[volt-nuts] GPIB Issue with 3458A

Todd Micallef tmicallef at gmail.com
Sat Dec 30 22:43:06 EST 2017 

Randy,

I just remembered that I changed the duration from 30 minutes to 2 minutes
to speed up the test. I forgot to change it back.

Todd

On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 10:27 PM, Todd Micallef <tmicallef at gmail.com> wrote:

> Randy,
>
> I just sent it. I haven't modified Martin's code yet. That can be done
> once you confirm it works for you.
>
> Todd
>
> On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 10:12 PM, randyevans2688 <randyevans2688 at gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
>> Todd,
>> If you don't mind,  just send the code directly to me.
>> Randy
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>> -------- Original message --------From: Todd Micallef <
>> tmicallef at gmail.com> Date: 12/30/17  6:40 PM  (GMT-08:00) To: Discussion
>> of precise voltage measurement <volt-nuts at febo.com> Subject: Re:
>> [volt-nuts] GPIB Issue with 3458A
>> Randy,
>>
>> I have not written anything else for the 3458A using EzGPIB.  If you have
>> a
>> National Instruments or Agilent adapters, I have a handful of Python code
>> I
>> use to measure some of my standards.
>>
>> If you are reading the temperature from the HP meter, I would think that
>> the problem lies in how the triggering is configured. The triggering has
>> been changed in this script so it may work for you. There was an
>> additional
>> command added for disabling the buffer.
>> The code can be posted here, if possible or I can email it to you for
>> testing.
>>
>> Todd
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 9:26 PM, randyevans2688 <randyevans2688 at gmail.com
>> >
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Todd, thanks for the help.  Where will you post the new code?
>> > BTW, do you have any very simple code that is likely to work.  I am
>> > interested in seeing if anything other than KE5FX's memory dump program
>> > will work on my HP3458A.
>> > Thanks again,
>> > Randy
>> >
>> > Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>> > -------- Original message --------From: Todd Micallef <
>> tmicallef at gmail.com>
>> > Date: 12/30/17  6:13 PM  (GMT-08:00) To: Discussion of precise voltage
>> > measurement <volt-nuts at febo.com> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] GPIB Issue
>> with
>> > 3458A
>> > Randy,
>> >
>> > I found the Prologix adapters and have modified the code in the original
>> > script. I am doing a test run now and will post the script when I am
>> > certain I didn't make it worse.
>> >
>> > Todd
>> >
>> > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 7:15 PM, Randy Evans <randyevans2688 at gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > > Todd,
>> > >
>> > > I have swapped cables, moved the Prologix adapter to both meters
>> (Agilent
>> > > works, HP doesn't), tried Martins code as well as Xdevs's.  I have not
>> > > tried another PC yet, maybe the next step.
>> > >
>> > > Here is the code that Martin modified for two meters, as well as the
>> > > modified Xdev's code per your directions (V1.02).
>> > >
>> > > Thanks,
>> > >
>> > > Randy
>> > >
>> > > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 3:55 PM, Todd Micallef <tmicallef at gmail.com>
>> > > wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Randy,
>> > > >
>> > > > I will continue to look for my adapter. I haven't used it for quite
>> a
>> > > > while.
>> > > >
>> > > > I have seen similar issues and swapped cables, moved the adapter to
>> the
>> > > > other meter, etc... One of my cables was bad from one side of the
>> > > connector
>> > > > to the other (on the same end of the cable) and caused me lots of
>> > wasted
>> > > > time. Weird reading errors were happening.
>> > > >
>> > > > Would you email me Martin's code so I can test it here and I will
>> see
>> > if
>> > > > anything can be done to replicate your issue.
>> > > >
>> > > > Todd
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 6:42 PM, Randy Evans <
>> randyevans2688 at gmail.com
>> > >
>> > > > wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > Todd,
>> > > > >
>> > > > > I tried adding the line but it made no difference.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Randy
>> > > > >
>> > > > > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 12:19 PM, Randy Evans <
>> > > randyevans2688 at gmail.com>
>> > > > > wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > > Todd,
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Does it matter where I put the line in the Init_Device
>> procedure?
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > procedure Init_Device;
>> > > > > > begin;
>> > > > > >    EZGPIB_BusWriteData(gpib_address,GET_ID);            // Get
>> ID
>> > of
>> > > > > meter
>> > > > > >    if EZGPIB_BusWaitForData(gpib_address,meter_id,Timeout) then
>> > > > > > EZGPIB_ScreenWriteLn(meter_id);
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >    EZGPIB_BusWriteData(gpib_address,TRIGGER_SOURCE);    // Hold
>> > > > trigger
>> > > > > > until meter can be setup
>> > > > > >    EZGPIB_BusWriteData(gpib_address,'INBUF ON');
>> > > > > >    EZGPIB_BusWriteData(gpib_address,AUTO_ZERO);
>> > > > > >    EZGPIB_BusWriteData(gpib_address,OUTPUT_FORMAT);
>> > > > > > end;
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Randy
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 11:20 AM, Todd Micallef <
>> > tmicallef at gmail.com
>> > > >
>> > > > > > wrote:
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >> Randy,
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> I am the person that wrote that EzGPIB script. It was my first
>> > > before
>> > > > I
>> > > > > >> moved on to Python and I have only written a couple for the
>> > > different
>> > > > > >> meters I have on hand. Version 1.01 is the most current
>> version I
>> > > have
>> > > > > for
>> > > > > >> the 3458A.
>> > > > > >> I see that I should have added at least one more command to the
>> > > meter
>> > > > > >> initialization.  The additional init command is used in the
>> > scripts
>> > > on
>> > > > > >> xDevs.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Add the following line in the Init_Device procedure
>> > > > > >>    EZGPIB_BusWriteData(gpib_address,'END ALWAYS');
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> This tells the meter to send an EOI on every read.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> I am looking for one of my Prologix adapters or I would test
>> this.
>> > > > When
>> > > > > I
>> > > > > >> find it, I will also test it. I want to make sure there are no
>> > > further
>> > > > > >> issues.
>> > > > > >> Also, do both meters run the same firmware versions? I wonder
>> if
>> > the
>> > > > HP
>> > > > > >> meter is using a much older version.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Todd
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 10:42 AM, Randy Evans <
>> > > > randyevans2688 at gmail.com
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >> wrote:
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> > Todd,
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> > I have version 1.01. Yes, please e-mail me your modified
>> > version.
>> > > > > >> Maybe it
>> > > > > >> > will help.
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> > Thanks,
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> > Randy
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 4:24 AM, Todd Micallef <
>> > > tmicallef at gmail.com
>> > > > >
>> > > > > >> > wrote:
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> > > Randy,
>> > > > > >> > >
>> > > > > >> > > Is there a version number at the top of the file? I had two
>> > > > versions
>> > > > > >> > (1.00
>> > > > > >> > > and 1.01). I can't remember all that changed between the
>> two
>> > > since
>> > > > > it
>> > > > > >> has
>> > > > > >> > > been a while but I did find an additional timeout code that
>> > > > limited
>> > > > > >> the
>> > > > > >> > > wait time for reading data to 1 minute. I am guessing I
>> had a
>> > > > > problem
>> > > > > >> > with
>> > > > > >> > > mine and added it.
>> > > > > >> > >
>> > > > > >> > > I can email it to you if you want to try it. If it works
>> for
>> > > you,
>> > > > I
>> > > > > >> will
>> > > > > >> > > have Illya update it on xDevs.
>> > > > > >> > >
>> > > > > >> > > Todd
>> > > > > >> > >
>> > > > > >> > > On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 12:39 AM, Randy Evans <
>> > > > > >> randyevans2688 at gmail.com>
>> > > > > >> > > wrote:
>> > > > > >> > >
>> > > > > >> > > > I am still unable to get my HP-3458A to work with the
>> xdevs
>> > > > > program
>> > > > > >> > > > "HP3458A_Measure_DMM_Noise.488" (
>> > > https://xdevs.com/article/dmm
>> > > > > >> _noise/
>> > > > > >> > ).
>> > > > > >> > > > It
>> > > > > >> > > > works fine with my Agilent 3458A and with a friend's
>> > HP-3458A
>> > > > and
>> > > > > >> his
>> > > > > >> > > > Agilent 3458A using the EZGPIB program.  The SW versions
>> are
>> > > > > >> identical
>> > > > > >> > > with
>> > > > > >> > > > my friend's DMMs, the HP units are (8.2) and with the
>> > Agilent
>> > > > > units
>> > > > > >> are
>> > > > > >> > > > (9.2).  However, both of my units work fine with the
>> KE5FX
>> > > GPIB
>> > > > > >> Toolkit
>> > > > > >> > > > HP3458.EXE program to download the NVRAM CAL data.  This
>> > would
>> > > > > seem
>> > > > > >> to
>> > > > > >> > > > indicate that my HP-3458 GPIB works at least partially.
>> > > > > >> > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > Does anyone have a EZGPIB program that I could try to run
>> > > (that
>> > > > is
>> > > > > >> > > > different from the Xdev program)?  It would be nice to
>> see
>> > if
>> > > I
>> > > > > >> could
>> > > > > >> > get
>> > > > > >> > > > something to work other than the HP3458.EXE program.  Or
>> if
>> > > any
>> > > > > one
>> > > > > >> has
>> > > > > >> > > > some ideas on what to look for.
>> > > > > >> > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > Thanks,
>> > > > > >> > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > Randy Evans
>> > > > > >> > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > On Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 7:24 PM, Randy Evans <
>> > > > > >> randyevans2688 at gmail.com
>> > > > > >> > >
>> > > > > >> > > > wrote:
>> > > > > >> > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > > I am hoping some of you experts might be able to assist
>> > > with a
>> > > > > >> > strange
>> > > > > >> > > > > problem i am having trying to make automated
>> measurements
>> > > > using
>> > > > > >> > EZGPIB
>> > > > > >> > > > with
>> > > > > >> > > > > an Agilent and an HP 3458A.  I have a program given to
>> me
>> > by
>> > > > > >> Martin
>> > > > > >> > > > > Reynolds, which is a variant on the Xdevs noise
>> > measurement
>> > > > > >> program.
>> > > > > >> > > > > Martin's program continuously reads the voltage
>> > measurements
>> > > > > >> > > sequentially
>> > > > > >> > > > > from the two meters and then stores then in a
>> measurements
>> > > > file,
>> > > > > >> > along
>> > > > > >> > > > with
>> > > > > >> > > > > the temperature measurements from both meters.  The
>> > program
>> > > > > works
>> > > > > >> > fine
>> > > > > >> > > on
>> > > > > >> > > > > his Agilent and HP 3458As.
>> > > > > >> > > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > > On my two 3458As, it takes the temperature measurements
>> > just
>> > > > > fine
>> > > > > >> but
>> > > > > >> > > > only
>> > > > > >> > > > > takes a voltage measurement from the Agilent unit.
>> The HP
>> > > > unit
>> > > > > >> will
>> > > > > >> > > not
>> > > > > >> > > > > make any voltage measurements although I can see both
>> the
>> > > > 3458As
>> > > > > >> in
>> > > > > >> > > talk
>> > > > > >> > > > > states and, of course, it does sent the temperature
>> > > > > measurements.
>> > > > > >> > > > However,
>> > > > > >> > > > > if I turn the HP unit off and then on again, the HP
>> will
>> > > start
>> > > > > to
>> > > > > >> > take
>> > > > > >> > > > > voltage and temperature measurements and send them to
>> the
>> > > PC.
>> > > > > >> > > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > > Any ideas on what might be causing the strange
>> behavior?
>> > > > > >> > > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > > Thanks,
>> > > > > >> > > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > > Randy Evans
>> > > > > >> > > > >
>> > > > > >> > > > _______________________________________________
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