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Warning or Caution information) IEC Measurement Category II. Inputs may be connected to mains (up to CAT II Caution, risk of electric shock 300 VAC) under Category II 300 V overvoltage conditions. Frame or chassis (ground) terminal Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
The CSA mark is a registered substance elements are expected to trademark of the Canadian leak or deteriorate during normal use. Standards Association. Forty years is the expected useful life of the product. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
300 VAC. To avoid the danger of electric shock, do not connect the inputs to mains for line voltages above 300 VAC. See “IEC Measurement Category II Overvoltage Protection” on the following page for further information. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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– If the Test Lead Set is used in a manner not specified by Keysight Technologies, the protection provided by the Test Lead Set may be impaired. Also, do not use a damaged or worn Test Lead Set. Instrument damage or personal injury may result. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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(up to 300 VAC). Note: The front-panel terminals and be at approximately the same voltage However, the 34450A may not be used current protection fuse are shown as the LO terminal. with its HI and LO inputs connected to above.
–40 °C to 70 °C Altitude Operating up to 3,000 meters Pollution degree Pollution Degree 2 The Keysight 34450A 5½ Digit Multimeter complies with the following EMC and NOTE safety requirements: – IEC 61010-1:2001 / EN 61010-1:2001 (2nd Edition) – IEC 61326-2-1:2005 / EN61326-2-1:2006 –...
To contact Keysight for sales and technical support, refer to the support links on the following Keysight websites: – www.keysight.com/find/34450A (product-specific information and support, software and documentation updates) – www.keysight.com/find/assist (worldwide contact information for repair and service) Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Additional Notices The Keysight 34450A is provided with a Keysight 34138A Test Lead Set, described below. Test Lead Ratings Test Leads - 1000 V, 15 A Fine Tip Probe Attachments - 300 V, 3 A Mini Grabber Attachment - 300 V, 3 A...
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......111 Other Sources of Measurement Error ......112 Characteristics and Specifications Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Example of measuring voltage and current in dual measurement ......99 Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Figure 3-5 Wiring resistance and current shunt resistance ..108 Figure 3-6 Applying current to the capacitor ....109 Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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....100 Table 3-3 Typical errors for various pulse waveforms as a function of input pulse frequency ... . .105 Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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The Rear Panel at a Glance Making Measurements Selecting a Range Remote Operation This chapter provides a tutorial on how to get started using the Keysight 34450A 5½ Digit Multimeter and using the front panel in order to make measurements.
Auto range and Manual range Display Resolution, Measurement Speed Power ON/OFF Switch SHIFT (selects blue shifted keys) and Measurement functions Local Key Math Operations Secondary Display Key State Store/Recall, Utility Menu Input Terminals Data Log, View Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
The display at a glance Single display screen Figure 1-2 Typical single display screen Dual display screen Figure 1-3 Typical dual display screen The system annunciators are described in Table 1-1. (See Table 2-2 on page 58 for Math Annunciators). Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Error in queue Fast speed is selected Medium speed is selected Slow speed is selected Remote interface operation Code compatibility mode 2nd key has been pressed Triggering has been enabled and the meter is in the “waiting-for-trigger” state Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Getting Started Tutorial Table 1-1 Display annunciators (continued) System Annunciator Description Shift key has been pressed Fixed range is selected for secondary function Auto-ranging is selected for secondary function Direct current Alternating current Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
34450A Keypad Table 1-2 Keypad functions Description System-related operation Press to turn ON or turn OFF the 34450A multimeter Press to enable access to a button’s alternate function Press to enable the secondary display > Press to disable secondary display –...
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Press to select AC current measurement Press to select between 2-wire or 4-wire resistance measurement Press to select frequency measurement Press to select between continuity or diode measurement Press to select between temperature or capacitance measurement Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Press to enable trigger/hold. See “Hold measurement” on page 51 > Press to access limit function. See “Limit measurement” on page 52 > Press to access data log view menu. See “Viewing the log info” on page 84 Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
With Purchase of License Part Number Data Logging Memory 5,000 readings 50,000 readings (Option 3445MEMU) 34450A-801 GPIB Remote Operation Disabled Enabled (Option 3445GPBU) 34450A-800 For the license upgrade procedure, refer to the instructions in the license redemption e-mail. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Rear panel at a glance Serial Interface Connector USB Interface Connector GPIB with Option 3445GPBU installed Current Fuse Model and Serial Number Label Kensington Lock Chassis Ground Lug AC Power Connector AC Line Fuse AC Line Voltage Selector Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
The following pages show how to make measurement connections and how to select measurement functions from the front panel for each of the measurement functions. For remote operation, refer to the MEASure Subsystem in the Keysight 34450A Online Programmer’s Reference Helpfile. Using the keys The meter functions and operations can be selected by pressing the buttons located on the front panel;...
– Measurement Method: Sigma Delta A-to-D converter – Input Impedance: >10 GΩ selected range (0.1 V and 1 V only) or ~10 MΩ all ranges (typical) – Input Protection: 1000 V on all ranges (HI terminal) Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Do not apply any voltage to the instrument inputs until all terminals are WARNING properly connected. Plugging or unplugging the test lead while high voltage is applied can cause instrument damage, and may increase the risk of electric shock. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– Input Protection: Rear Panel 0.4 A, 500 V FH fuse for the I terminal Typical ACI Measurement Display Typical DCI Measurement Display AC or DC current source Figure 1-9 ACI rms or DCI (mA) terminal connection and display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– Input Protection: Internal 11 A, 1000 V fuse for the 10 A terminal Typical ACI Measurement Display AC or DC Typical DCI Measurement Display Voltage Source Figure 1-10 ACI rms or DCI (A) terminal connection and display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– Gate Time: 1 second (slow mode) or 0.1 second (medium mode) – Input Protection: 750 V rms on all ranges (HI terminal) Typical Frequency Measurement Display Frequency Source Figure 1-11 Frequency terminal connection and display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– Input Protection: 750 V rms on all ranges (HI terminal) Typical Frequency Measurement Display Frequency Source Figure 1-12 Frequency terminal connection and display for ACI (mA) Typical Frequency Measurement Display Frequency Source Figure 1-13 Frequency terminal connection and display for ACI (A) Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– Measurement Method: Computed from constant current source charge time. Typical 0.12 V to 1.0 V AC signal level – Input Protection: 1000 V (HI terminal) Typical Capacitance Measurement Display Capacitance Press Twice Figure 1-18 Capacitance terminal connection and display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Autoranging enabled Press to disable autoranging Selects an upper range Selects a lower range Manual ranging enabled > Press to enable autoranging and disable manual ranging Manual ranging enabled Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Getting Started Tutorial Remote Operation USB interface Automatically shows the remote state Press to exit Remote state when communication is established after executing the Keysight Connection Expert Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
To easily configure and verify an interface connection between the 34450A and NOTE your PC, use the Automation-Ready CD, which is shipped with your 34450A. This CD includes the Keysight IO Libraries Suite and the Keysight Connection Expert application. For more information about Keysight's I/O connectivity software, visit www.keysight.com/find/iolib.
In order to operate the meter via a host computer or terminal, the parameters in the GPIB interface within the meter has to match the parameters in the GPIB interface provided by the host or terminal. The default factory settings are address 22. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Getting Started Tutorial Code compatibility mode The 34450A includes a code compatibility mode. This mode saves time and effort by eliminating the need to re-write programs using the 34450A SCPI command. SCPI commands The Keysight 34450A complies with the syntax rules and conventions of SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments).
Reset/Power-On State Triggering the Multimeter Data Logging Fluke 45/Fluke 8808A Code Compatibility Mode This chapter contains information on the functions and features of the Keysight 34450A 5½ Digit Multimeter and how to use the front panel to operate these settings.
– Range and resolution changing is allowed for all math operations. – The reference/offset/limit values used for the Null, Limit, dB, and dBm math functions are editable. – For remote operation, refer to the CALCulate Subsystem in the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
For example, this feature can be used to make more accurate resistance measurements by nulling the test lead resistance. Before performing null measurement, eliminate offset errors associated with test lead resistance by following the steps below: 1 Ω Press to enable null measurement 1 Ω Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– Null measurement d isplay = Read ing Offset You can view and edit the offset value in the secondary display as described in “Editing math functions reference values” on page 58. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Choose the limit mode that you want to change Increase/decrease the respective digit Press to edit Select the editable digit to the left or right Press to exit the limit operation Press to save or edit mode Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Functions and Features Accessing math menu The math operation can be enabled using the following steps: Press to display math menu Math menu display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Note: Each time a new min or max value is stored, the multimeter will beep once (if the buzzer is turned on in the utility menu) and the Min or Max annunciator is briefly turned on > for 1 second beside the secondary display. Press to exit Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Note: Each time a new min or max value is stored, the multimeter will beep once (if the buzzer is turned on in the utility menu) and the New annunciator is briefly turned on for 1 second in the respective Min or Max box Press to exit Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Reference value 0dB to ±120.0000 dBm Default: R REF is 0 dBm Press to exit You can view and edit the dB reference value as described in “Editing math functions reference values” on page 58. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
250 Ω, 300 Ω, 500 Ω, 600 Ω, 800 Ω, 900 Ω, 1000 Ω, 1200 Ω, or 8000 Ω. Press to start Select dBm option Ongoing measurement dBm measurement Reference value Press to exit You can view and select the reference value as described in “Editing math functions reference values” on page 58. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
The reference values used for the Null, Limit, dB, or dBM math functions, can be edited when you enable the stated function (refer to Table 2-2 on page 58 for a list). For remote operation, refer to the CALCulate Subsystem in the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
To edit math values, follow the steps below: Press to display null menu Press for digit selection Press to edit Press to change the value of selected digit Press to save the reference value Press to exit without save Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
[d] For DCV-ACV dual measurement, the DCV input signal is limited to 500 V when ACV input signal is in 100 mV range. The ACV input signal must be greater than 50 mV. [e] For ACI-DCV dual measurement operation frequencies, refer to Table 2-4 on page 61. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
>500 Hz (600 Hz) / n × 50 Hz (60 Hz) for <500 Hz Fast >10 kHz / n × 1 kHz for <10 kHz For more information, please refer to Chapter 3, “Measurement Speed Consideration”. Using the dual display To enable the dual display, follow the following steps: Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Press to turn off secondary display Select desired range Note: For available measurements in the dual display mode, refer to table Table 2-3 Select desired speed For remote operation, refer to the DISPlay:WINDow2 commands in the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
The descriptions of the items in the Utility menu and their options are shown in Table 2-5 on page 64. Figure 2-3 First page of the Utility menu Figure 2-4 Second page of the Utility menu Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
ON or OFF multimeter. Returns to normal operation *TST? after completing the self-test. Disables or enables the automatic recall MEMory:STATe:RECall P-ON RESET ON or OFF of the powered down state when power :AUTO is turned on Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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[SCPI Error Sub-Menu] Displays the multimeter’s firmware revision. The first 4 digits are the IO FW VER XX.XX - XX.XX firmware revision, while the last 4 digits are the measurement firmware revision. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Below are the steps you should follow if you want to edit any of the values on the utility menu: > Press to display the utility menu Page one of utility menu Press to edit This option will flash, enabling you to edit Press to exit Press to save Select the desired value Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
To enable the RS232 option, follow the steps below. For a list of RS232 settings, Table 2-6 on page 68. Press to edit Select I/O option Press to edit RS232 option Press to select RS232 option Press to edit/save Press to return to utility menu Typical RS232 sub menu display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
PC (remote control) Parity bit for remote communication with PARITY NONE NONE, ODD, EVEN a PC DATA BIT 7, 8 Data bit length STOP BIT 1, 2 Stop bit length State Disable Disable, Enable Enable or disable RS232 Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
To activate GPIB, first, turn on the GPIB option. The following pop-up message will appear if the GPIB license key is not activated: “GPIB is not enabled, to enable, please visit www.keysight.com/find/34450A” If GPIB connectivity is selected, a sub-menu will appear to allow you configure the address (from 0 to 30) for remote communication to a PC.
Reading error messages To read error messages from the front panel, perform the following procedures. For remote operation, refer to the SYSTem:ERRor? command in the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile. > Press to display the utility menu Typical display with error message...
– When a new stable reading is updated on display for Math Hold operation – When a measurement exceeds the HI or LO Limit value – When a forward-biased diode is measured in the Diode function Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Location LAST retains the multimeter configuration at power down. Location LAST and 1-5 are available for storing the configurations. To recall instrument states, perform the following steps: Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Press to recall state Memory location selected from the selected Press to select the memory location memory location For remote operation, refer to the MEMory Subsystem, the *SAV, and *RCL commands in the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Functions and Features Reset/Power-On State The table below summarizes the 34450A settings as received from the factory, following power cycling, and following the *RST command received over the USB remote interface. Non-volatile, user customizable behavioral differences are shown in BOLD.
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Cleared if power-on status clear Cleared enabled; no change otherwise Filters Serial Number Unique value per-instrument No Change Calibration Calibration state Secured User Setting Calibration value No Change Calibration String Cleared No Change [a] State managed by IO processor firmware Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
TRIGger:SOURce IMMediate The CONFigure and MEASure? commands automatically set the trigger source to IMMediate. Refer to the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile for complete description and syntax for these commands. Software (Bus) Triggering The bus trigger mode is available from the remote interface only.
– The INITiate command only initiates the measurement and needs a trigger (BUS or EXTernal or IMMEdiate) to make the actual measurement. Refer to the Keysight 34450A Programmer’s Reference Helpfile for the complete description and syntax for these commands. External Trigger...
Manual Trigger Manual triggering takes one reading (or the specified number of readings in data logger) each time the multimeter receives a pulse on the front-panel trigger button. The diagram below shows the manual trigger operation: Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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The trigger annunciator turns on when the multimeter is waiting for a manual trigger. The rear panel trigger out connector provides a pulse after the completion of each measurement. Trigger out and manual trigger implement a standard hardware handshake sequence between measurement and switching devices. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
The IO connectivity will be restored when the data logging has been completed or aborted. The 34450A has memory for up to 50,000 readings which is the maximum limit for the data logger feature. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Move cursor to enable logging Press to execute automatically delete previous log data. Press to proceed Typical data log menu screen Press the trigger button (manual triggering) or wait for an external pulse (external triggering) to begin data logging Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
(upgrade to 25,000 with option measurement) 3445MEMU). ENABLE To start the log function. During logging, all keys are locked. To stop the log function, press any key except TRIG key follow by SHIFT key. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Press to enable data log menu Typical data log menu display Press for digit selection Press to edit Press to change the value of selected digit Press to save Press to exit Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Press to display data log menu Typical log view menu display Press to select log info Typical log info display when only primary measurement is performed Press to exit Typical log info display when both primary and secondary measurements are performed Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
10-a Press for digit selection 10-b Finding specific log data page display Press to change the value of selected digit Press to find Press to exit Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Typical histogram display without secondary measurement function Press to switch between primary or secondary data Typical histogram display for primary measurement with secondary measurement active Press to exit Typical histogram display for secondary measurement with secondary measurement active Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
To view the log statistics, follow the steps below: Press to display data log menu Typical log view menu display Press to select Move cursor to the log statistics menu Press to exit Typical log statistics display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Once the code compatibility mode is on, the USB connectivity will be disabled. Move cursor to LANGUAGE and change to L2 Press to save Typical code compatibility mode screen display Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
– The multimeter automatically enters code compatibility mode when switched on if the code compatibility function was previously enabled before being turned off. – In code compatibility mode, whenever a primary measurement function is changed, the secondary display function is turned off. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Other Primary Measurement Functions Other Sources of Measurement Error The Keysight 34450A multimeter is capable of making very accurate measurements. In order to achieve the greatest degree of accuracy, you must take the necessary steps to eliminate potential measurement errors. This chapter describes the common errors found in measurements and gives suggestions on what you can do to avoid these errors.
I mbalance = Multi meter I solati on Resi stance (L O-E ar th) Ideal test Meter = Multi meter I nput Capaci tance: × R E r ror (v) = Figure 3-1 Common Mode Rejection (CMR) Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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95, any voltage difference between the two ground reference points (V ) causes a current to flow through the ground measurement leads. This causes noise and offset voltage (usually power-line related), which are added to the measured voltage. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
If the multimeter must be earth-referenced, connect it and the device-under-test to the same common ground point. Also connect the multimeter and the device-under-test to the same electrical outlet whenever possible. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
A longer aperture yields better resolution; a shorter aperture provides faster measurements. The fast mode set a specific 1 ms measurement period, not based on power line frequency. No normal mode rejection is provided in aperture mode. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
When measuring DC and AC in dual measurement mode, make sure the DC + AC components do not exceed the multimeter ADC dynamic range. The 34450A has a dynamic range of ±1.2 V or 120% of full scale for each DCV ranges.
When measuring DC voltage and DC current in dual measurement mode, take into account the resistance of the test lead and internal measuring circuitry. The 34450A shares the same common ground both in DC voltage and DC current measurement. When a current flow through the LO terminal, a voltage drop will occur in the circuit and will affect the accuracy of the voltage reading.
12.5 mV will occur. This error will be relative by range with the ADC dynamic range of 1.2 V. Figure 3-4 Example of measuring voltage and current in dual measurement The error in measurement will be significant when applying a higher current. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Leakage from nylon or PVC insulators can easily contribute a 0.1% error when measuring a 1 MΩ resistance in humid conditions. Offset Compensation A resistance measurement involves measuring a voltage (E) induced across the resistance by a known current source. Ideal Meter Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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First Reading -Second Reading = (I*R+V ) -V = I*R Offset compensation can be used in 2-Wire or 4-Wire ohms measurements (only available on 100 Ω, 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ). Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
This multimeter accurately measures true RMS voltage or current, as long as the wave shape contains negligible energy above the instrument’s effective bandwidth. Note that the 34450A uses the same techniques to measure true RMS voltage and true RMS current. Waveform Shape...
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Notice that crest factor is a composite parameter, dependent upon the pulse-width and repetition frequency; crest factor alone is not enough to characterize the frequency content of a signal. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Measurement Tutorial Traditionally, digital multimeters include a crest factor derating table that applies at all frequencies. The measurement algorithm used in the 34450A multimeter is not inherently sensitive to crest factor, so no such derating is necessary. With this multimeter, as discussed in the previous section, the focal issue is high-frequency signal content which exceeds the multimeter’s bandwidth.
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2 Hz and useful for frequencies above 20 Hz. The “MEDIUM” filter notch at 20 Hz and useful for frequencies above 200 Hz. The “FAST” filter notch at 200 Hz and useful for frequencies above 1 kHz. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
“slow” signals. The error is inversely proportional to frequency. Measurement errors also occur if you attempt to measure the frequency of an input following a DC offset voltage change. You must allow the multimeter’s input to fully settle before making frequency measurements. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
10 A shunt resistor and internal signal-conditioning component. Do allow few minutes stabling time for better accuracy for current measurement. After applying more than 5 A current measurement, do allow a few minutes for heat dissipation to ensure better accuracy for other measurement. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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For the best accuracy, take a zero null measurement with open probes, to null out the test lead capacitance, before connecting the probes across the capacitor to be measured. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
RTD. Because they are semiconductors, their temperature range is more limited, commonly to –80 °C to 150 °C. Thermistors have highly non-linear, temperature-resistance relationships; therefore their conversion algorithms are more complex. Keysight multimeters use the standard Hart-Steinhart Approximation to provide accurate conversions. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
If you apply more than 300 V , self-heating occurs in the multimeter’s internal signal-conditioning components. These errors are included in the multimeter’s specifications. Temperature changes inside the multimeter due to self-heating may cause additional error on other AC voltage ranges. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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Correlated noise, while rare, is especially detrimental. Correlated noise always adds directly to the input signal. Measuring a low-level signal with the same frequency as the local power line is a common situation that is prone to this error. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
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T. Errors may occur when the pulse signal is measured at low voltage range due to saturation of the multimeter’s analog-to-digital (ADC) rail voltage. Keysight 34450A User’s Guide...
Keysight 34450A 5½ Digit Multimeter User’s Guide Characteristics and Specifications For the characteristics and specifications of the 34450A 5½ Digit Multimeter, refer to the datasheet at http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5991-1133EN.pdf.
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