IT VERKS!!!
I tried a different serial-USB cable (the one I typically use with a 34401A), and tried the sample program you mentioned in the manual and it works.
I guess my other serial-USB adapter is one of the non-compliant ones. I don't know why I didn't think to just steal the known-good cable off the the 34401A for a simple test!
#!/usr/bin/env python
import sys
import serial
ser = serial.Serial(
port = sys.argv[1], # e.g. /dev/ttyACM0 or /dev/ttyUSB0
baudrate = 9600,
bytesize=serial.EIGHTBITS,
stopbits = serial.STOPBITS_ONE,
parity = serial.PARITY_NONE,
timeout = 10
)
commands = [
"*RST",
":INITiate:CONTinuous OFF;:ABORt",
"SENSe:FUNCtion 'VOLTage:DC'",
":SENSe:VOLTage:DC:RANGe 10",
":SENSe:VOLTage:DC:NPLC 0.01",
":DISPlay:ENABle OFF;",
":SYSTem:AZERo:STATe OFF",
":SENSe:VOLTage:DC:AVERage:STATe OFF",
":TRIGger:COUNt 1",
":READ?"
]
for c in commands:
ser.write(c + "\n")
sys.stdout.write(ser.readline())
sys.stdout.flush()
it spits out:
-2.07660616E-01
Thanks so much for the pointers guys!