Two-Wire Compared To Four-Wire Measurements - Keithley 2461 Reference Manual

Model 2461 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument Reference Manual
Setting the instrument to use the front or rear terminals
If the output is on when you change the settings for the terminals that are used, the output turns off.
Using the front panel:
1. Press the FUNCTION key.
2. Select the source and measure combination
3. Press the TERMINALS FRONT/REAR switch.
When F is lit, the instrument is using the front-panel terminals. When R is lit, the instrument is using
rear-panel terminals.
Using SCPI commands:
To change to the front-panel terminals for current measurements, send the command:
ROUTe:TERMinals FRONt
To change to the rear-panel terminals for current measurements, send the command:
ROUTe:TERMinals REAR
Using TSP commands:
To change to the front-panel terminals, send the command:
smu.terminals = smu.TERMINALS_FRONT
To change to the rear-panel terminals, send the command:
smu.terminals = smu.TERMINALS_REAR

Two-wire compared to four-wire measurements

You can use 2-wire or 4-wire measurement techniques with the Model 2461.
You should use 4-wire, or remote sense, measurement techniques for the following conditions:
•
Low impedance applications
•
When sourcing high current
•
When sourcing low voltage
•
When sourcing higher current and measuring low voltages
•
When enforcing voltage limits directly at the device under test (DUT)
•
When sourcing or measuring voltage in low impedance (less than 100 Ω) test circuits
•
When optimizing the accuracy for low resistance, voltage source, or voltage measurements
2461-901-01 A/November 2015
Section 2: General operation
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