Section 4: Theory of operation
Model 2651A High Power System SourceMeter® Instrument Reference Manual
4-10
2651A-901-01 Rev. A / March 2011
Figure 74: Model 2651A V-source boundaries
I-measure
20 A
10 A
5 A
20.2 V
40.4 V
10.1 V
A: Output characteristics
B: Limit lines
V-source
Source V
Limit I
Current
compliance
limit line
Voltage source
limit line
The first graph in the figure (labeled "A: Output characteristics"), shows the output characteristics for
the V-source. As shown, the Model 2651A can continuously output up to 40.4 V at 5 A, up to 20.2 V
at 10 A, or up to 10.1 V at 20 A. Note that when continuously sourcing more than 10.1 V, current is
limited to 10 A and when continuously sourcing more than 20.2 V, current is limited to 5 A.
The second graph in the figure (labeled "B: Limit lines"), shows the limit lines for the V-source. The
voltage source limit line represents the maximum source value possible for the presently selected
voltage source range. For example, if you are using the 20 V source range, the voltage source limit
line is at 20.2 V. The current compliance limit line represents the actual compliance in effect (see
(on page 4-2)). These limit lines are boundaries that represent the operating
limits of the High Power System SourceMeter
®
Instrument for this quadrant of operation. The
operating point can be anywhere inside (or on) these limit lines. The limit line boundaries for the other
quadrants are similar.
