Keithley 2231A-30-3 affordable triple supply. Any experiences? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 01:18:03 pm
content: I recently stumbled over a relatively affordable triple power supply by Keithley (officially $650, German dealers sell it for ~635€ including 19% VAT):http://www.keithley.com/products/dcac/highspeedpower/programmablemulti/?mn=2231A-30-3It has two 30V@3A outputs and one 5V@3A output which seems pretty much perfect for everyday electronics work.Also the specs look OK from what I can tell. Accuracy specs are slightly worse than the other series 2000 series devices.However I'm a bit puzzled why it's (so) much cheaper than other devices from the 2200 series and why it's the only onethat's marketed for " Engineering and sciencestudentlabs". Sounds a bit like this was not meant forseriouswork...Apart from the higher accuracy the only thing it seems to be missing is built-in (or optional) USB or GPBI. It has a (TTL level) RS232 port though.Also 195W seems quite a lot for such a small case. I'm a bit concerned that it might be pretty loud.

author: VintageNut
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 03:26:46 pm
content: These are good supplies. The only limitation is that you cannot measure much below 1mA.I wrote a Labview VI that sweeps voltage and measures current if you are interested.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 04:21:00 pm
content: Do you know this model specifically or just one from the series? If it's the model: any word about the (acoustic) noise level in a low power situation?And does any TTL-USB converter work or is the official USB adapter needed for PC control?

author: VintageNut
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 06:02:19 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on May 25, 2015, 04:21:00 pmNot this particular one. I have used the 2220-30-1 2230-30-1. I wrote a Labview app for the 2220-30-1 and a python app for the 2230-30-1. These power supplies are used by big name companies in their laboratories.The 2231A is twice the current of the 2230-30-1 for channels 1 and 2.The architecture of the 2200 and 2220 and 2230 and 2231 are evolutionary. The family started out as one channel and then became two and then three. The 2231A is newer and more current.The python app was developed on a garden variety Dell laptop connected via USB. I had a direct connection from the laptop USB port to the 2230-30-1 USB port.

author: blackbird
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 06:04:26 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on May 25, 2015, 01:18:03 pmI guess it is marketed towards student labs because it does not have 'professional' remote connections, i.e. GPIB or LXI.

author: VintageNut
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 11:16:13 pm
content: Quote from: blackbird on May 25, 2015, 06:04:26 pmGPIB is available on 2200, 2220 and 2230. 2231 does not have GPIB.Selector guide has options and features.http://www.keithley.com/products/dcac/highspeedpower/programmablemulti/?path=2230-30-1/Documents#6

author: amc184
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 08:02:29 am
content: Looking closely, I think the 2231A is designed and made by ITECH, whereas the other models are physically quite different, and may be an actual Keithley / Tektronix design. It looks like a IT6322A with a new keypad layout, but the handle and front bezel looks like one from the IT6900A series.There's nothing wrong with that, as ITECH makes good gear. Just be aware that there might be a cheaper version with a different name on the front, depending on what's available in your market.

author: blackbird
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 09:41:28 am
content: Quote from: VintageNut on May 25, 2015, 11:16:13 pmI was referring to the 2231

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2015, 07:54:37 pm
content: Quote from: VintageNut on May 25, 2015, 06:02:19 pmDumb question, but if you just connect the 2220 or 2230 to the PC via USB (without USBTMC drivers), is it recognized as UART and you can send simply serial commands without all NI-VISA stuff?I figure the USB adapter for the 2231 is essentially an isolated TTL-RS232 to USB device and the manual says you need to configure 9600 baud on the PC side. Which sounds as if I would use just a self made TTL-RS232-USB adapter, I could send serial commands directly to the device without all the NI-VISA overhead.

author: VintageNut
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2015, 11:22:37 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on May 27, 2015, 07:54:37 pmWhat would be the compelling reason to do this?

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2015, 11:34:51 pm
content: Well, I've been through NI-VISA installations at work and I neither like the hundreds of MB installations from different vendors on one top of the other nor the connection wizard etc. running all the time in the background. At work, I have to live with that. At home, I would prefer simplicity.Besides, a serial connection is easy to handle in Java so you can have a platform independent small tool that doesn't need any drivers, runtimes etc.

author: ashishg77
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 25, 2017, 12:37:05 am
content: Hi,Can you please send me the Labview VI for sweeping the voltages. I am trying to make one but i cant get any response from the instrument. I cant turn it into remote mode. I am using the commands in the manual but it doesnt work. i dont know why?