Tutorial > Measurement > Easy Measurement

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Measurement

Easy Measurement | Advanced Measurement

Easy Measurement

The PCR-M has the capability to return voltage, current, and power measurement values. The easiest way is use the MEASure commands.

The MEASure commands immediately start a new measurement. This is the easiest way to make measurements, however simultaneity for multi-item measurements are lost, because each MEASure command starts a new measurement. To avoid this, consider the advanced measurement approach that is described later in this document, allowing separate control for measurement initiation and data query.

Voltage/Current Measurement

In AC mode, use the AC measurement queries.

 

:MEASure:VOLTage:AC?   'Queries AC voltage in volts-rms
:MEASure:CURRent:AC?   'Queries AC current in amps-rms

 

In DC mode, use the DC measurement queries.

 

:MEASure:VOLTage:DC?   'Queries DC voltage in volts
:MEASure:CURRent:DC?   'Queries DC current in amps

 

The current measurement function also has the following additional items:

 

:MEASure:CURRent:AMPLitude:MAXimum?   'Queries peak current in amps
:MEASure:CURRent:AMPLitude:MAXimum:HOLD?   'Queries peak current in amps
:MEASure:CURRent:CREStfactor?   'Queries the maximum history for peak current

 

The MEASure:CURRent:AMPLitude:MAXimum:HOLD command queries the maximum peak current since the PCR-M was turned on or since it was explicitly cleared.
To clear the peak current (held value), use the SENSe:CURRent:PEAK:CLEar command.

 

:SENSe:CURRent:PEAK:CLEar

 

By *RST and *RCL default, the peak current (held value) is not cleared.

Available measurement items vary depending on the selected output mode. For example, DC measurement cannot be performed while AC mode is selected.

Current peak measurement and peak hold measurement can be performed in either AC or DC output mode.

It typically takes at most 330 ms for one measurement to complete. This means that sending MEASure queries multiple times requires long data acquisition time. If you want to acquire multiple items, it is recommended that you use the advanced approach described later.

The PCR-M supports READ commands that also initiate a new measurement and data query, however, READ and MEASure operate exactly the same, as they are aliases.

Power Measurement

In AC mode, use the AC measurement queries.

 

:MEASure:POWer:AC:REAL?   'Queries AC real power in watts
:MEASure:POWer:AC:APParent?   'Queries AC apparent power in volt-amps
:MEASure:POWer:AC:REACtive?   'Queries AC reactive power in volt-amps-reactive
:MEASure:POWer:AC:PFACtor?   'Queries AC power factor

 

In DC mode, use the DC measurement queries.

 

:MEASure:POWer:DC? 'Queries DC power in watts