Agilent Technologies U1401A User manual

Agilent Technologies
U1401A
Handheld
Multi-Function
Calibrator/Meter
User’s and Service Guide

U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2009 - 2012
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
U1401-90001
Edition
Fourth Edition, May 4, 2012
Printed in Malaysia
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
3501 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95052 USA
Warranty
The material contained in this docu-
ment is provided “as is,” and is sub-
ject to being changed, without notice,
in future editions. Further, to the max-
imum extent permitted by applicable
law, Agilent disclaims all warranties,
either express or implied, with regard
to this manual and any information
contained herein, including but not
limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a par-
ticular purpose. Agilent shall not be
liable for errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connec-
tion with the furnishing, use, or per-
formance of this document or of any
information contained herein. Should
Agilent and the user have a separate
written agreement with warranty
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document that conflict with these
terms, the warranty terms in the sep-
arate agreement shall control.
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puter Software Documentation).
Safety Notices
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the like
that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage
to the product or loss of important
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 like that, if not correctly per-
formed or adhered to, could result
in personal injury or death. Do not
proceed beyond a WARNING
notice until the indicated condi-
tions are fully understood and
met.

U1401A User’s and Service 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) Off (supply)
Alternating current (AC) On (supply)
Both direct and alternating current Caution, risk of electric shock
Three-phase alternating current Caution, risk of danger (refer to this manual
for specific Warning or Caution information)
Earth (ground) terminal Caution, hot surface
Protective conductor terminal Out position of a bistable push control
Frame or chassis terminal In position of a bistable push control
Equipotentiality Category II 150 V overvoltage protection
Equipment protected throughout by
double insulation or reinforced
insulation
CAT II
150 V

IV U1401A User’s and Service Guide
General Safety Information
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all
phases of operation, service, and repair of this instrument. Failure to
comply with these precautions or with specific warnings elsewhere in this
manual violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and intended
use of the instrument. Agilent Technologies assumes no liability for the
customer’s failure to comply with these requirements.
WARNING
• When working above DC 60 V, AC 30 Vrms or AC 42.4 Vpeak, exercise caution
– these ranges pose a shock hazard.
• Do not measure more than the rated voltage (as marked on the instrument)
between terminals, or between terminal and earth ground.
• Double-check the instrument operation by measuring a known voltage.
• This instrument is designed for measurement under CAT II 150 V. Avoid
measuring power mains with voltage exceeding 150 V.
• For current measurement, turn off circuit power before connecting the
instrument to the circuit. Always place the instrument in series with the
circuit.
• When connecting probes, always connect the common test probe first. When
disconnecting probes, always disconnect the live test probe first.
• Detach test probes from the instrument before you open the battery cover.
• Do not use the instrument with the battery cover or part of the cover removed
or loose.
• Recharge or replace the battery as soon as the low battery indicator
flashes on screen. This is to avoid false readings, which may lead to possible
electric shock or personal injury.
• Do not use the instrument if it is damaged. Before you use the instrument,
inspect the casing. Look for cracks or missing plastic. Do not operate the
instrument around explosive gas, vapor, or dust.
• Inspect the test probes for damaged insulation or exposed metal, and check
for continuity. Do not use the test probe if it is damaged.
• Do not use any other AC charger adapter apart from the one certified by
Agilent with this product.
• Do not use repaired fuses or short-circuited fuse-holders. For continued
protection against fire, replace the line fuses only with fuses of the same
voltage and current rating and recommended type.
• Do not service or perform adjustments alone. Under certain condition,
hazardous voltages may exist, even with the equipment switched off. To avoid
dangerous electric shock, service personnel must not attempt internal service
or adjustment unless another person, capable of rendering resuscitation or
first aid, is present.

U1401A User’s and Service Guide V
WARNING
• Do not substitute parts or modify equipment to avoid the danger of introducing
additional hazards. Return the product to the nearest Agilent Technologies
Sales and Service Office for service and repair to ensure the safety features
are maintained
• Do not operate damaged equipment as the safety protection features built into
this product may have been impaired, either through physical damage,
excessive moisture, or any other reason. Remove power and do not use the
product until safe operation can be verified by service-trained personnel. If
necessary, return the product to the nearest Agilent Technologies Sales and
Service Office for service and repair to ensure the safety features are
maintained.
CAUTION
• Turn off circuit power and discharge all high-voltage capacitors in the
circuit before you perform resistance and capacitance measurements
or continuity and diode tests.
• Use the correct terminals, function, and range for your measurements.
• Do not measure voltage when current measurement is selected.
• Use only the recommended rechargeable battery. Ensure proper
insertion of battery in the instrument, and follow the correct polarity.
• Disconnect test leads from all the terminals during battery charging.

VI U1401A User’s and Service 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 Full accuracy from 0 °C to 40 °C
Operating humidity Full accuracy up to 80% R.H. (relative
humidity) for temperature up to 31 °C,
decreasing linearly to 50% R.H. at 40 °C
Storage temperature –20 °C to 60 °C (with battery removed)
Storage humidity 5% to 80% R.H. non-condensing
Altitude Up to 2000 m
Pollution degree Pollution Degree 2
CAUTION
The Handheld Multi-Function Calibrator/Meter complies with the
following safety and EMC requirements.
•IEC 61010-1:2001/EN61010-1:2001 (2nd Edition)
•Canada: CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1-04
•USA: ANSI/UL 61010-1:2004
•IEC61326-2-1:2005/EN61326-2-1:2006
•Canada: ICES-001:2004
•Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS CISPR11:2004
CAUTION
Degradation of some product specifications can occur in the presence of
ambient electromagnetic (EM) fields and noise that are coupled to the
power line or I/O cables of the instrument. The instrument will self-recover
and operate to all specifications when the source of ambient EM field and
noise are removed or when the instrument is protected from the ambient
EM field or when the instrument cabling is shielded from the ambient EM
noise.

U1401A User’s and Service 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.

VIII U1401A User’s and Service 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
Technologies, or visit:
www.agilent.com/environment/product
for more information.
Agilent Technologies, through Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), offers free and
convenient battery recycling options in the U.S. and Canada. Contact RBRC at 877-2-RECYCLE
(877.273.2925) or online at: http://www.call2recycle.org/ for the nearest recycling location.

U1401A User’s and Service Guide IX
In This Guide...
1Getting Started
This chapter contains a brief description of the U1401A Handheld
Multi-Function Calibrator/Meter front panel, rotary switch, keypad,
display, terminals, and rear panel.
2Calibrator Output Operations
This chapters contains detailed information on how to generate
signals using the U1401A.
3Making Measurements
This chapter contains the detailed information on how measurements
are taken using the U1401A.
4Changing the Default Settings
This chapter describes how to change the default settings of the
U1401A.
5Application Examples
This chapter describes some application examples for the U1401A.
6Maintenance
This chapter will help you troubleshoot the U1401A for faults.
7Performance Tests and Calibration
This chapter contains the performance test procedures and
adjustment procedures to help you ensure that the U1401A is
operating within its published specifications.
8Specifications
This chapter details the specifications of the U1401A.

X U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this instrument is available on the
Web site. You can search the DoC by its product model or description.
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.

Contents
U1401A User’s and Service Guide XI
Contents
1GettingStarted
Introducing the U1401A Handheld Multi-Function
Calibrator/Meter 2
Standard Purchase Items 3
List of Accessories 4
Product Overview 5
Slide switch 5
The front panel at a glance 7
The rotary switch at a glance 8
The keypad at a glance 9
The display at a glance 13
The terminals at a glance 17
The rear panel at a glance 19
Display selection with the Hz key 20
Display selection with the DUAL key 22
Remote Communication 23
2 Calibrator Output Operations
Enabling and Disabling the Output 28
Constant Voltage Operation 29
Constant Current Operation 30
Memory Generation 31
Autoscan output 31
Autoramp output 36
Square Wave Output 41
3 Making Measurements
Measuring Voltage 46

XII U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Contents
Measuring DC voltage 46
Measuring AC voltage 48
Measuring Current 49
DC mA measurement 49
Percentage scale of DC mA measurement 50
Measuring Temperature 51
Measuring Resistance and Testing Continuity 54
Alerts and Warning During Measurement 56
Overload alert for voltage measurement 56
Math Operations 57
Dynamic recording 57
Relative (zero) 60
Triggering Operations 61
Data hold (manual trigger) 61
Refresh hold (auto trigger) 62
1 ms peak hold 63
4 Changing the Default Settings
Entering the Setup Mode 66
Available Setting Options 68
Setting the data hold/refresh hold mode 69
Setting the temperature unit 71
Setting the beeper frequency 73
Setting the minimum measurable frequency 74
Setting the percentage scale readout 75
Setting the print mode 76
Setting the echo mode 77
Setting the data bit 78
Setting the parity check 79
Setting the baud rate 80

Contents
U1401A User’s and Service Guide XIII
Setting the display backlight timer 81
Setting the power saving mode 82
5 Application Examples
Source Mode for mA Output 86
Simulation Mode for mA Output 88
Simulating a 2-wire transmitter on a current loop 90
Measuring a Pressure Transducer 92
Zener Diode Test 94
Diode Test 96
Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) Test 98
Determining transistor hfe 102
Junction Field-Effect Transistor (JFET) Switch Test 104
Operational Amplifier Verification 108
Current-to-voltage converter 108
Voltage-to-current converter 110
Integrator: square wave to triangle wave conversion 111
2-Wire Transmitter Verification 113
Frequency Transmitter Verification 115
6 Maintenance
Maintenance 118
General maintenance 118
Battery replacement 119
Recharging the batteries 121
Fuse replacement 122
Troubleshooting 124
7 Performance Tests and Calibration
Calibration Overview 128

XIV U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Contents
Closed-case electronic calibration 129
Agilent Technologies’ calibration services 129
Calibration interval 129
Other recommendations for calibration 130
Environmental conditions 130
Warm up 130
Recommended Test Equipment 131
Performance Verification Tests 132
Self-verification 132
Input performance verification 133
Output performance verification 137
Adjustment Considerations 138
Adjustment Procedures 139
Input calibration 139
Output calibration 140
8 Specifications
General Specifications 144
Measurement Category 146
Measurement category definitions 146
Input Specifications 147
DC specifications 147
AC specifications 148
AC+DC specifications 149
Temperature specifications 150
Frequency specifications 151
1 ms peak hold specifications 153
Resistance specifications 153
Diode check and audible continuity specifications 154
Output Specifications 155

Contents
U1401A User’s and Service Guide XV
Constant voltage and constant current outputs 155
Square wave output 156

XVI U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Contents

U1401A User’s and Service Guide XVII
Tables
Tables
Table 1-1. List of accessories 4
Table 1-2. Slide switch functions 5
Table 1-3. Rotary switch positions and their corresponding
functions 8
Table 1-4. Keypad functions 10
Table 1-5. Instructions involving shifted functions 12
Table 1-6. Description of display annunciators 14
Table 1-7. Description of terminals 17
Table 1-8. Overload protection for the input terminals 18
Table 1-9. Measurement functions and corresponding display
selection with the Hz key 20
Table 1-10. Measurement functions and corresponding display
selection with the DUAL key 22
Table 2-1. Default settings for the autoscan output 33
Table 2-2. Default settings for the autoramp output 37
Table 2-3. Available frequencies 41
Table 3-1. Measurement ranges for audible continuity 54
Table 4-1. Setup options and default settings 68
Table 5-1. Typical pressure range and maximum output voltages of
millivolt output pressure transducers 92
Table 5-2. Base terminal according to probe test 99
Table 5-3. Polarity and terminals if Pin 3 is the base 99
Table 5-4. Polarities and terminals if Pin 2 is the base 100
Table 5-5. Polarities and terminals if Pin 1 is the base 100
Table 5-6. Polarity and terminals if Pin 2 is the base 101
Table 5-7. Gate terminal according to probe test 105
Table 6-1. Fuse specifications 123
Table 6-2. Troubleshooting 125
Table 7-1. Recommended test equipment 131
Table 7-2. Functions that can be self-verified 132
Table 7-3. Input performance verification tests 133

XVIII U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Tables
Table 7-4. Output performance verification tests 137
Table 7-5. Output voltage calibration steps 141
Table 7-6. Output current calibration steps 142
Table 8-1. DC mV/voltage specifications 147
Table 8-2. DC current specifications 148
Table 8-3. AC mV/voltage specifications 148
Table 8-4. AC current specifications 149
Table 8-5. AC+DC mV/voltage specifications 149
Table 8-6. AC+DC current specifications 150
Table 8-7. Temperature specifications 150
Table 8-8. Frequency specifications 151
Table 8-9. Frequency sensitivity and trigger level specifications for
voltage measurement 151
Table 8-10. Duty cycle specifications 152
Table 8-11. Pulse width specifications 152
Table 8-12. Frequency sensitivity specifications for current
measurement 152
Table 8-13. Peak hold specifications 153
Table 8-14. Resistance specifications 153
Table 8-15. Diode check specifications 154
Table 8-16. Constant voltage (CV) output specifications 155
Table 8-17. Constant current (CC) output specifications 155
Table 8-18. Square wave output specifications 156

U1401A User’s and Service Guide XIX
Figures
Figures
Figure 1-1. The slide switch 5
Figure 1-2. The front panel 7
Figure 1-3. The rotary switch 8
Figure 1-4. Keypad functions 9
Figure 1-5. Keypad shifted functions 10
Figure 1-6. Full display 13
Figure 1-7. Terminals 17
Figure 1-8. The rear panel 19
Figure 1-9. IR-USB cable 24
Figure 1-10. IR-USB cable connection 25
Figure 1-11. IR-USB cable 25
Figure 2-1. Selecting autoscan output mode 34
Figure 2-2. Example of a typical autoscan output 34
Figure 2-3. Defining the autoscan output 36
Figure 2-4. Selecting autoramp output mode 38
Figure 2-5. Ramp output 38
Figure 2-6. Defining the autoramp output 40
Figure 2-7. Parameter selection for square wave output 43
Figure 3-1. DC voltage measurement 47
Figure 3-2. AC voltage measurement 48
Figure 3-3. DC current (mA) measurement 49
Figure 3-4. Surface temperature measurement 53
Figure 3-5. Resistance measurement 55
Figure 3-6. Enabling and disabling the continuity test 55
Figure 3-7. Dynamic recording mode 59
Figure 3-8. Relative (zero) mode 60
Figure 3-9. Data hold mode 61
Figure 3-10. 1 ms peak hold mode 64
Figure 4-1. Entering the setup mode 66
Figure 4-2. Setting the data hold or refresh hold mode 70
Figure 4-3. Setting the temperature unit 72

XX U1401A User’s and Service Guide
Figures
Figure 4-4. Setting the beeper frequency 73
Figure 4-5. Setting the minimum frequency 74
Figure 4-6. Setting the percentage scale readout 75
Figure 4-7. Setting the print mode for remote control 76
Figure 4-8. Setting the echo mode for remote control 77
Figure 4-9. Setting the data bit for remote control 78
Figure 4-10. Setting the parity check for remote control 79
Figure 4-11. Setting the baud rate for remote control 80
Figure 4-12. Setting the display backlight timer 81
Figure 4-13. Setting the auto power-off mode 83
Figure 5-1. Testing a 4 mA to 20 mA current loop with the source
mode 87
Figure 5-2. mA output simulation 89
Figure 5-3. Use the yellow test lead to perform the 2-wire
transmitter simulation 91
Figure 5-4. Pressure transducer measurement 93
Figure 5-5. Zener diode test 95
Figure 5-6. Diode test 97
Figure 5-7. TO-92 Transistor 98
Figure 5-8. TO-3 Transistor 101
Figure 5-9. Determining transistor hfe 103
Figure 5-10. TO-92 JFET 104
Figure 5-11. N- Channel JFET 106
Figure 5-12. P- Channel JFET 107
Figure 5-13. Current-to-voltage converter 109
Figure 5-14. Voltage-to-current converter 111
Figure 5-15. Square wave to triangular wave conversion 112
Figure 5-16. Verifying a two-wire transmitter 114
Figure 5-17. Verifying a frequency transmitter 116
Figure 6-1. Battery replacement 120
Figure 6-2. Recharging the batteries 122
Figure 6-3. Fuse replacement 124