Section 3: Using a remote interface
Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
3-2
2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014
GPIB communications
The Model 2460 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:
•
The number of devices multiplied by 2 m (6.5 ft)
•
20 m (65.6 ft)
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 website of the GPIB controller for the latest
version of drivers or software.
It is important that you install the drivers before you connect the hardware. This prevents associating
the incorrect driver to the hardware.
Install the GPIB cards in your computer
Refer to the documentation from the GPIB controller vendor for information about installing the GPIB
controllers.
Connect GPIB cables to your instrument
To connect an instrument to the GPIB interface, use a cable equipped with standard GPIB
connectors, as shown below.
Figure 9: 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.