Agilent Technologies 6800 Series Quick start guide

Agilent 6800 Series
AC Power Source/Analyzer
Product Note
Using the Agilent Technologies 6800 Series
AC Power Source/Analyzers for Generation
and Measurement
Applications:
• Simulating AC Line Sub-Cycle Dropouts
• Generating MIL-STD-704D Waveforms
• Performing IEC 555-2 Measurements
• Performing Inrush Current Measurements
• Generating User-Defined Waveforms
• Operating the Agilent 6812A and 6813A
at Low Frequencies

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Introduction
This note provides information on how you can
use the features of the Agilent Technologies 6800
series ac power source/analyzers to address a
variety of applications. Although your exact appli-
cation may not be listed here, the capabilities
described can be generalized and applied to your
specific needs. The programming examples are
given in QBASIC.
These are the capabilities that are discussed and
a description of how they can be applied:
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Agilent 6800 AC Power Source/Analyzer
Agilent 6800 Series Output Transients
Agilent 6800 Series Triggering
Agilent 6800 Series Measurements
Application 1: Simulating AC Line Sub-Cycle Dropouts
Application 2: Generating MIL-STD-704D Waveforms
Application 3: Performing IEC 555-2 Measurements
Application 4: Performing Inrush Current Measurements
Application 5: Generating User-Defined Waveforms
Application 6: Operating the Agilent 6812A and 6813A
at Low Frequencies

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The 6800 series ac power source/analyzers are
members of the Agilent Technologies “One-Box”
Solution power products family. These products
offer an integrated solution for ac power testing
applications.
The 6800 series combines the functionality of the
following instruments in one box:
• power amplifier
• arbitrary waveform generator
• power analyzer
• harmonic analyzer
• waveform digitizer
The power amplifier and arbitrary waveform
generator capabilities produce waveforms with
programmable amplitude, frequency, and wave-
shape. Each model has pre-programmed sine,
square, and clipped sine waveshapes. For added
flexibility, twelve user-defined waveforms can
be created and stored in non-volatile memory.
Waveforms can be programmed using the 6800
series transient generation system to simulate
sophisticated and repeatable ac line disturbances
or output sequences.
The power analyzer and harmonic analyzer capa-
bilities provide high precision measurements
including:
• rms, dc, ac+dc voltage and current
• peak voltage and current
• real, apparent, and reactive power
• harmonic analysis of voltage and current wave-
forms providing amplitude and phase up to the
50th harmonic
• total harmonic distortion
• triggered acquisition of digitized voltage and
current
The 6800 series can be used in bench or ATE appli-
cations. The fully featured front panel and built-in
GPIB and RS-232 interfaces allow you to program
waveforms, measure parameters, and monitor the
status of the ac power source/analyzer.
Each model features a SCPI (Standard Commands
for Programmable Instruments) command set. This
industry standard command set simplifies test sys-
tem development by offering command set common-
ality between all types of instrumentation. Instru-
ments performing the same function use the same
self-documenting SCPI instructions. For example,
the same commands are used to program a wave-
shape on the 6800 series ac power source/analyzers
as on a function generator. Because you spend less
time learning device commands, you can get your
application up and running faster.
The following sections of this product note explain
how to optimize your usage of the features of the
6800 series products. At the end of this product
note there are practical examples that show how
these features can be applied.
Introduction to the Agilent 6800 AC Power Source/Analyzer

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A programmable output value of the ac power
source/analyzer can operate in one of four modes:
FIXED, Step, Pulse, or List. The default setting is
FIXED mode, where the output will stay “fixed” at
the programmed value until another command is
sent to change it. The remaining three operating
modes constitute the Transient Subsystem. Output
transients are used to:
• synchronize output changes with a particular
phase of the voltage waveform
• synchronize output changes with trigger signals
• simulate ac line disturbances with precise dura-
tion and phase control
• create sequences of output changes
Output transients are triggered actions and will
cause the output of the ac power source/analyzer
to react in a manner defined by the selected mode.
What Programmable Functions can be
Controlled by the Transient Subsystem?
The 6800 series provides control of many output
parameters. Most of these can be programmed as
an output transient. The following output parame-
ters are subject to transient control:
• ac output voltage
•dc output voltage (Agilent 6812A and 6813A only)
•frequency
• phase (Agilent 6834A only)
• waveform shape
• ac voltage slew rate
• dc voltage slew rate (6812A and 6813A only)
• frequency slew rate
• peak current limit (6812A and 6813A only)
• rms current limit
• dwell time (List mode only)
Upon receipt of a trigger, an output parameter set
to Step, Pulse, or List mode will transition from an
immediate level (its initial output setting) to one or
more levels (successive output settings). The num-
ber of successive output settings is, in part, what
differentiates one transient mode from another.
What is a STEP Transient?
A Step transient generates a single triggered out-
put change (from an immediate output level to
ONE successive output level) of one or more of the
output parameters subject to transient control.
Only output parameters programmed to Step mode
will be part of the triggered action. The output
will remain at the final output level once the Step
transient is complete.
What is a PULSE Transient?
A Pulse transient generates a triggered output
change that returns to its immediate output level
after a programmed time period. A Pulse transient
can also be programmed to repeat the output
change more than once or continuously.
What is a LIST Transient?
A List transient generates a sequence of output
changes. Each output change of the sequence is
called a List point. All parameters subject to tran-
sient control can be programmed at each List point.
A List can contain up to one hundred points. The
list of points can be programmed to execute once
or to repeat from one to an infinite number of times.
Agilent’s 6800 series List points can be paced by
external triggers. When paced by triggers, the out-
put will remain at a particular List point until a
trigger is received. Only then will it proceed to the
next programmed point.
List points can also be paced by individual pro-
grammable dwell time parameters associated with
every point. Only when the dwell time for a partic-
ular List point expires will it proceed to the next
List point.
Once the List is completed, the output returns to
the immediate levels.
Agilent 6800 Series Output Transients

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Model of the Transient System

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In ATE applications, triggers are often a conven-
ient way of synchronizing test system events and
increasing test throughput. These benefits also
apply to the triggering subsystems in the 6800
series products since these products combine the
capabilities of many test instruments. Each model
is equipped with the ability to send and receive
triggers, and to perform or initiate a multitude of
synchronized functions upon receiving a trigger.
Triggers can be used to change the output, syn-
chronize a change to a phase of a waveform cycle,
and synchronize a measurement to an output
change. The effectiveness of the triggering capability
can be shown when measuring worst case inrush
current of a switching power supply. Using the
6800 series triggering subsystem, the output can
be triggered to turn on at a phase near the peak
of the ac cycle for simulating a worst case ac line
condition. Simultaneously, the ac source can be
triggered to take current measurements to charac-
terize the behavior of the power supply under test.
In addition, triggering can be extended to external
test equipment via the Trigger Out connection.
The 6800 series has two main triggering subsystems,
one for generating transients and one for making
measurements. These two subsystems have common
trigger sources that can synchronize transient and
measurement events.
What Actions Can be Triggered?
The following actions of the 6800 series can be
triggered:
• a change in output setting
• the start of a Step, Pulse, or List transient
• the pace of a List sequence
• the acquisition of digitized voltage and current
• the synchronization of an output change to
a phase of the cycle
A programmable time delay can be specified for
triggers that generate output changes. This allows
the insertion of a specified time delay between
the receipt of the trigger and the action of the
ac power source/analyzer output.
What Can Serve as the Source of the Trigger?
The 6800 series can receive triggers from the
following sources:
The GPIB. The computer can send trigger commands
to the ac power source/analyzer. There is a short
command processing time associated with this
source.
External Trigger In. This is the 6800 series TRIGGER
IN connector. It accepts TTL levels, with the falling
edge detected as the trigger.
TTL Trigger. The TTL trigger is an internal trigger
that causes the acquisition of digitized voltage and
current data.
This internal trigger can be generated when an
output transient begins or ends, or as the result
of List step execution.
How Can Triggers be Generated?
The 6800 series can generate a trigger on the
TRIGGER OUT connector as a result of the follow-
ing actions:
• the beginning of a Step, Pulse, or List output
transient
• the completion of a Step or Pulse output
transient
• the completion of a List sequence
• the beginning of a List step
The TRIGGER OUT signal is a nominal
10-microsecond low-true pulse.
How Can the Agilent 6800 Series be Enabled
to Respond to a Trigger?
The default state of the ac power source/analyzer
is the idle state where trigger detection is disabled.
To respond to a trigger, it must be placed in the
“initiated state.” This can be done via the front
panel or over the bus. Once initiated, the ac power
source/analyzer can detect a trigger from the
selected source.
When the trigger is detected, the ac power source/
analyzer will perform the trigger action after wait-
ing any programmed trigger delay time. Upon com-
pletion of the trigger action, the ac power source/
analyzer will return to the idle state.
Agilent 6800 Series Triggering

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Output Transient Trigger Model
Measurement Trigger Model

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The built-in power analyzer capability offers many
voltage, current, and power measurements to the
user. While on, the ac power source/analyzers are
continuously sampling instantaneous output volt-
age and current for several output cycles and writ-
ing the data to buffers. Each buffer, one for voltage
and one for current, holds 4096 data points. The
voltage and current data is used to calculate the
requested measurement parameter. There are two
basic methods to obtain a measurement: using the
MEASure command or the FETCh command. These
commands can return a single measured parameter,
an array of voltage and current harmonic data, or
an array of the 4096 voltage or current data values.
What is a MEASure Command?
When this command is sent to the 6800 series
ac power source/analyzer, the unit begins acquir-
ing new voltage and current data into its data
buffers. Upon completing the acquisition of 4096
data points for voltage and current, the unit then
performs the required calculation to return the
requested measurement parameter. When a new
acquisition of instantaneous output voltage and
current data is desired, this command should be
used to return the requested measurement.
What is a FETCh Command?
This command allows the user to retrieve meas-
ured parameters from previously acquired voltage
and current data. For example, the FETCh com-
mand can be used after a MEASure command to
return calculated parameters from the same 4096
data points that were acquired by the MEASure
command. In addition, the FETCh command can
be used to retrieve measurement information after
triggering an acquisition of digitized voltage and
current data. This method provides the flexibility
to synchronize the data acquisition with a triggered
event, and then return many calculations from
the existing voltage and current data buffers.
Agilent 6800 Series Measurements
Pre-event and Post-event Acquisition Triggering

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How Can the Acquisition of Voltage and Current
Data be Controlled?
Two characteristics of the voltage and current
acquisition can be controlled: the sample rate,
and the beginning of acquisition relative to the
trigger. The ac power source/analyzer has a sample
rate of approximately 40 kHz (a sample every 25
microseconds) as the default setting. This means
it takes approximately 100 milliseconds for the
data buffers to fill with voltage and current data
points. The sample period can be programmed
from a minimum of 25 microseconds to a maxi-
mum of 250 microseconds (at 25-microsecond
increments).
The acquisition of voltage and current data can
also be initiated relative to the acquisition trigger,
thereby enabling the capture of pre-event and
post-event data. To capture pre-event or post-event
voltage and current data, the offset of data points
relative to the trigger is programmed. The range
of offset that can be programmed is from -4096 to
2xl09points. If the offset is negative, the values at
the beginning of the data buffer represent samples
taken prior to the trigger. If the offset value is zero
(the default setting), all data is acquired directly
after the trigger. If the offset value is positive, the
acquisition of valid buffer data will be delayed
from the receipt of the trigger.
MEASure and FETCh Command Execution Diagram

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The following section contains six application
examples. For each application, there is:
• An overview of the application
• A description of the Agilent 6800 series features
used to implement the application
• The advantages and benefits of the 6800 series
solution
•The details of the implementation of the solution
•A sample program in QBASIC using the National
GPIB interface card
• A description of variations on the application
(if applicable)
The following table lists the 6800 series features
used in each of the applications.
Applications
Application
123456
Transient Generation
Step mode •
Pulse mode •
List mode • •
Transient generation with a trigger delay •
Synchronization with output phase • •
User-defined waveform generation •
Voltage slew control •
Frequency slew control
Measurement and Analysis
Synchronization with transients
Harmonic analysis •
Measurement window control •
High resolution current range •
measurements
Digitized data acquisition •
Event-referenced data acquisition •
Data acquisition sample rate control •

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Overview of application
The ability of a switching power supply to main-
tain its output voltage setting in the presence of
typical ac line disturbances is critical to its end-
use. If the end-use of the power supply is installa-
tion into a computer, for example, sensitivity to
ac line variations can result in unexpected loss of
critical data and system downtime. To simulate
these common ac line voltage variations, an ampli-
tude controlled ac voltage can be applied to the
ac input of the power supply.
For this example, the power supply requires a
single phase ac source set to a nominal line voltage
of 120 Vrms and frequency of 60 Hz. To test the
power supply under worst case conditions, a volt-
age dropout to 0 Vrms should occur between 80°
and 110° (i.e. a duration of 0.001389 seconds) on
the voltage waveform. This is a steadystate test,
which means that the dropout occurs after the
ac input of the power supply under test has settled
from all non-repetitive inrush conditions that
typically occur at power-up.
Agilent 6800 series features used
•RMS voltage in Pulse mode
• Trigger synchronization to the output voltage
phase
• Trigger delay
Advantages/benefits of the Agilent 6800 series
solution
•By using the trigger phase synchronization
capability, the timing of the dropout is accurate
and repeatable.
• By using the transient capability, the computer
is not devoted to sequencing the output.
• By using the trigger delay, it is assured that the
power supply is in steadystate operation.
• One command initiates the test.
Implementation details
How the 6800 series implements the dropout
The computer sends a trigger to the ac power
source/analyzer with a programmable delay of
5 seconds to ensure that the ac input to the power
supply under test is in a steadystate condition.
The ac source outputs a low distortion 120 Vrms
sinewave during the trigger delay and allows the
power supply to stabilize into steadystate opera-
tion. After 5 seconds, the ac power source/analyzer
responds to the trigger and drops the output volt-
age to 0 Vrms starting at 80° of one output voltage
cycle and lasting for 0.001389 seconds.
Agilent 6800 series setup
•Connect the ac source output to the ac input
of the power supply under test.
• Set the output waveform to sine.
• Set the rms voltage to Pulse mode.
• Set the initial (immediate) voltage to 120 Vrms.
• Set the triggered voltage level to 0 Vrms.
• Set the frequency to 60 Hz.
• Set the Pulse count to 1.
• Set the Pulse width to 0.001389 seconds
(the width of 30° of phase dropout for a 60 Hz
sinewave).
• Set the transient trigger source to BUS.
• Set the transient trigger source synchronization
to PHASE.
• Set the phase synchronization to 80°.
• Set the trigger delay to 5 seconds.
• Initiate the transient trigger system.
• Enable the output of the ac power source/
analyzer.
• Send a bus trigger.
Application 1:
Simulating AC Line Sub-Cycle Dropouts

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Upon the receipt of the trigger, the ac source
continues to output a 120 Vrms, 60 Hz sinewave
for 5 seconds. After the 5-second trigger delay,
the rms voltage drops to 0 Vrms at 80° of the
cycle and then rises back to 120 Vrms (0.001389
seconds later) at 110° of the cycle.
Variations on this implementation
1. The Pulse width can be increased to simulate
full cycle dropouts.
2. The Pulse count can be set to a value >1 and
the Pulse period can be programmed to 0.01667
seconds (the period of a 60 Hz sinewave) to
create multiple dropouts.
3. The triggered level of the rms voltage can be set
higher than the initial setting of 120 Vrms to
simulate a voltage surge.
4. The rms voltage slew rate can be programmed
in Pulse mode to simulate a gradual brown out
(sag) condition versus an abrupt dropout. The
Pulse width can be increased to simulate a sag
over multiple ac line cycles.
Timing Diagram of Application 1

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Overview of application
U.S. Military Standard 704D (September 30, 1980)
establishes the requirements of electrical power
transfer between the aircraft or ground support
electrical system, and the electronic equipment
utilizing this power on board the aircraft. When
testing to this standard, electrical aircraft equip-
ment must be subjected to voltage and frequency
transients that can occur under normal operation,
emergency power operation, and during power
source transfers.
The “pass” criteria for aircraft equipment is depend-
ent upon the specification of the equipment under
test. In general, the intent of the test is that:
• the equipment is permitted a degradation or
loss of function unless required otherwise by
its specifications
• the equipment is not permitted to produce a
damaging or unsafe condition
• the equipment must automatically recover full
specified performance when normal ac power
characteristics are restored
For this example, the equipment under test has
a single phase ac input with 115 Vrms and 400 Hz
requirements. The device is tested under ac voltage
transients initially, and then under frequency tran-
sient conditions. These transients are as follows:
At 400 Hz:
Voltage Test 1: 180 Vpk (127 Vrms) for 10 ms, and
then slew to 124 Vpk (88 Vrms) at 800 Vpk
(566 Vrms) per second.
Voltage Test 2: 80 Vpk (57 Vrms) for 10 ms, and
then slew to 108 Vpk (76 Vrms) at 400 Vpk
(283 Vrms) per second.
At 115 Vrms:
Frequency Test 1: 425 Hz for 1 s, 420 Hz for 4 s,
410 Hz for 5 s, and 407 Hz for 4 s.
Frequency Test 2: 375 Hz for 1 s, 380 Hz for 4 s,
390 Hz for 5 s, and 393 Hz for 4 s.
In this example, the voltage and frequency tran-
sients will be executed as an integrated test
sequence.
Agilent 6800 series features used
•RMS voltage and frequency control in List mode
• RMS voltage slew control
• List dwell time control
• Triggering system to execute the List
Advantages/benefits of the Agilent 6800 series
solution
•The List capability allows the ac power
source/analyzer outputs to sequence through
each RMS voltage and frequency setting with
accurate timing according to the standard and
without controller intervention.
• By using the programmable RMS voltage slew
control, the RMS voltage level excursions can
be faithfully reproduced as per the standard.
• The List settings for MIL-STD-704D are stored
in non-volatile memory, so the test need only
be set up once and then executed as needed.
Implementation details
How the 6800 series implements MIL-STD-704D RMS
voltage and frequency transients
The computer sets up List sequence, then ac power
source/analyzer is sent a bus trigger. Upon receipt
of the trigger, the ac power source/analyzer’s out-
put is set according to the voltage, voltage slew,
and frequency values of the first List point. The
output will remain at the first List point setting
until the dwell time for that List point expires. The
unit will then sequence through each successive
List point paced by the respective dwell times until
the List is completed. Upon completion of the List,
the output will return to the immediate settings.
Agilent 6800 series setup
•Connect the ac source output to the ac input
of the equipment under test.
• Set the rms voltage to 115 Vrms.
• Set the frequency to 400 Hz.
• Set the rms voltage to List mode.
• Set the rms voltage slew to List mode.
• Set the frequency to List mode.
• Set the List to sequence automatically.
Application 2:
Generating MIL-STD-704D Waveforms

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Agilent 6800 series setup (continued)
•Set the List points as follows:
List Vrms Dwell
Point Vrms frequency Slew Time
1115 V 400 Hz INF *60 s
2127 V 400 Hz INF 0.01 s
388 V 400 Hz 566 V/s 0.07 s
4115 V 400 Hz INF *60 s
557 V 400 Hz INF 0.01 s
676 V 400 Hz 283 V/s 0.07 s
7115 V 400 Hz INF *60 s
8115 V 425 Hz INF 1 s
9115 V 420 Hz INF 4 s
10 115 V 410 Hz INF 5 s
11 115 V 407 Hz INF 4 s
12 115 V 400 Hz INF *60 s
13 115 V 375 Hz INF 1 s
14 115 V 380 Hz INF 4 s
15 115 V 390 Hz INF 5 s
16 115 V 393 Hz INF 4 s
17 115 V 400 Hz INF *60 s
*List points 1, 4, 7, 12, and 17 represent periods of time when the ac input to
the equipment under test is set to the nominal levels prior to the onset of the
next transient. The length of time the output of the ac power source/analyzer
is set to the nominal level can be determined by user-convenience (60 seconds
for this example).
•Set the transient trigger source to BUS.
• Initiate the transient trigger.
• Enable the output of the ac power source/
analyzer.
• Send a bus trigger.
Upon receipt of the trigger, the List sequence will
begin and the ac power source/analyzer output will
go to the setting represented in the first List step.
Each List step will be executed at the expiration
of the programmed dwell time of the previous step.
After the last List step is executed, the output of
the ac source will change to the immediate output
settings (Fixed mode settings).

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List Timing Diagram for Application 2

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Overview of application
IEC 555-2 (1982) is a regulatory standard that
pertains to ac line disturbances, namely current
harmonics. These current harmonics are caused by
connecting household appliances and similar elec-
trical equipment to a 230 V, 50 Hz ac mains. This
standard establishes limits on the amount of har-
monic energy electrical equipment can inject on the
ac line to ensure that other devices connected to
the ac power distribution system are not adversely
affected. The generated current harmonics can vary
or fluctuate with time (due to electronic products
that cycle the ac line), or can have steadystate
(quasi-stationary) characteristics.
When testing electronic equipment with a single
phase ac input for compliance to the quasi-stationary
part of this standard, it is necessary to have an ac
source with low distortion and low output imped-
ance to avoid introducing unacceptable measure-
ment errors. The measurement instrument must
use the required Rectangular (or Hanning) meas-
urement window and must have the capability to
return measured current amplitude data up to
the 40th harmonic of the fundamental.
Agilent 6800 series features used
•RMS Voltage and frequency control
• Measurement window control
• Harmonic current measurement
Advantages/benefits of the Agilent 6800 series
•The 6800 series provides a “One-Box” Solution,
so a separate power analyzer is not required for
quasi-stationary harmonic measurements.
• The 6800 series provides an IEC 555 compliant
Rectangular measurement window built into the
standard unit.
• The low distortion, low output impedance and
16-bit measurement accuracy of the 6800 series
provide full compliance to the measurement
requirements.
Implementation details
How the 6800 series implements IEC 555 quasi-stationary
harmonic current measurements
The output of the ac power source/analyzer is
set to 230 V and 50 Hz. The measurement window
is changed from the default value (KBessel) to
the Rectangular window. To perform the harmonic
analysis, the ac power source/analyzer is sent a
command to measure an array of harmonic current
amplitudes. This array of current harmonics can
be transferred to the computer for PASS/FAIL
analysis versus the limits of the standard.
Application 3:
Performing IEC 555-2 Measurements

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Agilent 6800 series setup
•The ac source output is connected to the ac
input of the equipment under test.
• Set the output waveform to sine.
• Set the rms voltage to Fixed mode.
• Set the frequency to Fixed mode.
• Set the voltage to 230 Vrms.
• Set the frequency to 50 Hz.
• Set the measurement window to Rectangular.
• Enable the output of the ac power source/
analyzer.
• Wait until the ac input to the equipment is in
a steadystate condition.
• Send the harmonic current array measurement
command to return 50 harmonic current
amplitudes.
Using the computer:
• Read the harmonic current array into the
computer.
• Compare the measured harmonic current ampli-
tudes of harmonic numbers 2 through 40 to the
IEC 555-2 quasi-stationary standard limits.

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