Lake Shore 350, User Manual

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Standard input connector details
Pin Symbol Description
1 I– –Current
2 V– –Voltage
3 None Shield
4 V+ +Voltage
5 I+ +Current
6 None Shield
48 c
HAPTER
3: Installation
Model 350 Temperature Controller
3.5.2 Sensor Lead Cable The sensor lead cable used outside the cooling system can be much different from
what is used inside. Between the instrument and vacuum shroud, heat leak is not a
concern. In this case, choose cabling to minimize error and noise pick up. Larger con-
ductor, 22 AWG to 28 AWG stranded copper wire is recommended because it has low
resistance yet remains flexible when several wires are bundled in a cable. The
arrangement of wires in a cable is also important. For best results, voltage leads, V+
and V- should be twisted together and current leads I+ and I- should be twisted
together. The twisted pairs of voltage and current leads should then be covered with a
braided or foil shield that is connected to the shield pin of the instrument. This type of
cable is available through local electronics suppliers. Instrument specifications are
given assuming 3 m (10 ft) of sensor cable. Longer cables, 30 m (100 ft) or more, can
be used, but environmental conditions may degrade accuracy and noise specifica-
tions. Refer to section 2.10.6 for information about wiring inside the cryostat.
3.5.3 Grounding and
Shielding Sensor Leads The sensor inputs are isolated from earth ground to reduce the amount of earth
ground referenced noise that is present on the measurement leads. Connecting sen-
sor leads to earth ground on the chassis of the instrument or in the cooling system
will defeat that isolation. Grounding leads on more than one sensor prevents the sen-
sor excitation current sources from operating.
Shielding the sensor lead cable is important to keep external noise from entering the
measurement. A shield is most effective when it is near the measurement potential so
the Model 350 offers a shield at measurement common. The shield of the sensor
cable should be connected to the shield pin of the input connector. The shields should
not be connected to earth ground on the instrument chassis. One shield should be
connected to the cryostat’s ground as long as it is near earth ground. Connecting at
more than one point will cause a ground loop, which adds noise to the measurement.
The shells of the input connectors are at the same potential as the shield pin on the
Model 350. Older Lake Shore controllers are not configured this way.
3.5.4 Four-Lead Sensor
Measurement All sensors, including both two-lead and four-lead can be measured with a four-lead
technique. The purpose of a four-lead measurement is to eliminate the effect of lead
resistance on the measurement. If it is not taken out, lead resistance is a direct error
when measuring a sensor.
In a four-lead measurement, current leads and voltage leads are run separately up to
the sensor. With separate leads there is little current in the voltage leads, so their
resistance does not enter into the measurement. Resistance in the current leads will
not change the measurement as long as the voltage compliance of the current source
is not reached. When two-lead sensors are used in four-lead measurements, the short
leads on the sensor have an insignificant resistance.
TABLE 3-2