3-2
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6482-901-01 Rev. A / August 2012
Section 3: Basic Operation
Model 6482 Dual-Channel Picoammeter / Voltage Source Reference Manual
Operation overview
This topic discusses current measurement and voltage bias source capabilities, ranges,
compliance, and fundamental measurement and voltage bias circuit configuration.
Measurement and voltage bias capabilities
The Model 6482 has the following measurement and voltage bias capabilities:
•
Measure current
: Each Model 6482 channel can measure DC currents from ±1 fA to
±20 mA. Each channel has eight current ranges: 2 nA, 20 nA, 200 nA, 2 µA, 20 µA, 200 µA,
2 mA, and 20 mA.
•
Source voltage
: Each Model 6482 channel can output DC voltage from ±500 µV to ±30 V.
Each channel has two ranges: 10 V and 30 V.
NOTE
Both channel 1 and channel 2 are floating and independent of one another.
Ranges
summarizes current measurement ranges, resolutions, and maximum readings while
lists voltage bias source ranges, resolutions, and maximum voltage and current. See
Compliance
Each voltage bias source has a maximum output level of 30 V at 20 mA. If the load resistance is
low enough so that the instrument exceeds the 20 mA current limit, the instrument is considered to
be in compliance, and the corresponding source display field (Src1 or Src2) will flash. See
“Bias source operating boundaries,”
for more information. You can also use compliance
for limit testing (see
), and the instrument can be programmed over the GPIB (see
) to generate an SRQ under compliance conditions.
Table 3-1
Current measurement ranges
Model 6482
I-range
Maximum
resolution
Maximum
reading
2 nA
20 nA
200 nA
2 µA
20 µA
200 µA
2 mA
20 mA
1 fA
10 fA
100 fA
1 pA
10 pA
100 pA
1 nA
10 nA
±2.1 nA
±21 nA
±210 nA
±2.1
μ
A
±21
μ
A
±210
μ
A
±2.1 mA
±21 mA
Table 3-2
Voltage source ranges
Model 6482
V-range
Resolution
Maximum
voltage
Maximum
current
10 V
30 V
400
μ
V
4 mV
±10 V
±30 V
20 mA
20 mA
Summary of Contents for 6482
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