B+K precision 889B User manual

Contents
CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 1
1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 G ENERAL ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2 I MPEDANCE P ARAMETERS ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 S PECIFICATION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
1.4 A CCESSORIES ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13
2. OPERATION ............................................................................................................................... 14
2.1 P HYSICAL D ESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.2 M AKING M EASUREMENT ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.2.1 Open and Short Calibration...................................................................................................................................................................................15
2.2.2 Relative Mode .........................................................................................................................................................................................................15
2.2.3 Range Hold .............................................................................................................................................................................................................15
2.2.4 DC Resistance Measurement .................................................................................................................................................................................16
2.2.5 AC Impedance Measurement .................................................................................................................................................................................16
2.2.6 Capacitance Measurement.....................................................................................................................................................................................16
2.2.7 Inductance Measurement .......................................................................................................................................................................................16
3. OPERATION MODES ................................................................................................................ 17
3.1 R EMOTE M ODE C OMMAND S YNTAX ..................................................................................................................................... 20
3.2 R EMOTE M ODE C OMMANDS ................................................................................................................................................. 20
4. APPLICATION ............................................................................................................................ 26
4.1 T EST L EADS C ONNECTION .................................................................................................................................................... 26
4.2 O PEN /S HORT C OMPENSATION ............................................................................................................................................... 29
4.3 S ELECTING THE S ERIES OR P ARALLEL M ODE ........................................................................................................................ 29
5. LIMITED THREE-YEAR WARRANTY ........................................................................................ 31
6. SAFETY PRECAUTION ............................................................................................................. 33
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1. Introduction
1.1 General
The B&K Precision Corp. 889B Synthesized In-Circuit LCR/ESR Meter is a high accuracy test instrument used
for measuring inductors, capacitors and resistors with a basic accuracy of 0.1%. Also, with the built-in functions of
DC/AC Voltage/Current measurements and Diode/Audible Continuity checks, the 889B can not only help
engineers and students to understand the characteristics of electronics components but also being an essential
tool on any service bench.
The 889B is defaulted to auto ranging. However, it can be set to auto or manual ranging by pressing the Range
Hold key. When LCR measurement mode is selected, one of the test frequencies, 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 KHz, 10
KHz, 100 KHz or 200 KHz, may be selected on all applicable ranges. One of the test voltages, 50mVrms, 0.25
Vrms, 1 Vrms or 1 VDC (DCR only), may also be selected on all applicable ranges. The dual display feature
permits simultaneous measurements. When DC/AC voltage/current measurement mode or the Diode/Audible
Continuity Check mode is selected, only the secondary display will be used to show the result of the
measurement.
The highly versatile 889B can perform virtually all the functions of most bench type LCR bridges. With a basic
accuracy of 0.1%, this economical LCR meter may be adequately substituted for a more expensive LCR bridge in
many situations. Also, with the basic accuracy of 0.4% in voltage and current measurements, the 889B performs
the functions of a general purpose Digital Multi-Meter and can be used to replace the DMM on a service bench.
The 889B has applications in electronic engineering labs, production facilities, service shops, and schools. It can
be used to check ESR values of capacitors, sort and/or select components, measure unmarked and unknown
components, and measure capacitance, inductance, or resistance of cables, switches, circuit board foils, etc.
The key features are as following:
1. Voltage Measurements:
 AC : True RMS, up to 600Vrms @ 40 ~ 1K Hz
 DC : up to 600V
 Input Impedance : 1M-Ohm
2. Current Measurements:
 AC : True RMS, up to 2Arms @ 40 ~ 1K Hz
 DC : up to 2A
 Current Shunt : 0.1 Ohm @  20mA; 10 Ohm @  20mA
3. Diode/Audible Continuity Checks:
 Open Circuit Voltage: 5Vdc
 Short Circuit Current: 2.5mA
 Beep On:  25 
 Beep Off:  50 
4. LCR Measurements:
 Test conditions
Frequency : 100Hz / 120Hz / 1KHz / 10KHz / 100KHz / 200KHz
Level : 1Vrms / 0.25Vrms / 50mVrms / 1VDC (DCR only)
 Measurement Parameters : Z, Ls, Lp, Cs, Cp, DCR, ESR, D, Q and θ
 Basic Accuracy : 0.1%
 Dual Liquid Crystal Display
 Auto Range or Range Hold
 USB Interface Communication
 Open/Short Calibration
 Primary Parameters Display:
Z : AC Impedance
DCR : DC Resistance
Ls : Serial Inductance
Lp : Parallel Inductance
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Cs : Serial Capacitance
Cp : Parallel Capacitance
 Second Parameter Display:
θ : Phase Angle
ESR : Equivalence Serial Resistance
D : Dissipation Factor
Q : Quality Factor
 Combinations of Display:
Serial Mode : Z –θ, Cs – D, Cs – Q, Cs – ESR, Ls – D, Ls – Q, Ls – ESR
Parallel Mode : Cp – D, Cp – Q, Lp – D, Lp – Q
1.2 Impedance Parameters
Due to the different testing signals on the impedance measurement instrument, there are DC and AC
impedances. The common digital multi-meter can only measure the DC impedance, but the 889B can do both. It
is very important to understand the impedance parameters of the electronic components.
When we analysis the impedance by the impedance measurement plane (Figure 1.1), it can be visualized by the
real element on the X-axis and the imaginary element on the y-axis. This impedance measurement plane can
also be seen as the polar coordinates. The Z is the magnitude and  is the phase of the impedance.
 
 
 
 
 
Ohm
Reactance
Resistance
Impedance
















S
S
X
R
Z
s
Rs
X
TanSinZ
s
X
s
X
s
RZCosZ
s
R
Z
s
jX
s
RZ
1
22



There are two different types of reactance: Inductive (XL) and Capacitive (XC). It can be defined as follows:
Also, there are Quality factor (Q) and the Dissipation factor (D) that need to be discussed. For component, the
Quality factor serves as a measurement of the reactance purity. In the real world, there is always some
associated resistance that dissipates power, decreasing the amount of energy that can be recovered. The Quality
factor can be defined as the ratio of the stored energy (reactance) and the dissipated energy (resistance). Q is
generally used for inductors and D for capacitors.
s
X
s
R
 
sX,RZ s
Z

Imaginary Axis
Real Axis
Figure 1.1
fCC
C
X
fLL
L
X


2
11
2


L = Inductance (H)
C = Capacitance (F)
f= Frequency (Hz)
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There are two types of the circuit mode, the series mode and the parallel mode. See Figure 1.2 to find out the
relationship of the series and parallel modes.
1.3 Specification
 Measuring Range:
Parameter
Range
Z
0.000  to 500.0 M
L
0.030 µH to 9999 H
C
0.003 pF to 80.00 mF
DCR
0.000  to 500.0 M
ESR
0.000  to 9999 
D
0.000 to 9999
Q
0.000 to 9999
θ
-180.0 ° to 180.0 °
Voltage/Current Measurements
V
0.0 mV to +/- 600 V
A
0.000 mA to +/- 2 A
 Accuracy (Ae):
1. DC Voltage Measurement:
Range : 2V, 20V, 200V, and 600V
Resolution : 1mV, 10mV, 100mV, and 1V
Accuracy : +/- (0.4% + 3 digits)
Input Impedance : 1 M-Ohm
p
R
p
C
p
Lp
R
p
X
p
R
G
Bs
R
s
C
s
Rs
L
s
Rs
X
D
Q









1
tan
11
Figure 1.2
Real and imaginary components are serial
ss jXRZ 
RsjXs
Real and imaginary components are parallel
G=1/Rp
jB=1/jXp
jBGY 
jXp
Rp
P
jX
1
P
R
1
Y
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2. AC Voltage Measurement (True RMS):
Range : 2V, 20V, 200V, and 600V
Resolution : 1mV, 10mV, 100mV, and 1V
Accuracy : +/- (0.8% + 5 digits)
Input Impedance : 1 M-Ohm
3. DC Current Measurement:
Range : 2mA, 20mA, 200mA, and 2000mA
Resolution : 1uA, 10uA, 100uA, and 1mA
Accuracy : +/- (0.4% + 3 digits)
Current Shunt : 0.1 Ohm @ >20mA, 10 Ohm @ 20mA
4. AC Current Measurement (True RMS):
Range : 2mA, 20mA, 200mA, and 2000mA
Resolution : 1uA, 10uA, 100uA, and 1mA
Accuracy : +/- (0.8% + 5 digits)
Current Shunt : 0.1 Ohm @ >20mA, 10 Ohm @ 20mA
Note:
The accuracy of DC/AC voltage/current measurements is only applied when in 5% - 100% of the range.
5. LCR Measurement:
Z Accuracy (Ae):
|Zx|
Freq.
20M ~
10M
()
10M ~
1M
()
1M ~
100K
()
100K ~
10K
()
10K ~
1K
()
1K ~ 100
()
100 ~ 1
()
1 ~ 0.1
()
DCR
2% ±1

1% ±1
0.5% ±1
0.2% ±1
0.1% ±1
0.2% ±1
0.5% ±1
1% ±1

100Hz
120Hz
1KHz
10KHz
5% ±1

2% ±1
100KHz
200KHz

NA
5% ±1
2% ±1
1% ±1
0.4% ±1
1% ±1
2% ±1
5% ±1
Note:
1. The accuracy applies when the test level is set to 1Vrms.
2. Ae multiplies 1.25 when the test level is set to 250mVrms.
3. Ae multiplies 1.50 when the test level is set to 50mVrms.
4. When measuring L and C, multiply Ae by
2
1Dx
if the Dx＞0.1.
 : Ae is applied only when the test level is set to 1Vrms.
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C Accuracy:
100Hz
79.57pF
|
159.1pF
159.1pF
|
1.591nF
1.591nF
|
15.91nF
15.91nF
|
159.1uF
159.1nF
|
1.591uF
1.591uF
|
15.91uF
15.91uF
|
1591uF
1591uF
|
15.91mF
2%  1

1%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

120Hz
66.31pF
|
132.6pF
132.6pF
|
1.326nF
1.326nF
|
13.26nF
13.26nF
|
132.6nF
132.6nF
|
1.326uF
1.326uF
|
13.26uF
13.26uF
|
1326uF
1326uF
|
13.26mF
2%  1

1%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

1KHz
7.957pF
|
15.91pF
15.91pF
|
159.1pF
159.1pF
|
1.591nF
1.591nF
|
15.91nF
15.91nF
|
159.1nF
159.1nF
|
1.591uF
1.591uF
|
159.1uF
159.1uF
|
1.591mF
2%  1

1%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

10KHz
0.795pF
|
1.591pF
1.591pF
|
15.91pF
15.91pF
|
159.1pF
159.1pF
|
1.591nF
1.591nF
|
15.91nF
15.91nF
|
159.1nF
159.1nF
|
15.91uF
15.91uF
|
159.1uF
5%  1

2%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

100KHz

NA
0.159pF
|
1.591pF
1.591pF
|
15.91pF
15.91pF
|
159.1pF
159.1pF
|
1.591nF
1.591nF
|
15.91nF
15.91nF
|
1.591uF
1.591uF
|
15.91uF
NA
5%  1
2% 1
1% 1
0.4% 1
1% 1
2% 1
5%  1
200KHz

NA
0.079pF
|
0.795pF
0.795pF
|
7.957pF
7.957pF
|
79.57pF
79.57pF
|
795.7pF
795.7pF
|
7.957nF
7.957nF
|
795.7nF
795.7nF
|
7.957uF
NA
5%  1
2% 1
1% 1
0.4% 1
1% 1
2% 1
5%  1
L Accuracy:
100Hz
31.83KH
|
15.91KH
15.91KH
|
1591H
1591H
|
159.1H
159.1H
|
15.91H
15.91H
|
1.591H
1.591H
|
159.1mH
159.1mH
|
1.591mH
1.591mH
|
159.1uH
2%  1

1%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

120Hz
26.52KH
|
13.26KH
13.26KH
|
1326H
1326H
|
132.6H
132.6H
|
13.26H
13.26H
|
1.326H
1.326H
|
132.6mH
132.6mH
|
1.326mH
1.326mH
|
132.6uH
2%  1

1%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

1KHz
3.183KH
|
1.591KH
1.591KH
|
159.1H
159.1H
|
15.91H
15.91H
|
1.591H
1.591H
|
159.1mH
159.1mH
|
15.91mH
15.91mH
|
159.1uH
159.1uH
|
15.91uH
2%  1

1%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%
 1
1%  1

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10KHz
318.3H
|
159.1H
159.1H
|
15.91H
15.91H
|
1.591H
1.591H
|
159.1mH
159.1mH
|
15.91mH
15.91mH
|
1.591mH
1.591mH
|
15.91uH
15.91uH
|
1.591uH
5%  1

2%  1
0.5%  1
0.2%  1
0.1%  1
0.2%  1
0.5%  1
1%  1

100KHz

31.83H
|
15.91H
15.91H
|
1.591H
1.591H
|
159.1mH
159.1mH
|
15.91mH
15.91mH
|
1.591mH
1.591mH
|
159.1uH
159.1uH
|
1.591uH
1.591uH
|
0.159uH
NA
5%  1
2% 1
1%  1
0.4%  1
1%  1
2% 1
5%  1
200KHz

15.91H
|
7.957H
7.957H
|
795.7mH
795.7mH
|
79.57mH
79.57mH
|
7.957mH
7.957mH
|
795.7uH
795.7uH
|
79.57uH
79.57uH
|
0.795uH
0.795uH
|
0.079uH
NA
5%  1
2% 1
1%  1
0.4%  1
1%  1
2% 1
5%  1
D Accuracy:
|Zx|
Freq.
20M ~
10M
()
10M ~
1M
()
1M ~
100K
()
100K ~
10K
()
10K ~
1K
()
1K ~
100
()
100 ~ 1
()
1 ~ 0.1
()
100Hz
±0.020

±0.010
±0.005
±0.002
±0.002
±0.002
±0.005
±0.010

120Hz
1KHz
10KHz
±0.050

±0.020
100KHz
200KHz

NA
±0.050
±0.020
±0.010
±0.004
±0.010
±0.020
±0.050
 Accuracy:
|Zx|
Freq.
20M ~
10M
()
10M ~
1M
()
1M ~
100K
()
100K ~
10K
()
10K ~
1K
()
1K ~
100
()
100 ~ 1
()
1 ~ 0.1
()
100Hz
±1.046

±0.523
±0.261
±0.105
±0.105
±0.105
±0.261
±0.523

120Hz
1KHz
10KHz
±2.615

±1.046
100KHz
200KHz

NA
±2.615
±1.046
±0.409
±0.209
±0.409
±1.046
±2.615
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Z Accuracy:
As shown in table 1.
C Accuracy:
Cxf
Zx  
 2
1
CAe = Ae of C
f : Test Frequency (Hz)
Cx : Measured Capacitance Value (F)
|Zx| : Measured Impedance Value ()
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value)  0.1
When Dx > 0.1, multiply CAe by
2
1Dx
Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF
Then






1590
9
10100
3
102
1
2
1


Cxf
Zx
Refer to the accuracy table, get CAe=±0.1%
L Accuracy:
LxfZx 
 2
LAe = Ae of L
f : Test Frequency (Hz)
Lx : Measured Inductance Value (H)
|Zx| : Measured Impedance Value ()
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value)  0.1
When Dx > 0.1, multiply LAe by
2
1Dx
Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 1mH
Then




283.6
3
10
3
102
2


LxfZx
Refer to the accuracy table, get LAe = ±0.5%
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ESR Accuracy:
100
Ae
Xx
Ae
ESR 
Cxf
LxfXx  


2
1
2
ESRAe = Ae of ESR
f : Test Frequency (Hz)
Xx : Measured Reactance Value ()
Lx : Measured Inductance Value (H)
Cx : Measured Capacitance Value (F)
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value)  0.1
Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF
Then






1590
9
10100
3
102
1
2
1


Cxf
Zx
Refer to the accuracy table, get
CAe=±0.1%,
 59.1
100
Ae
Xx
Ae
ESR
D Accuracy:
100
Ae
Ae
D
DAe = Ae of D measurement value
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value)  0.1
When Dx > 0.1, multiply Dx by (1+Dx)
Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF
Then






1590
9
10100
3
102
1
2
1


Cxf
Zx
Refer to the accuracy table, get
CAe=±0.1%,
002.0
100  Ae
Ae
D
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Q Accuracy:
DeQx DeQx
Ae
Q

 1
2
QAe = Ae of Q measurement value
Qx : Measured Quality Factor Value
De : Relative D Accuracy
Accuracy applies when
1 DeQx
Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 1mH
Then




283.6
3
10
3
102
2


LxfZx
Refer to the accuracy table, get
LAe=±0.5%,
005.0
100  Ae
De
If measured Qx = 20
Then
1.01
2
1
2





 DeQx DeQx
Ae
Q
θ Accuracy:
100
Ae
π
180 
Ae

Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF
Then






1590
9
10100
3
102
1
2
1


Cxf
Zx
Refer to the accuracy table, get
ZAe=±0.1%,
deg057.0
100
1.0180
100
180





Ae
Ae
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 Testing Signal:
Level Accuracy :  10%
Frequency Accuracy : 0.1%
 Output Impedance : 100  5%
 General:
Temperature : 0°C to 40°C (Operating)
-20°C to 70°C (Storage)
Relative Humidity : Up to 85%
AC Input : 110/220V, 60/50Hz
Dimensions : 300mm x 220mm x 150mm (L x W x H) 11.8” x 8.7” x 5.9”
Weight : 4500g
AC Line Selection
This instrument can operate on 120 or 220 VAC source at 50 or 60 Hz. Before connecting the power plug to an
AC line outlet, be sure to check that voltage selector switch is set in the correct position corresponding to the line
voltage in your location and the fuse rating shown on the rear panel of the unit. In order to select the line voltage,
you MUST open* the case of the instrument and select the internal jumper to the correct position. To do so,
remove the front and rear bezels and remove the four screws (two on each side) from the lower side panels. Now,
slide open the top of the case to reveal the circuitry of the unit. On the internal back panel of the unit you will see
a line switch labeled as 115V or 230V. Once switched, assemble the unit back together and insert the proper fuse
rating shown on the rear panel of the unit.
* Instrument covers must not be removed by operating personnel. Component replacement and internal adjustments must be made by
qualified service-trained maintenance personnel who are aware of the hazards involved when the instrument's covers and shields are
removed. Under certain conditions, even with the power cord removed, dangerous voltages may exist when the covers are removed. To avoid
injuries, always disconnect the power cord from the instrument, disconnect all other connections (for example, test leads, computer interface
cables, etc.), discharge all circuits, and verify there are no hazardous voltages present on any conductors by measurements with a
properly-operating voltage-sensing device before touching any internal parts.
Considerations
When LCR measurement mode is selected, the following factors shall be considered.
Test Frequency The test frequency is user selectable and can be changed. Generally, a 1 KHz test signal or
higher is used to measure capacitors that are 0.01uF or smaller and a 120Hz test signal is used for capacitors
that are 10uF or larger. Typically a 1 KHz test signal or higher is used to measure inductors that are used in audio
and RF (radio frequency) circuits. This is because these kinds of inductors operate at higher frequencies and
require that they shall be measured at a higher frequency. Generally, inductors with inductances below 2mH
should be measured at test frequency of 1 KHz or higher and inductors above 200H should be measured at
120Hz or lower.
It is best to check with the component manufacturers’ data sheet to determine the best test frequency for the
device.
Charged Capacitors Always discharge any capacitor prior to making a measurement since a charged
capacitor may seriously damage the meter.
Effect Of High D on Accuracy A low D (Dissipation Factor) reading is desirable. Electrolytic capacitors
inherently have a higher dissipation factor due to their normally high internal leakage characteristics. If the D
(Dissipation Factor) is excessive, the capacitance measurement accuracy may be degraded.
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It is best to check with the component manufacturers’ data sheet to determine the desirable D value of a good
component.
Measuring Capacitance of Cables, Switches or Other Parts Measuring the capacitance of coaxial cables is
very useful in determining the actual length of the cable. Most manufacturer specifications list the amount of
capacitance per foot of cable and therefore the length of the cable can be determined by measuring the
capacitance of that cable.
For example: A manufacturers, specification calls out a certain cable, to have a capacitance of 10 pF per foot,
After measuring the cable, a capacitance reading of 1.000nF is displayed. Dividing 1000pF (1.000 nF) by 10 pF
per foot yields the length of the cable to be approximately 100 feet.
Even if the manufacturers’ specification is not known, the capacitance of a measured length of cable (such as 10
feet) can be used to determine the capacitance per foot. Do not use too short length such as one foot, because
any error becomes magnified in the total length calculations.
Sometimes, the affecting stray capacitance of switches, interconnect cables, circuit board foils, or other parts,
could be critical to circuit design, or must be repeatable from one unit to another.
Series Vs Parallel Measurement (for Inductors) The series mode displays the more accurate measurement in
most cases. The series equivalent mode is essential for obtaining an accurate Q reading of low Q inductors.
Where ohmic losses are most significant, the series equivalent mode is preferred. However, there are cases
where the parallel equivalent mode may be more appropriate. For iron core inductors operating at higher
frequencies where hysteresis and eddy currents become significant, measurement in the parallel equivalent
mode is preferred.
1.4 Accessories
 Operating Manual 1 pc
 AC Power Cord 1 pc
 Kelvin Clip 1 pc
 DMM Test Leads 1 pc
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2. Operation
2.1 Physical Description
1. Primary Parameter Display
2. Secondary Parameter Display
3. L/C/Z/DCR Function Key
4. DCA/ACA Function Key
5. Measurement Frequency Key
6. LCUR Terminal
7. Measurement Level Key
8. Range Hold Key
9. Model Number
10. LPOT Terminal
11. D/Q/θ/ESR Function Key
12. HPOT Terminal
13. Open Calibration Key
14. DCV/ACV Function Key
15. Relative Key
16. HCUR Terminal
17. Short Calibration Key
18. Diode/Continuity Function Key
19. Remote Function Key
21. Power Switch
23. AC Power
25. A Terminal
20. COM Terminal
22. V/Diode/Continuity Terminal
24. USB Port
26. 2A Fuse
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2.2 Making Measurement
2.2.1 Open and Short Calibration
The 889B provides open/short calibration capability so the user can get better accuracy in measuring high and
low impedance. We recommend that the user perform open/short calibration if the test level or frequency has
been changed.
 Open Calibration
First, remaining the measurement terminals at the open status, press the Open key then the LCD will display:
This calibration takes about 15 seconds. After it is finished, the 889B will beep to show that the calibration is
done.
 Short Calibration
To perform the short calibration, insert the Shorting Bar into the measurement terminals. Press the Short key
then the LCD will display:
This calibration takes about 15 seconds. After it is finished, the 889B will beep to show that the calibration is
done.
2.2.2 Relative Mode
The relative mode lets the user to make a quick sort of a bunch of components. First, insert the standard value
component to get the standard value reading. (Approximately 5 seconds to get a stable reading.) Then, press the
Relative key, the primary display will reset to zero. Remove the standard value component and insert the
unknown component, the LCD will show the value that is the difference between the standard value and unknown
value.
2.2.3 Range Hold
To set the range hold, insert a standard component in that measurement range. (Approximately 5 seconds to get
a stable reading.) Then, by pressing the Range Hold key it will hold the range within 0.5 to 2 times of the current
measurement range. When the Range Hold is pressed, the LCD will display:
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2.2.4 DC Resistance Measurement
The DC resistance measurement measures the resistance of an unknown component by 1VDC. Press the
L/C/Z/DCR key to select the DCR measurement. The LCD will display:
2.2.5 AC Impedance Measurement
The AC impedance measurement measures the Z of an unknown device. Press the L/C/Z/DCR key to select the
Z measurement. The LCD will display:
The testing level and frequency can be selected by pressing the Level key and Freq key, respectively.
2.2.6 Capacitance Measurement
To measure the capacitance of a component, users may be able to press the L/C/Z/DCR key to select either Cs
(Serial Mode) or Cp (Parallel Mode) measurement mode. If the serial mode (Cs) is selected, the D, Q and ESR
can be shown on the secondary display. If the parallel mode (Cp) is selected, only the D and Q can be shown on
the secondary display. The following shows some examples of capacitance measurement:
The testing level and frequency can be selected by pressing the Level key and Freq key, respectively.
2.2.7 Inductance Measurement
Press the L/C/Z/DCR key to select Ls or Lp mode for measuring the inductance in serial mode or parallel mode.
If the serial mode (Ls) is selected, the D, Q and ESR can be shown on the secondary display. If the parallel mode
(Lp) is selected, only the D and Q can be shown on the secondary display. The following shows some examples
of inductance measurement:
The testing level and frequency can be selected by pressing the Level key and Freq key, respectively.
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3. Operation Modes
There are four operation modes in the 889B. They are Normal, Binning, Remote and Remote Binning modes.
By pressing the Remote button, users can select one of the 4 operation modes above.
 Normal Mode:
The Normal mode is the default operation mode when power on. It is a local mode that the 889B is controlled
by the keypads and the results of the measurement will be sent to both LCD display and a remote USB
equipped PC through the build-in USB port.
 Binning Mode:
The Binning mode is reserved for future use (such as GPIB). Currently, it is set to work the same way as the
Normal mode that receives commands from the keypads and sends the results of measurement to both LCD
display and a remote PC through the USB port.
 Remote Binning Mode:
In the Remote Binning mode, the “RMT Bin” on the LCD will be lit, the operation of 889B is controlled by a
remote USB equipped PC or terminal, and the results of the measurement will be simultaneously sent to the
local LCD display and remote workstation through the USB port.
In this mode all functional keypads except Remote button are locked.
Remote Binning mode is opened for users to design your own private, fast and high efficient application
programs. Users can design a server or driver (any software component that can do server’s job) with Graphic
interface, OSI network model, and powerful interpreter built in it to support Graphic display, Network
connectivity, structure command (SCPI, IEEE488 etc.) interpretations, and let it be a bridge between a higher
level application program such as VB, VISUAL C++, EXCEL, ACCESS etc. and the 889B. It is described in
the following figure.
The communication protocol between the 889B and a remote USB equipped PC is described as follows.
1. The commands that will be sent from a remote PC to the 889B are used to set-up the machine to a
selected measurement mode.
The command syntax is:
MOD current-state-code
It always starts with MOD follows by a space and then the current state code. The current state code that
is defined in the table below is 3 bytes (24 bits) long, bit-23, 22, 21… bit-0, where bit-23 is the MSB and bit-0
is the LSB.
Model
889B
Server:
COM, DCOM, ATL,
CONTROL,
AUTOMATION EXE
Built in:
Graphic interface,
OSI network model,
and/or powerful
Interpreter or Parser
VB, VISUAL
C++, EXCEL,
ACCESS etc.
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bit position
LCR
DC/AC V/A
Bit 2 – Bit 0
(test freq)
Reserved
000
100 Hz
001
120 Hz
010
1K Hz
011
10K Hz
100
100K Hz
101
200K Hz
110
Reserved
111
Reserved
Bit 4 – Bit 3
(test level)
Reserved
00
50 mVrms
01
250 mVrms
10
1 Vrms
11
Reserved
Bit 5
Reserved
0
Default
Default
1
Reserved
Reserved
Bit 6
0
Relative
Relative
1
Normal
Normal
Bit 7
0
Calibration
Calibration
1
Normal
Normal
Bit 10 – Bit 8
Reserved
000
Lp
001
Ls
010
Cp
011
Cs
100
Z
101
DCR
110
Reserved
111
Reserved
Bit 12 – Bit 11
Reserved
00
D
01
Q
10
DEG
11
ESR
Bit 16 – Bit 13
0000
RH nH
Reserved
0001
RH uH
RH mV, mA
0010
RH mH
RH V, A
0011
RH H
Reserved
0100
RH pF
0101
RH nF
0110
RH uF
0111
RH mF
1000
RH F
1001
RH Ohm
1010
RH K-Ohm
1011
RH M-Ohm
1100
Reserved
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1101
1110
1111
Auto-Ranging
Auto-Ranging
Bit 17
0
Short Cal
Short Cal
1
Open Cal
Reserved
Bit 21 – Bit 18
Measurement Modes
0000
Reserved
0001
LCR
0010
DCV
0011
ACV
0100
Diode
0101
Continuity
0110
DCA
0111
ACA
Others
Reserved
Bit 23 – Bit 22
Reserved
00
01
10
11
For example: if LCR function, Cp with D measurement mode is selected in Auto-ranging with Relative and
Open/Short Calibration are turned off and test signal is 1 Vrms in 1 KHz, then the command is as following:
MOD 000001111110001011010010
2. The results of the measurement that will be sent from the 889B to a remote PC will be packed in either
7-byte or 11-byte format.
When dual data (such as Cp with D) will be sent, the data is packed in 11-byte format shown as following:
Lead_code1 : 02
Lead_code2 : 09
Data_code : 8-byte long; two 32-bit floating point number format; the first 4-byte is the main reading (Cp)
and the second 4-byte is the secondary reading (D)
Checksum : -((02+09+data_code) && 0x00FF)
02
09
M-B0
M-B1
M-B2
M-B3
S-B0
S-B1
S-B2
S-B3
CS
where M-Bx and S-Bx are the four bytes floating point format of main and secondary reading which is sent
from the lowest byte first.
When only main reading (such as DCR) will be sent, the data is packed in 7-byte format described below:
Lead_code1 : 02
Lead_code2 : 03
Data_code : 4 bytes long; the 32-bit floating point format of the main reading
Checksum : -((02+03+data_code) && 0x00FF)
02
03
M-B0
M-B1
M-B2
M-B3
CS
When only secondary reading (such as DCV) will be sent, the data is packed in 11-byte format described
below:
Lead_code1 : 02
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Data_code : 8 bytes long; two 32-bit floating point format of the secondary reading
Checksum : -((02+09+data_code) && 0x00FF)
02
09
S-B0
S-B1
S-B2
S-B3
S-B0
S-B1
S-B2
S-B3
CS
 Remote Mode:
When in the Remote mode, the “RMT” on the LCD will be lit and the 889B is capable of communicating to
remote USB equipped PC or terminal through the build-in USB port. The connection setting is as follow:
Transmission Mode : Half Duplex
Baud Rate : 9600
Parity Bit : None
Data Bits : 8
Stop Bit : 1
Handshake : None
In this mode, the LCD display and all keypads except the Remote button will be locked. And the external
program through the USB port controls the operation of the 889B.
3.1 Remote Mode Command Syntax
The command syntax of Models 4090 is as following:
COMMAND(?) (PARAMETER)
The format of COMMAND and PARAMETER is as following:
1. There is at least one space between COMMAND and PARAMETER.
2. The PARAMETER should use only ASCII string not numerical code.
3. Value parameter can be integer, floating or exponent with the unit. For example:
50mV
0.05V
5.0e1mV
4. The question mark (?) at the end of COMMAND means a query or a measuring command. For example:
“CpD” sets the measurement mode to Cp and D.
“CpD?” sets the measurement mode to Cp and D as well as measures the values and send them back.
5. The COMMAND and PARAMETER can be either upper or lower case. But the unit to describe the value in the
PARAMETER should have different between milli (m) and mega (M). For example:
1mV equals 0.001V.
1MV equals 1000000V.
6. The “end of command” character should be placed at the end. There are:
ASCII CR (0DH) or
ASCII LF (0AH)
3.2 Remote Mode Commands
Measurement Setting (or Querying) Command
The following measurement mode-setting and the query commands are supported in the 889B. When a mode-setting
command is entered the 889B will return “OK” after setting is complete. When query command is entered, the 889B will send
back the values of measurement.
 DCR(?) DC resistance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 CpRp(?) Parallel capacitance and parallel resistance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 CpQ(?) Parallel capacitance and quality factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 CpD(?) Parallel capacitance and dissipation factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
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 CsRs(?) Serial capacitance and serial resistance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 CsQ(?) Serial capacitance and quality factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 CsD(?) Serial capacitance and dissipation factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 LpRp(?) Parallel inductance and parallel resistance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 LpQ(?) Parallel inductance and quality factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 LpD(?) Parallel inductance and dissipation factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 LsRs(?) Serial inductance and serial resistance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 LsQ(?) Serial inductance and quality factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 LsD(?) Serial inductance and dissipation factor measurement mode setting or querying command.
 RsXs(?) Serial resistance and serial reactance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 RpXp(?) Parallel resistance and parallel reactance measurement mode setting or querying command.
 ZTD(?) Impedance and angle (Deg) measurement mode setting or querying command.
 ZTR(?) Impedance and angle (Rad) measurement mode setting or querying command.
 DCV(?) DC Voltage measurement mode setting or query command.
 ACV(?) AC Voltage measurement mode setting or query command.
 DCA(?) DC Current measurement mode setting or query command.
 ACA(?) AC Current measurement mode setting or query command.
Example:
CPD (set to Cp-D measurement mode)
OK
CPD?
0.22724 0.12840 (return values)
DCR?
5.1029 (return value)
*IDN?
Query the identity of the 889B. This command is used to identify the basic information of 889B. The return value
has four fields separated by comma (,). The total length will not greater than 100 characters. The four fields are:
1. Manufacturer Name
2. Model Number
3. Serial Number
4. Firmware Version Number
Example:
*IDN?
B&K PRECISION CORP. MODEL889B,123456789,4.096
*RST
Reset the 889B to the power on default status. The default status is:
1KHz 1Vrms CpD uF
After the 889B is reset, it will return the identity string back.
ASC
Set the format of the return value. This command sets the ASCII string return or the numerical code.
PARAMETER:
ON ASCII string
OFF Numerical code
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