Section 3: Using a remote interface
Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
3-2
2450-900-01 Rev. A / June 2013
You can have up to 15 devices connected to a GPIB, including the controller. The maximum cable
length is the lesser of either:
•
The number of devices multiplied by 6.5 ft (2 m)
•
65.6 ft (20 m)
You may see erratic bus operation if you ignore these limits.
Install the GPIB driver software
Check the documentation for your GPIB controller for information about where to acquire drivers.
Keithley Instruments also recommends that you check the vendor's website for the latest version of
drivers or software.
It is important that you install the drivers before you connect the hardware to prevent associating the
incorrect driver to the hardware.
Install the GPIB cards in your computer
Refer to the manufacturer's documentation for information about installing the GPIB cards.
Connect GPIB cables to your instrument
To connect an instrument to the GPIB, use a cable equipped with standard GPIB connectors, as
shown below.
Figure 8: GPIB connector
To allow many parallel connections to one instrument, stack the connectors. Each connector has two
screws to ensure that connections remain secure. The figure below shows a typical connection
diagram for a test system with multiple instruments.
To avoid possible mechanical damage, stack no more than three connectors on any one instrument.
To minimize interference caused by electromagnetic radiation, use only shielded GPIB cables.
Contact Keithley Instruments for shielded cables.
