from a mixed signal in DC
measurement mode, ensure that the Filter ( ) is
enabled.

12 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

1 Press for more than 1 second to enter the

Setup

H

z

%

m

s

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o

g

Exit

Dual

Setup

H

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%

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Setup

multimeter’s setup menu.

2 Browse to Menu 6 > Filter, and press to

edit the value.

3 Press or to enable the Filter.

Refer to the table below for the respective
firmware versions.

Version 1.64 or older Version 1.95 or newer

on DC

4 Press to save your changes.

5 Press and hold until the multimeter

restarts and returns to normal operation. Turn
the multimeter to DC Voltage mode to verify

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 13

that the LPF symbol is turned on.

CAUTION

To avoid possible electric shock or personal injury,

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Z

LOW

enable the Filter

() to verify the presence of

hazardous DC voltages. Displayed DC voltages can
be influenced by high frequency AC components
and must be filtered to assure an accurate reading.

LPF during AC measurements:

Press while performing
AC voltage measurements to
pass the measured signal
through a low pass filter.

– Passing the measured signal through a LPF

help blocks unwanted voltages such as
electronic noise.

– Use the LPF function to improve measurement

on composite sine waves that are typically
generated by inverters and variable frequency
motor drives.

Z

measurements:

LOW

Rotate the rotary switch’s
position to to enable low

impedance measurements.

–Use the Z

(low input impedance) function

LOW

to remove ghost or induced voltages from
your measurement.

–Z

can remove ghost voltages from your

LOW

measurements by dissipating the coupling
voltage. Use Z

to reduce the possibility of

LOW

false readings in areas where the presence of
ghost voltages are suspected.

14 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Resistance measurements

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Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform resistance measurements.

Smart Ω measurements:

While performing resistance
measurements, press

until BiAS is shown on the
secondary display to enable
the Smart Ω function.

– Use the Smart Ω (offset compensation)

function to measure resistors affected by DC
offset or leakage current.

– Smart Ω removes unexpected DC voltages

within the instrument, at the input, or at the
circuit being measured, which will add error to

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 15

resistance measurements. Press to switch

Exit

Dual

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Exit

Dual

between the bias voltage (BiAS) display or
leakage current (LEAk) display, calculated
based on the bias voltage and corrected
resistance value, on the secondary display.

Continuity tests

Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform continuity tests. Press to

switch to the continuity test function ( is
shown on the display).

The beeper will sound as a continuity indication.
Press to switch between normal open ( )

and normal close ( ) contacts.
– Normal open: Circuit is normally open, the

beeper will sound when a short is detected.

– Normal close: Circuit is normally closed, the

beeper will sound when an open is detected.

16 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

NOTE

The continuity function detects intermittent shorts
and opens lasting as short as 1 ms. A brief short or
open causes the multimeter to emit a short beep.

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 17

Diode tests

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Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform diode tests.

Auto-diode tests:

Press to use the auto
diode function.

– The Auto-diode function tests both the

forward bias and reverse bias directions of
your diode simultaneously. The forward bias
voltage is shown on the primary display and
the reverse bias voltage is shown on the
secondary display.

18 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

– GOOD is shown briefly on the secondary

NOTE

display along with a brief beep if the diode is
found to be in good condition. If the diode is
out of the thresholds, NGOOD is shown
instead.

Capacitance measurements

Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform capacitance measurements.

is shown on the bottom left of the display when
the capacitor is charging, and is shown when the
capacitor is discharging.

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 19

Temperature measurements

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WARNING

K-type thermocouple

Heat source

NOTE

Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform temperature measurements.

Press to switch to the temperature
measurement function.

Do not connect the thermocouple to electrically live
circuits. Doing so will potentially cause fire or electric
shock.

The multimeter uses a type-K (default setting)
temperature probe for measuring temperature.

20 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

Current measurements

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WARNING

NOTE

Set up your multimeter as shown in the figure
below to perform current measurements. Press

to switch between AC, DC, AC+DC, or %
scale current measurements. When measuring
DC current from a mixed signal in DC
measurement mode, ensure that the Filter ( ) is
enabled.

Always use the proper function, range, and terminals for
current measurements. Set the positive input terminal to

the terminal for currents below 440 mA, and
the terminal for currents above 440 mA.

For better accuracy when measuring low currents
(up to μA), turn the rotary switch to the position.

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 21

Check the Fuse

To check Fuse 1 To check Fuse 2

Follow the instructions below for a quick check on
the fuses (Fuse 1 and Fuse 2) of your multimeter.

Fuse

Part

number

1 2110-1400 440 mA/1000 V ≈102 Ω OL

2 2110-1402 11 A/1000 V ≈0.05 Ω OL

Displayed readings

Fuse rating

Fuse healthy Replace fuse

22 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

NOTE

– To check Fuse 1: Ensure that the probe tip is

touching the top half metal contact inside the
µA mA terminal.

– To check Fuse 2: Ensure that the probe tip is

touching the left half metal contact inside the
A terminal.

The multimeter will sound an input warning alert if
the probe tip is in contact with any other sides of
the µA mA or A terminal other than the sides
specified in the instructions above.

Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide 23

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24 Keysight U1273A/U1273AX Quick Start Guide

This information is subject to change
without notice. Always refer to the
Keysight website for the latest revision.

© Keysight Technologies 2012-2017
Edition 4, June 1, 2017

Printed in Malaysia

*U1273-90004*

U1273-90004

www.keysight.com