Agilent Technologies U1273A User manual

Agilent Technologies
Agilent
U1273A/U1273AX
Handheld Digital
Multimeter
User’s Guide

II U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc., 2012–2013
No part of this manual may be reproduced in
any form or by any means (including elec-
tronic storage and retrieval or translation
into a foreign language) without prior agree-
ment and written consent from Agilent
Technologies, Inc. as governed by United
States and international copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
U1273-90017
Edition
Second Edition, March 7, 2013
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
5301 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
Warranty
The material contained in this document is
provided “as is,” and is subject to change,
without notice, in future editions. Further,
to the maximum extent permitted by the
applicable law, Agilent disclaims all war-
ranties, either express or implied, with
regard to this manual and any information
contained herein, including but not limited
to the implied warranties of merchantabil-
ity and fitness for a particular purpose.
Agilent shall not be liable for errors or for
incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the furnishing, use, or
performance of this document or of any
information contained herein. Should Agi-
lent and the user have a separate written
agreement with warranty terms covering
the material in this document that conflict
with these terms, the warranty terms in
the separate agreement shall control.
Technology Licenses
The hardware and or software described in
this document are furnished under a license
and may be used or copied only in accor-
dance with the terms of such license.
Restricted Rights Legend
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ware and technical data rights granted to
the federal government include only those
rights customarily provided to end user cus-
tomers. Agilent provides this customary
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for the Department of Defense, DFARS
252.227-7015 (Technical Data - Commercial
Items) and DFARS 227.7202-3 (Rights in
Commercial Computer Software or Com-
puter Software Documentation).
Safety Notices
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the likes
of that, if not correctly performed
or adhered to, could result in dam-
age to the product or loss of impor-
tant data. Do not proceed beyond a
CAUTION notice until the indicated
conditions are fully understood and
met.
WARNING
A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or
the likes of that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could
result in personal injury or death.
Do not proceed beyond a WARN-
ING notice until the indicated
conditions are fully understood
and met.

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide III
Safety Symbols
The following symbols on the instrument and in the documentation
indicate precautions which must be taken to maintain safe operation of
the instrument.
Direct current (DC) Caution, risk of electric shock
Alternating current (AC) Caution, risk of danger (refer to this manual
for specific Warning or Caution information)
Both direct and alternating current Category III 1000 V overvoltage protection
Earth (ground) terminal Category IV 600 V overvoltage protection
Equipment protected throughout by
double insulation or reinforced
insulation
CAT III
1000 V
CAT IV
600 V

IV U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Safety Considerations
Read the information below before using this multimeter. The descriptions
and instructions in this manual apply to the Agilent U1273A/U1273AX
Handheld Digital Multimeter (hereafter referred to as the multimeter).
CAUTION
•Disconnect circuit power and discharge all high-voltage capacitors
before testing resistance, continuity, diodes, or capacitance.
•Use the proper terminals, function, and range for your
measurements.
•This device is for use at altitudes of up to 3,000 m.
•Never measure voltage when current measurement is selected.
•Always use the specified battery type. The power for the multimeter
is supplied with four AAA 1.5 V batteries. Observe the correct
polarity markings before you insert the batteries to ensure proper
insertion of the batteries in the multimeter.
WARNING
• Do not use the multimeter if it is damaged. Before you use the
multimeter, inspect the case. Look for cracks or missing plastic.
Pay particular attention to the insulation surrounding the
connectors.
• Inspect the test leads for damaged insulation or exposed metal.
Check the test leads for continuity. Replace damaged test leads
before you use the multimeter.
• Do not operate the multimeter around explosive gas, vapor, or wet
environments.
• Do not apply more than the rated voltage (as marked on the
multimeter) between terminals, or between terminal and earth
ground.
• Never use the multimeter in wet conditions or when there is
water on the surface. If the multimeter is wet, ensure that the
multimeter is dried only by trained personnel.

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide V
WARNING
• Before use, verify the multimeter's operation by measuring a
known voltage.
• When measuring current, turn off the circuit power before
connecting the multimeter in the circuit. Remember to place the
multimeter in series with the circuit.
• When servicing the multimeter, use only the specified
replacement parts.
• Use caution when working above 60 VDC, 30 VAC RMS, or 42.4 V
peak. Such voltages pose a shock hazard.
• Be aware of the presence of hazardous voltage before using the
Low Pass Filter (LPF) function for voltage measurement. Voltages
measured are usually greater than the values indicated on the
multimeter as the voltages with higher frequencies have been
filtered through the LPF function.
• Do not use the ZLOW (low input impedance) function to measure
voltages in circuits that could be damaged by this function’s low
input impedance of 2 kΩ.
• When using the probes, keep your fingers behind the finger
guards on the probes.
• Connect the common test lead before you connect the live test
lead. When you disconnect the leads, disconnect the live test lead
first.
• Remove the test leads from the multimeter before you open the
battery cover.
• Do not operate the multimeter with the battery cover or portions
of the cover removed or loosened.
• To avoid false readings, which may lead to possible electric shock
or personal injury, replace the battery as soon as the low battery
indicator appears and flashes.

VI U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Environmental Conditions
This instrument is designed for indoor use and in an area with low
condensation. The table below shows the general environmental
requirements for this instrument.
Environmental conditions Requirements
Operating temperature
• U1273A: –20 °C to 55 °C, 0% to 80% RH
• U1273AX: –40 °C to 55 °C, 0% to 80% RH
(using Lithium batteries)
Operating humidity
Full accuracy up to 80% RH (relative
humidity) for temperature up to 30 °C,
decreasing linearly to 50% RH at 55 °C
Storage temperature –40 °C to 70 °C
Altitude Up to 3000 meters
Pollution degree Pollution degree II
NOTE
The U1273A/U1273AX Handheld Digital Multimeter complies with the following
safety and EMC requirements:
•Safety
•EN/IEC 61010-1:2001
•ANSI/UL 61010-1:2004
•CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1-04
•EMC
•IEC61326-1:2005/EN61326-1:2006
•Canada: ICES/NMB-001: Issue 4, June 2006
•Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS CISPR 11:2004

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide VII
Regulatory Markings
The CE mark is a registered trademark
of the European Community. This CE
mark shows that the product complies
with all the relevant European Legal
Directives.
The C-tick mark is a registered
trademark of the Spectrum
Management Agency of Australia. This
signifies compliance with
the Australia EMC Framework
regulations under the terms of the
Radio Communication Act of 1992.
ICES/NMB-001 indicates that this ISM
device complies with the Canadian
ICES-001.
Cet appareil ISM est confomre a la
norme NMB-001 du Canada.
This instrument complies with the
WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) marking
requirement. This affixed product label
indicates that you must not discard
this electrical or electronic product in
domestic household waste.
The CSA mark is a registered
trademark of the Canadian Standards
Association.
This symbol indicates the time period
during which no hazardous or toxic
substance elements are expected to
leak or deteriorate during normal use.
Forty years is the expected useful life
of the product.

VIII U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC
This instrument complies with the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) marking
requirement. This affixed product label indicates that you must not discard
this electrical or electronic product in domestic household waste.
Product Category:
With reference to the equipment types in the WEEE directive Annex 1, this
instrument is classified as a “Monitoring and Control Instrument” product.
The affixed product label is as shown below.
Do not dispose in domestic household waste.
To return this unwanted instrument, contact your nearest Agilent Service
Center, or visit
www.agilent.com/environment/product
for more information.

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide IX
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this instrument is available on the
Agilent website. You can search the DoC by its product model or
description at the web address below.
http://regulations.corporate.agilent.com/DoC/search.htm
NOTE
If you are unable to search for the respective DoC, please contact your
local Agilent representative.

X U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
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U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide XI
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
About This Manual 2
Documentation map 2
Safety notes 2
Preparing Your Multimeter 3
Check the shipment 3
Install the batteries 3
Turn on your multimeter 6
Automatic power-off 6
OLED Auto Dim function 7
Increase the OLED brightness 7
Select the range 8
Alerts and warnings during measurement 8
Adjust the tilt stand 11
Connect the IR-USB cable 11
Power-on options 13
Your Multimeter in Brief 14
Dimensions 14
Overview 16
Rotary switch 18
Keypad 20
Display screen 24
Input terminals 30
Cleaning Your Multimeter 32
2 Making Measurements
Measuring AC Voltage 36
Using the LPF (Low Pass Filter) function 38

XII U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Measuring DC Voltage 40
Measuring AC and DC Signals 42
Making dB Measurements 44
Using ZLOW for Voltage Measurements 47
Measuring Resistance 49
Measuring conductance 51
Testing for Continuity 52
Using Smart Ωfor Resistance Measurements 55
Testing Diodes 58
Using Auto-diode for Diode Tests 62
Measuring Capacitance 64
Measuring Temperature 66
Measuring AC or DC Current 70
% Scale of 4-20 mA or 0-20 mA 75
Measuring Frequency 78
Measuring pulse width 81
Measuring duty cycle 82
3 Multimeter Features
Making Relative Measurements (Null) 86
Making Scale Transfers (Scale) 88
Capturing Maximum and Minimum Values (MaxMin) 90
Capturing Peak Values (Peak) 92
Freezing the Display (TrigHold and AutoHold) 94
Recording Measurement Data (Data Logging) 95
Performing manual logs (HAND) 96
Performing interval logs (AUTO) 96

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide XIII
Performing event logs (TRIG) 98
Reviewing Previously Recorded Data (View) 100
Sanitizing the Log Memories 101
4 Multimeter Setup Options
Using the Setup Menu 104
Editing numerical values 105
Setup Menu Summary 106
Setup Menu Items 110
Changing the variation count 110
Changing the recording option 110
Changing the sample interval duration 111
Changing the decibel display 112
Changing the custom dBm reference impedance 112
Changing the thermocouple type 113
Changing the temperature unit 114
Changing the % scale range 115
Changing the continuity alert 115
Changing the minimum measurable frequency 116
Changing the beep frequency 117
Changing the auto power-off (APO) timer 117
Changing the OLED behavior 118
Changing the baud rate 119
Changing the data bits 119
Changing the parity check 120
Enabling the echo feature 120
Enabling the print feature 121
Enabling the overvoltage alert 122
Changing the user scale conversion value and unit 122
Enabling smooth mode 123
Resetting the multimeter’s setup options 124

XIV U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Changing the battery type 125
Enabling the filter 125
5 Characteristics and Specifications
Product Characteristics 128
Specification Assumptions 130
Measurement Category 130
Measurement category definition 130
Electrical Specifications 132
DC specifications 132
AC specifications 135
AC+DC specifications 137
Capacitance specifications 139
Temperature specifications 140
Frequency specifications 141
Duty cycle and pulse width specifications 141
Frequency sensitivity specifications 143
Peak hold specifications 144
Decibel (dB) specifications 145
Display update rate (approximate) 146
A Shift Functions Using the Shift Key
B Dual Display Combinations Using the Dual Key

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide XV
List of Figures
Figure 1-1 Installing the batteries 4
Figure 1-2 Change battery display 5
Figure 1-3 Start-up display 6
Figure 1-4 Input warning display (A INPUT) 10
Figure 1-5 Input warning display (mA INPUT) 10
Figure 1-6 Tilt-stand adjustment and IR-USB cable connection 11
Figure 1-7 Agilent GUI Data Logger Software 12
Figure 1-8 Width dimensions 14
Figure 1-9 Height and depth dimensions 15
Figure 1-10 Front panel 16
Figure 1-11 Rear panel 17
Figure 1-12 U1273A/U1273AX rotary switch 18
Figure 1-13 Keys 20
Figure 1-14 Display screen example (single display) 24
Figure 1-15 Display screen example (dual display) 24
Figure 1-16 Connector terminals 30
Figure 2-1 AC voltage display 36
Figure 2-2 Measuring AC voltage 37
Figure 2-3 AC voltage with LPF display 38
Figure 2-4 DC voltage display 40
Figure 2-5 Measuring DC voltage 41
Figure 2-6 AC+DC voltage display 43
Figure 2-7 AC+DC current display 43
Figure 2-8 dBm display 45
Figure 2-9 dBV display 46
Figure 2-10 ZLOW display 48
Figure 2-11 Resistance display 49
Figure 2-12 Measuring resistance 50
Figure 2-13 Continuity operation 53
Figure 2-14 Testing for continuity 54
Figure 2-15 Smart Ω(with bias voltage) display 56
Figure 2-16 Smart Ω(with leakage current) display 56
Figure 2-17 Measuring leakage current 57
Figure 2-18 Diode display 58
Figure 2-19 Open diode display 59

XVI U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Figure 2-20 Testing a forward-bias diode 60
Figure 2-21 Testing a reverse-bias diode 61
Figure 2-22 Auto-diode display (GOOD status) 63
Figure 2-23 Auto-diode display (NGOOD status) 63
Figure 2-24 Capacitance display 64
Figure 2-25 Measuring capacitance 65
Figure 2-26 Temperature display 66
Figure 2-27 Measuring surface temperature 68
Figure 2-28 Temperature measurement without ambient
compensation 69
Figure 2-29 DC current display 71
Figure 2-30 Measuring DC current 72
Figure 2-31 Measuring AC current 73
Figure 2-32 Current measurement setup 74
Figure 2-33 4-20 mA % Scale display 76
Figure 2-34 Measuring DC current using the 0-20 mA % scale 77
Figure 2-35 Frequency, pulse width, and duty cycle
measurements 79
Figure 2-36 Frequency display 80
Figure 2-37 Pulse width display 81
Figure 2-38 Duty cycle display 82
Figure 3-1 Null display 86
Figure 3-2 Null operation 87
Figure 3-3 Scale operation 89
Figure 3-4 MaxMin display 90
Figure 3-5 Peak display 92
Figure 3-6 Peak mode operation 93
Figure 3-7 Manual log display 96
Figure 3-8 Interval log display 97
Figure 3-9 Event log display 99
Figure 3-10 View display 100
Figure 3-11 Empty view display 100

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide XVII
List of Tables
Ta b l e 1- 1 Power-on options 13
Ta b l e 1- 2 Front panel parts 16
Ta b l e 1- 3 Rear panel parts 17
Ta b l e 1- 4 U1273A/U1273AX rotary switch functions 19
Ta b l e 1- 5 Keypad functions 20
Ta b l e 1- 6 General annunciators 25
Ta b l e 1- 7 Measurement units display 28
Ta b l e 1- 8 Analog bar graph display 29
Ta b l e 1- 9 Terminal connections for different measuring
functions 31
Ta b l e 2- 1 Rotary switch positions allowing AC voltage
measurements 36
Ta b l e 2- 2 Rotary switch positions allowing AC voltage
measurements with LPF 38
Ta b l e 2- 3 Rotary switch positions allowing DC voltage
measurements 40
Ta b l e 2- 4 Rotary switch positions allowing AC+DC signal
measurements 42
Ta b l e 2- 5 Rotary switch positions allowing dBm
measurements 44
Ta b l e 2- 6 Rotary switch positions allowing dBV
measurements 46
Ta b l e 2- 7 Rotary switch positions allowing ZLOW
measurements 47
Ta b l e 2- 8 Rotary switch position allowing resistance
measurements 49
Ta b l e 2- 9 Rotary switch position allowing continuity tests 52
Ta b l e 2- 1 0 Threshold resistance values 52
Ta b l e 2- 1 1 Rotary switch position allowing Smart Ω
measurements 55
Ta b l e 2- 1 2 Rotary switch position allowing diode tests 58
Ta b l e 2- 1 3 Rotary switch position allowing auto-diode tests 62
Ta b l e 2- 1 4 Auto-diode voltage thresholds 62
Ta b l e 2- 1 5 Rotary switch position allowing capacitance
measurements 64

XVIII U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide
Ta b l e 2- 1 6 Rotary switch position allowing temperature
measurements 66
Ta b l e 2- 1 7 Rotary switch positions allowing current
measurements 70
Ta b l e 2- 1 8 Rotary switch positions allowing current
measurements 75
Ta b l e 2- 1 9 % Scale measurement range 76
Ta b l e 2- 2 0 Rotary switch positions allowing frequency
measurements 78
Ta b l e 3- 1 Available scale conversions 88
Ta b l e 3- 2 Data logging maximum capacity 95
Ta b l e 3- 3 Event log trigger conditions 98
Ta b l e 4- 1 Setup menu key functions 104
Ta b l e 4- 2 Setup menu item descriptions 106
Ta b l e 5- 1 DC voltage specifications 132
Ta b l e 5- 2 Resistance specifications 133
Ta b l e 5- 3 Diode specifications 134
Ta b l e 5- 4 DC current specifications 134
Ta b l e 5- 5 True RMS AC voltage specifications 135
Ta b l e 5- 6 True RMS AC current specifications 136
Ta b l e 5- 7 True RMS AC+DC voltage specifications 137
Ta b l e 5- 8 True RMS AC+DC current specifications 138
Ta b l e 5- 9 Capacitance specifications 139
Ta b l e 5- 1 0 Temperature specifications 140
Ta b l e 5- 1 1 Frequency specifications 141
Ta b l e 5- 1 2 Duty cycle and pulse width specifications 141
Ta b l e 5- 1 3 Duty cycle and pulse width calculation example 142
Ta b l e 5- 1 4 Frequency sensitivity and trigger level specifications for
voltage measurements 143
Ta b l e 5- 1 5 Frequency sensitivity specifications for current
measurements 144
Ta b l e 5- 1 6 Peak hold specifications for DC voltage and current
measurements 144
Ta b l e 5- 1 7 Decibel specifications 145
Ta b l e 5- 1 8 Decibel accuracy specifications for DC voltage
measurements 145
Ta b l e 5- 1 9 Display update rate (approximate) 146
Ta b l e A- 1 U1273A/U1273AX default and shift functions 148

U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide XIX
Ta b l e B -1 U1273A/U1273AX dual display combinations 152

XX U1273A/U1273AX User’s Guide