Section 2: General operation
Series 2600B System SourceMeter® Instrument Reference Manual
2-28
2600BS-901-01 Rev. C / August 2016
Limits
When sourcing voltage, the Series 2600B can be set to limit current or power. Conversely, when
sourcing current, the Series 2600B can be set to limit voltage or power. In steady-state conditions, the
Series 2600B output will not exceed the limit. The maximum limit is the same as the maximum values
listed in the following table.
The limit circuit will limit in either polarity regardless of the polarity of the source or limit value. The
accuracy of the limit opposite in polarity from the source is diminished unless the instrument is in
(on page 2-30). The maximum limits are based on source range. For more information, see
(on page 4-2).
The limit operation of the instrument changes dependent on the source mode (current or voltage),
load, and the configured limits (current, voltage, and power). It is important to distinguish both the
current and voltage limits from the power limit. As the names imply, the current limit restricts the
current for sourced voltage, and the voltage limit restricts the voltage for a sourced current. The
power limit, however, restricts power by lowering the present limit in effect (voltage or current) as
needed to restrict the SMU from exceeding the specified power limit. For additional details on using
limits, including load considerations when specifying both a current (or a voltage) limit and a power
(on page 4-5).
The only exception to the limit not being exceeded is the VLIMIT when operating as an ISOURCE.
To avoid excessive (and potentially destructive) currents from flowing, the VLIMIT will source or sink
up to 102 mA for ISOURCE ranges on or below 100 mA. For the ranges 1 A and above, the
maximum current allowed is the current source setting.
Maximum limits
Model 2601B/2602B/2604B Model 2611B/2612B/2614B Model 2634B/2635B/2636B
Source
range
Maximum
limit
Source
range
Maximum
limit
Source
range
Maximum
limit
100 mV
1 V
6 V
40 V
3 A
3 A
3 A
1 A
200 mV
2 V
20 V
200 V
1.5 A
1.5 A
1.5 A
100 mA
200 mV
2 V
20 V
200 V
1.5 A
1.5 A
1.5 A
100 mA
100 nA
1 µA
10 µA
100 µA
1 mA
10 mA
100 mA
1 A
3 A
40 V
40 V
40 V
40 V
40 V
40 V
40 V
40 V
6 V
100 nA
1 µA
10 µA
100 µA
1 mA
10 mA
100 mA
1 A
1.5 A
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
20 V
20 V
1 nA
10 nA
100 nA
1 µA
10 µA
100 µA
1 mA
10 mA
100 mA
1 A
1.5 A
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
200 V
20 V
20 V