Tektronix Keithley SourceMeter 2461 User Manual
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Tektronix Keithley SourceMeter 2461 User Manual

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Model 2461
High-Current SourceMeter
Instrument
®
User's Manual
2461-900-01 Rev. B / August 2019
*P2461-900-01B*
2461-900-01B

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Summary of Contents for Tektronix Keithley SourceMeter 2461

  • Page 1 tek.com/keithley Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter Instrument ® User’s Manual 2461-900-01 Rev. B / August 2019 *P2461-900-01B* 2461-900-01B...
  • Page 2 Model 2461 ® High-Current SourceMeter Instrument User's Manual...
  • Page 3 © 2019, Keithley Instruments, LLC Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction, photocopy, or use of the information herein, in whole or in part, without the prior written approval of Keithley Instruments, LLC, is strictly prohibited. These are the original instructions in English. ®...
  • Page 4 Safety precautions The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any associated instrumentation. Although some instruments and accessories would normally be used with nonhazardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous conditions may be present. This product is intended for use by personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions required to avoid possible injury.
  • Page 5 For safety, instruments and accessories must be used in accordance with the operating instructions. If the instruments or accessories are used in a manner not specified in the operating instructions, the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired. Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories. Maximum signal levels are defined in the specifications and operating information and shown on the instrument panels, test fixture panels, and switching cards.

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    Table of contents Introduction ........................ 1-1 Welcome ..........................1-1 Introduction to this manual ....................1-1 Extended warranty ....................... 1-2 Contact information ......................1-2 Available documentation ...................... 1-2 Organization of manual sections ..................1-3 Applications .......................... 1-4 Front-panel overview ....................2-1 Front-panel overview ......................
  • Page 7 Table of contents Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Making basic front-panel measurements ..............4-1 Introduction .......................... 4-1 Equipment required for this application ................4-2 Device connections ......................4-2 Make front-panel measurements ..................4-3 How to make front-panel measurements .................. 4-3 Measuring low-resistance devices ................
  • Page 8 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Table of contents Equipment required ......................8-1 Set up remote communications ................... 8-2 Device connections ......................8-2 Solar panel characterization ....................8-4 Set up the solar panel I-V sweep from the front panel .............. 8-5 Set up the solar panel I-V sweep using SCPI commands ............
  • Page 9 Table of contents Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Why did my settings change? .................... 11-6 What are the Quick Setup options? ................... 11-6 Next steps ......................... 12-1 Additional 2461 information ....................12-1...

  • Page 10: Introduction

    Section 1 Introduction In this section: Welcome .................. 1-1 Introduction to this manual ............1-1 Extended warranty ..............1-2 Contact information ..............1-2 Available documentation ............1-2 Organization of manual sections ..........1-3 Applications ................1-4 Welcome Thank you for choosing a Keithley Instruments product. The 2461 1 kW Pulse Mode Interactive ®...

  • Page 11: Extended Warranty

    Section 1: Introduction Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Extended warranty Additional years of warranty coverage are available on many products. These valuable contracts protect you from unbudgeted service expenses and provide additional years of protection at a fraction of the price of a repair.

  • Page 12: Organization Of Manual Sections

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 1: Introduction Organization of manual sections This manual is organized into the following sections: • Front-panel overview (on page 2-1): Describes the basics of using the front-panel interface. • Using a remote interface (on page 3-1): Describes the basics of remote communications and using the instrument web interface.

  • Page 13: Applications

    Section 1: Introduction Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Applications This manual provides application examples that show you how to perform tests from the front panel and over a remote interface. These applications are presented after the summary information about the 2461.
  • Page 14 Section 2 Front-panel overview In this section: Front-panel overview ..............2-1 Power the instrument on or off ..........2-3 Turn the 2461 output on or off ..........2-4 Touchscreen display ..............2-5 Store measurements on a USB flash drive ......2-11 Save screen captures to a USB flash drive ......

  • Page 15: Front-Panel Overview

    Section 2: Front-panel overview Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Control Graphic Description USB port Saves reading buffer data and screen snapshots to a USB flash drive. You can also store and retrieve scripts to and from a USB flash drive.

  • Page 16: Power The Instrument On Or Off

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Front-panel overview Power the instrument on or off Follow the steps below to connect the 2461 to line power and turn on the instrument. The 2461 operates from a line voltage of 100 V to 240 V at a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. It automatically senses line voltage and frequency.

  • Page 17: Turn The 2461 Output On Or Off

    Section 2: Front-panel overview Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Figure 2: Model 2461 rear panel To turn a 2461 on or off: 1. Before turning the instrument on, disconnect any devices under test (DUTs) from the 2461. 2. To turn your instrument on, press the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the on (|) position. The instrument displays a status bar as it powers on.

  • Page 18: Touchscreen Display

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Front-panel overview Using the front panel: Press the OUTPUT ON/OFF switch. The instrument is in the output-on state when the switch is illuminated. The instrument is in the output-off state when the switch is not illuminated. Using SCPI commands: To turn the output on, send the command: :OUTPut:STATe ON...

  • Page 19: Scroll Bars

    Section 2: Front-panel overview Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Scroll bars Some of the interactive screens have additional options that are only visible when you scroll down the screen. A scroll indicator on the right side of the touchscreen identifies these screens. Swipe the screen up or down to view the additional options.
  • Page 20 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Front-panel overview Swipe screen heading bar The heading bar of the swipe screen contains the following options. Figure 4: Swipe screens, maximized and minimized Screen element Description Minimize indicator You can swipe down to minimize the swipe screens. Swipe screen indicator Each circle represents one swipe screen.
  • Page 21 Section 2: Front-panel overview Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual SOURCE swipe screen The SOURCE swipe screen shows the present value of the source and the set values for source, source range, and source limit. You can change the set values from the front panel by selecting the buttons on this screen.
  • Page 22 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Front-panel overview To disable or enable a setting, select the box next to the setting so that it shows an X (disabled) or a check mark (enabled). The icons on the right side of the swipe screen heading bar are shortcuts to the CALCULATIONS SETTINGS and MEASURE SETTINGS menus.

  • Page 23: Menu Overview

    Section 2: Front-panel overview Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual GRAPH swipe screen The GRAPH swipe screen shows a graphical representation of the readings in the presently selected reading buffer. Figure 9: GRAPH swipe screen To view the graph in the full screen and to access graph settings, select the graph icon on the right side of the swipe screen header.

  • Page 24: Store Measurements On A Usb Flash Drive

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Front-panel overview Store measurements on a USB flash drive If there is measurement data in the buffer, you can copy it from the 2461 to a USB flash drive. The information is saved in the CSV file format. To store measurement data: 1.

  • Page 25: Using A Remote Interface

    Section 3 Using a remote interface In this section: Remote communications interfaces ......... 3-1 Supported remote interfaces ............ 3-1 GPIB communications .............. 3-2 LAN communications ............... 3-4 USB communications ............... 3-7 Using the web interface ............3-11 Determine the command set to use ........3-14 Remote communications interfaces You can choose from one of several communication interfaces to send commands to and receive responses from the 2461.

  • Page 26: Gpib Communications

    Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual GPIB communications The 2461 GPIB interface is IEEE Std 488.1 compliant and supports IEEE Std 488.2 common commands and status model topology. You can have up to 15 devices connected to a GPIB interface, including the controller. The maximum cable length is the lesser of either: •...

  • Page 27: Set The Gpib Address

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface To allow many parallel connections to one instrument, stack the connectors. Each connector has two screws on it to ensure that connections remain secure. The figure below shows a typical connection diagram for a test system with multiple instruments.

  • Page 28: Lan Communications

    Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual To set the GPIB address from the front panel: 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Select Communication. 3. Select the GPIB tab. 4. Set the GPIB Address. 5.

  • Page 29: Set Up Lan Communications On The Instrument

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface Set up LAN communications on the instrument This section describes how to set up manual or automatic LAN communications on the instrument. Set up automatic LAN configuration If you are connecting to a LAN that has a DHCP server or if you have a direct connection between the instrument and a host computer, you can use automatic IP address selection.

  • Page 30: Set Up Lan Communications On The Computer

    Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual 6. Enter the Gateway address. 7. Enter the Subnet mask. 8. Select Apply Settings to save your settings. Set up LAN communications on the computer This section describes how to set up the LAN communications on your computer. Do not change your IP address without consulting your system administrator.

  • Page 31: Usb Communications

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface USB communications To use the rear-panel USB port, you must have the Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) layer on the host computer. See “How to install the Keithley I/O Layer” in the Model 2461 Reference Manual for more information.

  • Page 32: Communicate With The Instrument

    Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Communicate with the instrument For the instrument to communicate with the USB device, you must use NI-VISA . VISA requires a resource string in the following format to connect to the correct USB instrument: USB0::0x05e6::0x2461::[serial number]::INSTR Where: •...
  • Page 33 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface 2. Select Add. 3. Select Next. The Select Communication Bus dialog box is displayed. Figure 14: Select Communication Bus dialog box 4. Select USB. 5. Click Next. The Select Instrument Driver dialog box is displayed. Figure 15: Select Instrument Driver dialog box 2461-900-01 Rev.
  • Page 34 Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual 6. Select Auto-detect Instrument Driver - Model. 7. Click Next. The Configure USB Instrument dialog box is displayed with the detected instrument VISA resource string visible. 8. Click Next. The Name Virtual Instrument dialog box is displayed. Figure 16: Name Virtual Instrument dialog box 9.

  • Page 35: Using The Web Interface

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface Figure 17: Keithley Communicator Open an Instrument 4. Click OK. 5. Send a command to the instrument and see if it responds. If you have a full version of NI-VISA on your system, you can run NI-MAX or the VISA Interactive Control utility.

  • Page 36: Connect To The Instrument Web Interface

    Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Connect to the instrument web interface When the LAN and instrument establish a connection, you can open the web page for the instrument. To access the web interface: 1.

  • Page 37: Web Interface Home Page

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface Web interface Home page Figure 18: 2461 web interface The Home page of the instrument provides information about the instrument. It includes: • The instrument model number, manufacturer, serial number, and firmware revision number. •...

  • Page 38: Review Events In The Event Log

    Section 3: Using a remote interface Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Review events in the event log Under LXI Home, the Log option opens the event log. The event log records all LXI events that the instrument generates and receives. The log includes the following information: •...
  • Page 39 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interface To set the command set from the front panel: 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Under System, select Settings. 3. Select the appropriate Command Set. You are prompted to confirm the change to the command set and reboot. To verify which command set is selected from a remote interface: Send the command: *LANG?

  • Page 40: Making Basic Front-Panel Measurements

    Section 4 Making basic front-panel measurements In this section: Introduction ................4-1 Equipment required for this application ........4-2 Device connections ..............4-2 Make front-panel measurements ..........4-3 Introduction You can use the 2461 to source voltage or current and make measurements from the front panel. Make sure you select functions before you make changes to other instrument settings.

  • Page 41: Equipment Required For This Application

    Section 4: Making basic front-panel measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Equipment required for this application Equipment required for this application: • ® 2461 High-Current SourceMeter Instrument • Two insulated banana cables; you can use the set that is provided with the 2461, the Keithley Instruments Model 8608 High-Performance Clip Lead Set •...

  • Page 42: Make Front-Panel Measurements

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 4: Making basic front-panel measurements Make front-panel measurements For this application, you will: • Select the source and measure functions • Select the source range • Set the source value • Set the source limit •...

  • Page 43: Measuring Low-Resistance Devices

    Section 5 Measuring low-resistance devices In this section: Introduction ................5-1 Equipment required ..............5-1 Set up remote communications ..........5-2 Device connections ..............5-2 Low-resistance measurements ..........5-5 Introduction This application example demonstrates how to use the 2461 to measure a low-resistance device. You may need to make low-resistance measurements (<10 Ω) in a number of applications.

  • Page 44: Set Up Remote Communications

    Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up remote communications You can run this application from the front panel or any of the supported communication interfaces for the instrument (GPIB, USB, or ethernet). The following figure shows the rear-panel connection locations for the remote communication interfaces.
  • Page 45 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Hazardous voltages may be present on all output and guard terminals. To prevent electrical shock that could cause injury or death, never make or break connections to the 2461 while the output is on.
  • Page 46 Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual You can use either the front-panel or the rear-panel terminals for this application. The following figures show the physical connections for the front and rear panels. Note that you must use either the front-panel terminals or rear-panel terminals —...

  • Page 47: Low-Resistance Measurements

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Low-resistance measurements This application demonstrates how to use the 2461 to measure a low-resistance device. You can measure from the front panel or over the remote interface using SCPI code or TSP code. For this application, you will: •...

  • Page 48: Set Up The Measurement From The Front Panel

    Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up the measurement from the front panel To set up the application from the front panel: 1. Make connections from the 2461 to the device under test, as described in Device connections page 5-2).

  • Page 49: View The Measurements On The Front-Panel Graph Swipe Screen

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices View the measurements on the front-panel GRAPH swipe screen You can view the resistance measurements as a function of time on the front-panel GRAPH swipe screen. To access the GRAPH swipe screen, swipe the bottom part of the home screen to the right. A graph similar to the one in the figure below is displayed.

  • Page 50: Set Up The Low-Resistance Application Using Scpi Commands

    Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up the low-resistance application using SCPI commands The following sequence of SCPI commands makes 100 low-resistance measurements by sourcing current and measuring resistance. In this example, the source current magnitude and limit voltage are set automatically.

  • Page 51: Set Up The Low-Resistance Application Using Tsp Commands

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 5: Measuring low-resistance devices Set up the low-resistance application using TSP commands The following TSP code is designed to be run from Keithley Instruments Test Script Builder (TSB). TSB is a software tool that is available from tek.com/keithley. You can install and use TSB to write code and develop scripts for TSP-enabled instruments.

  • Page 52: Rechargeable Battery Measurements

    Section 6 Rechargeable battery measurements In this section: Introduction ................6-1 Equipment required ..............6-3 Device connections ..............6-4 Automated battery charge and discharge cycle testing .... 6-6 Introduction This example application demonstrates how to use a single 2461 to perform automated battery discharge and charge cycle testing.
  • Page 53 Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual For both the charging and discharging cycles, you configure the 2461 to source voltage and measure current. The following figures show simplified schematics for the charge and discharge cycles. Figure 27: Model 2461 charge-discharge cycle 2461 is in source mode (V >...

  • Page 54: Equipment Required

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements If you are using the current source to charge or discharge batteries, the following precautions must be observed. Failure to observe these precautions could result in instrument damage that is not covered by the warranty.

  • Page 55: Device Connections

    Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Device connections To set up the test, connect the 2461 to the battery as shown in the following figure. Make a 4-wire (remote sense) connection from the instrument terminals to the battery to eliminate the effects of the lead resistance.
  • Page 56 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements You can make test connections to the 2461 from the rear or front panel of the instrument. Connect the FORCE HI and SENSE HI output terminals of the 2461 to the positive (+) terminal of the battery.

  • Page 57: Automated Battery Charge And Discharge Cycle Testing

    Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual The figure below shows the rear-panel connections. You can make these connections with either the Model 2460-KIT Screw-Terminal Connector Kit (included with the 2461) or a Model 2460-BAN Banana Test Leads/Adapter Cable with appropriate cabling.

  • Page 58: Set Up Remote Communications

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements To charge the battery, program the 2461 to output a voltage that is equivalent to the voltage rating of the battery. For example, to charge a 10 V battery, set the 2461 to source 10 V. As the battery fully charges, current decreases until it reaches zero or near zero (battery charged).
  • Page 59 Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Commands Description command or pseudocode  OUTP:SMOD HIMP Turn on high-impedance output mode. command SENS:CURR:RSEN ON  Set to 4-wire sense mode. SOUR:FUNC VOLT  SOUR:VOLT 0.9 Set to source voltage. ROUT:TERM REAR ...

  • Page 60: Set Up The Battery Application Using Tsp Commands

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Set up the battery application using TSP commands The following TSP code is designed to be run from Keithley Instruments Test Script Builder (TSB). TSB is a software tool that is available from tek.com/keithley. You can install and use TSB to write code and develop scripts for TSP-enabled instruments.
  • Page 61 Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Reset the instrument: 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Under System, select Info/Manage. 3. Select System Reset > OK. Set the output-off state to High Impedance: 1. Press the MENU key. 2.
  • Page 62 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements -- Keep making readings in the while loop until the measured voltage -- is equal to the voltage limit. while true do -- Make a reading and get the current, voltage, and relative timestamp. curr = smu.measure.read(defbuffer1) volt = defbuffer1.sourcevalues[iteration] time = defbuffer1.relativetimestamps[iteration]...

  • Page 63: Battery Application Test Results

    Section 6: Rechargeable battery measurements Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Battery application test results Figure 32: 2461 USER swipe screen showing test results Measured load current Measured battery voltage Source value and elapsed test time Figure 33: Results of battery discharge test 6-12 2461-900-01 Rev.

  • Page 64: Generate I-V Sweep On An Led With Kickstart

    Section 7 Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart In this section: Introduction ................7-1 Equipment and software required ..........7-1 Set up remote communications ..........7-2 Device connections ..............7-2 Generate an I-V sweep using KickStart ........7-4 Introduction This example application demonstrates how to generate a current-voltage sweep on a high-brightness LED using the Keithley KickStart Software and a 2461.

  • Page 65: Set Up Remote Communications

    Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up remote communications This application is configured to run remotely. You can run this application from any of the supported communication interfaces for the instrument (GPIB, USB, or ethernet). The following figure shows the rear-panel connection locations for the remote communication interfaces.
  • Page 66 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart The following figure shows the schematic for testing a high-brightness LED. Figure 35: Model 2461 4-wire rear connections The following figures show the physical connections for the front and rear panels. Note that you must use either the front-panel terminals or rear-panel terminals —...

  • Page 67: Generate An I-V Sweep Using Kickstart

    Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual The figure below shows the rear-panel connections. You can make these connections with either the Model 2460-KIT Screw-Terminal Connector Kit (included with the 2461) or a Model 2460-BAN Banana Test Leads/Adapter Cable with appropriate cabling.

  • Page 68: Configure The 2461 To Use The Kickstart Software

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart Configure the 2461 to use the KickStart software ® The 2461 must be set to use the Test Script Processor (TSP ) command set before you can use the KickStart software.
  • Page 69 Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual 2. Select the 2461 in the Instruments panel. 3. On the Start Page, click New KickStart Test. The Save As dialog box opens. 4.

  • Page 70: Run The Test And View The Graph

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart Run the test and view the graph To run the test, select the Run icon in the upper left corner of the screen. An I-V sweep is generated automatically and the results appear in real time on the graph screen.

  • Page 71: View And Save The Test Data In Tabular Form

    Section 7: Generate I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual View and save the test data in tabular form You can also view the results of the test in tabular form by selecting the Table tab. The figure below shows the test results on the Table tab.

  • Page 72: Measuring I-V Characteristics Of A Solar Panel

    Section 8 Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel In this section: Introduction ................8-1 Equipment required ..............8-1 Set up remote communications ..........8-2 Device connections ..............8-2 Solar panel characterization ............. 8-4 Introduction ® This example application demonstrates how to use the 2461 High-Current SourceMeter Instrument to measure the I-V characteristics of a solar panel.

  • Page 73: Set Up Remote Communications

    Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up remote communications You can run this application from the front panel or any of the supported communication interfaces for the instrument (GPIB, USB, or ethernet). The following figure shows the rear-panel connection locations for the remote communication interfaces.
  • Page 74 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Hazardous voltages may be present on all output and guard terminals. To prevent electrical shock that could cause injury or death, never make or break connections to the 2461 while the output is on.

  • Page 75: Solar Panel Characterization

    Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual The figure below shows the rear-panel connections. You can make these connections with either the Model 2460-KIT Screw-Terminal Connector Kit (included with the 2461) or a Model 2460-BAN Banana Test Leads/Adapter Cable with appropriate cabling.

  • Page 76: Set Up The Solar Panel I-V Sweep From The Front Panel

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Set up the solar panel I-V sweep from the front panel This is an example of an I-V test that sweeps voltage from 0 V to 20 V in 115 steps and measures the resulting current.

  • Page 77: Set Up The Solar Panel I-V Sweep Using Scpi Commands

    Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual 26. Press the MENU key. 27. Under Views, select Graph. 28. Press the TRIGGER key to initiate the trigger model. The output turns on and a RUN indicator is visible at the top of the screen while the sweep is running.

  • Page 78: Set Up The Solar Panel I-V Sweep Using Tsp Commands

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Send the following commands for this example application: Command Description  *RST Reset the 2461. SENS:FUNC "CURR"  Set to measure current. SENS:CURR:RANG:AUTO ON ...
  • Page 79 Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Send the following commands for this example application: -- Define the number of points in the sweep. num = 115 -- Reset the instrument and clear the buffer. reset() -- Set the source and measure functions.
  • Page 80 Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel In the example above, the instrument is programmed to display custom text on the USER swipe screen using the display.changescreen and display.settext commands. After the test is finished, the display will indicate the maximum power (P ), the short circuit current (I ), and the...
  • Page 81 Section 8: Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Figure 47: Solar panel I-V characteristics generated with and without light 8-10 2461-900-01 Rev. B / August 2019...

  • Page 82: Pulse Testing High-Brightness Leds

    Section 9 Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs In this section: Introduction ................9-1 Equipment required ..............9-1 Set up remote communications ..........9-2 Device connections ..............9-2 High-speed, high-power pulses from a remote interface ..9-3 Introduction This example application demonstrates how to use the 2461 instrument to generate I-V curves of high-brightness LEDs (HBLEDs) using the extended range pulsing capabilities of the instrument.

  • Page 83: Set Up Remote Communications

    Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up remote communications This application is configured to run remotely. You can run this application from any of the supported communication interfaces for the instrument (GPIB, USB, or ethernet). The following figure shows the rear-panel connection locations for the remote communication interfaces.

  • Page 84: High-Speed, High-Power Pulses From A Remote Interface

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs The figure below shows the front-panel connections. You can use four insulated banana cables that are rated to a maximum current of at least 10 A, such as two sets of the Keithley Instruments Model 8608 High-Performance Clip Lead Set (one set is included with the 2461).

  • Page 85: Define The Pulse Sweep Test Parameters

    Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Define the pulse sweep test parameters The following pulse parameters, which define the magnitude and timing of the pulse sweep, are entered into the pulse command to generate the configuration list and trigger model necessary for the pulses.

  • Page 86: Set Up The Source And Measure Functions

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs Set up the source and measure functions To generate high-speed, high-current pulses and measure the voltage during each pulse, it is important to configure the measure and source functions appropriately. The pulse command will report an error if the set measure time is longer than the pulse width.

  • Page 87: Scpi Commands To Output A High-Current Pulse Sweep

    Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual To create and run the pulse configuration lists and trigger models: 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Under Source, select Pulse. 3. Set the Pulse Type Linear Sweep Points. 4.

  • Page 88: Viewing The Results On The Front Panel

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs Send the following commands for this application: -- Reset the instrument() reset() -- Set up the pulse parameters (user-specified). configListName = "myPulseSweep" bias_level = 0 start = 0 stop = 4.15 -- Specify 100 points in the sweep.
  • Page 89 Section 9: Pulse Testing High-Brightness LEDs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual The default settings for the graph show time on the x-axis and the measure results on the y-axis. However, it is possible to plot current and voltage against each other to generate an I-V plot. To enable I-V graphing: 1.

  • Page 90: Capturing High-Power Pulse Waveforms

    Section 10 Capturing high-power pulse waveforms In this section: Introduction ................10-1 Equipment required ..............10-1 Set up remote communications ..........10-2 Device connections ..............10-2 High-speed, high-power pulses from a remote interface ..10-3 Introduction In addition to a traditional integrating ADC, the 2461 features a fast-sampling ADC. The fast digitizing ADC of the 2461 allows the instrument to make measurements at high speed, with capabilities similar to an oscilloscope.

  • Page 91: Set Up Remote Communications

    Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Set up remote communications This application is configured to run remotely. You can run this application from any of the supported communication interfaces for the instrument (GPIB, USB, or ethernet). The following figure shows the rear-panel connection locations for the remote communication interfaces.

  • Page 92: High-Speed, High-Power Pulses From A Remote Interface

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms The figure below shows the front-panel connections. You can use four insulated banana cables that are rated to a maximum current of at least 10 A, such as two sets of the Keithley Instruments Model 8608 High-Performance Clip Lead Set (one set is included with the 2461).

  • Page 93: Define The Pulse Train Test Parameters

    Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Define the pulse train test parameters The following pulse parameters, which define the magnitude and timing of the pulse train, are entered into the pulse command to generate the configuration list and trigger model for the pulses. The actual values for these test parameters will vary depending on your specific application.

  • Page 94: The Trigger Model Of The Pulse Command

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms The trigger model of the pulse command The built-in pulse settings screen and the remote pulse commands configure the trigger model of the 2461 to generate the pulses. Executing the pulse command or generating a pulse setup from the front panel takes a snapshot of the active source and digitize settings of the 2461.

  • Page 95: Tsp Commands To Output A High-Power Pulse Waveforms

    Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual TSP commands to output a high-power pulse waveforms The following TSP code is designed to be run from Keithley Instruments Test Script Builder (TSB). TSB is a software tool that is available from tek.com/keithley. You can install and use TSB to write code and develop scripts for TSP-enabled instruments.

  • Page 96: Viewing The Measure Waveform On The Front Panel

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms -- Send the pulse train command to set up the trigger model and config lists. smu.source.pulsetrain(configListName, bias_level, pulse_level, pulse_width, count, MeasureEnable, bufferName, delay, offTime, xBiasLimit, xPulseLimit, failAbort) -- Initiate trigger model and wait until finished.

  • Page 97: Viewing The Source And Digitize Waveforms Simultaneously On The Front Panel

    Section 10: Capturing high-power pulse waveforms Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Viewing the source and digitize waveforms simultaneously on the front panel In this example, you enable source readback to capture the current source waveform and the voltage digitize waveform.

  • Page 98: Troubleshooting Faqs

    Section 11 Troubleshooting FAQs In this section: About this section ..............11-1 Where can I find updated drivers? .......... 11-1 How do I upgrade the firmware? ..........11-2 Why can't the 2461 read my USB flash drive? ....... 11-3 How do I change the command set? ........11-3 Why am I getting a 5074 event code? ........

  • Page 99: How Do I Upgrade The Firmware

    Section 11: Troubleshooting FAQs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual How do I upgrade the firmware? Do not turn off power or remove the USB flash drive until the upgrade process is complete. The firmware file must be in the root subdirectory of the flash drive and must be the only firmware file in that location.

  • Page 100: Why Can't The 2461 Read My Usb Flash Drive

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 11: Troubleshooting FAQs Why can't the 2461 read my USB flash drive? Verify that the flash drive is formatted with the FAT32 file system. The 2461 only supports FAT and FAT32 drives using MBR (Master Boot Record). ®...

  • Page 101: Why Am I Getting A 5074 Event Code

    Section 11: Troubleshooting FAQs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual To set the command set from the front panel: 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Under System, select Settings. 3. Select the appropriate Command Set. You are prompted to confirm the change to the command set and reboot. To verify which command set is selected from a remote interface: Send the command: *LANG?

  • Page 102: How Do I Save The Present State Of The Instrument

    Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 11: Troubleshooting FAQs If Interlock is set to On, when the safety interlock signal is not asserted, the following occurs: • You cannot turn on the source output. • The front-panel INTERLOCK indicator is not illuminated. Whenever the interlock changes state (from asserted to not asserted or vice versa), the output is turned off.

  • Page 103: Why Did My Settings Change

    Section 11: Troubleshooting FAQs Model 2461 High-Current SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Why did my settings change? Many of the commands in the 2461 are saved with the source or measure function that was active when you set them. For example, assume you have the measure function set to current and you set a value for display digits.

  • Page 104: Next Steps

    Section 12 Next steps In this section: Additional 2461 information ............ 12-1 Additional 2461 information ® This manual has prepared you to start using your new 2461 High-Current SourceMeter Instrument for your application. For more detailed information, refer to the Keithley Instruments Model 2461 Reference Manual.
  • Page 105 Specifications are subject to change without notice. All Keithley trademarks and trade names are the property of Keithley Instruments. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective companies. Keithley Instruments Corporate Headquarters • 28775 Aurora Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44139 • 440-248-0400 • Fax: 440-248-6168 • 1-800-935-5595 • tek.com/keithley 12/17...

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