Products > Test Equipment
Which SMU -- Keithley 2450, Keysight B2901B, R&S NGU401?
luudee:
--- Quote from: jc101 on March 11, 2023, 05:49:11 pm ---Have you considered the AimTTI SMU4000 series?
https://www.aimtti.com/product-category/source-measure-units
--- End quote ---
Thank you JC (?), this SMU looks like a really good deal, and the PC software looks nice as well. Definitely the cheapest one among them all ...
Are there any shortcoming compared to the other brands? I did look through the datasheets, but did not see anything ....
Many Thanks !
luudee
jc101:
--- Quote from: luudee on March 12, 2023, 07:35:45 am ---
--- Quote from: jc101 on March 11, 2023, 05:49:11 pm ---Have you considered the AimTTI SMU4000 series?
https://www.aimtti.com/product-category/source-measure-units
--- End quote ---
Thank you JC (?), this SMU looks like a really good deal, and the PC software looks nice as well. Definitely the cheapest one among them all ...
Are there any shortcoming compared to the other brands? I did look through the datasheets, but did not see anything ....
Many Thanks !
luudee
--- End quote ---
I needed an SMU for a project a couple of years ago and rented a Keithley 2450 for a few months instead. The purchase costs were too high at the time. Thinking about a project that may come my way later in the year I have been thinking about getting an SMU again. This one popped up in my searches, I think it came out last year. I have quite limited space, so a bonus for me is the small size.
luudee:
So, this is my final list of SMUs. Did I miss any?
1. ITECH IT2806 $7,000 USD (approx)
https://www.itechate.com/en/product/source-measure-units-smu/IT2800.html
2. Keysight B2901B $9,394 USD
https://www.keysight.com/us/en/product/B2901B/precision-smu-1ch-100fa-resolution-210v-3a-dc-10-5a-pulse.html
3. Keithley/Tetronics 2450 $9,800 USD (approx) (38-42 week lead time)
https://www.tek.com/en/datasheet/smu-2400-graphical-sourcemeter/model-2450-touchscreen-source-measure-unit-smu-instrument-
4. Keithley/Tetronics 2461 $11,200 USD (32 week lead time)
https://www.tek.com/en/datasheet/2461-graphical-source-measure-unit
5. AimTTI SMU4001 $3,999 USD
https://www.aimtti.com/product-category/source-measure-units/aim-smu4000
6. R&S NGU401 $8,160 USD
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-and-measurement/dc-power-supplies/rs-ngu-source-measure-units_63493-1005128.html
7. GW Instek GSM-20H10 $5,060 USD
https://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/detail/GSM-20H10
>>> NOTE: Prices listed here may be inaccurate. If not listed on their website, I googled the unit model number and looked for a price that way. <<<
They are mostly equivalent from a functional standpoint. Most will do 20V/3A/20W, some will go up to 200V, and accuracy variations are there as well ....
I am thinking of the AimTTI unit for now ... but am not in a hurry .... if anybody has more suggestions I am open to them.
Cheers,
luudee
ch_scr:
For completion, there is also the Keithley 2600 line of SMU's. Not a graphical UI, but a VFD based one. It's quite usable as a bench unit.
All the I/O, including LAN, is on the back. I've made 3d printed "ears" for mine to have breakouts on the front, but it's a non-standard width then. Have a look here for that and other peoples solutions.
These are heavily used in semiconductor manufacturing and available with all triax connectors. Single and dual channel units are available in the same volume. There is a really nice python library on github, which works very well and allows to basically carbon-copy the commands from the manual. It does all the heavy lifting when doing pulsed-mode measurements, where all the data is on the device and is only transferred over after the measurement.
Downside: they get quite warm even doing nothing, and the fan (that will be running all the time) can get annoying in a quiet lab. When working as a load, these and most similar SMU a) get really loud (some say they sound like a starting jet...) and b) when used as an electronic load, there is quite a caveat:
Usually, to test your supply, you would set a current draw and a compliance voltage limit - as long as your supply can source that, all is as expected - but as soon as the supply goes into shutdown (or can for any other reason not supply the set current draw) most SMU will switch to "the opposite quadrant" and put a negative voltage (up to the compliance limit) on the output of your power supply, trying to get the current to flow! On most units this behavior can not be influenced, certainly not on the K2600, so buyer beware. You can of course put a diode in series, but maybe rather check if there is a unit which can be told to behave in a more desirable way, if you want to do this.
Edit: There is also the Yokogawa GS200, but only up to 30V/200mA.
pdenisowski:
If you're interested in learning about the NGU, I made a video that goes through its functions and how they are configured.
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