Hioki 3504 User manual

C HiTESTER
Instruction Manual
3504
December 2008 Revised edition 2 3504A981-02 08-12H
3504-10

i
Contents
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................1
Verifying Package Contents.......................................................1
Safety Information......................................................................2
Operating Precautions................................................................4
Chapter 1
Overview ___________________________________ 7
1.1 Product Overview .........................................................7
1.2 Features .......................................................................7
1.3 Entire Workflow ............................................................9
1.4 Names and Functions of Parts ...................................11
Chapter 2
Measurement Preparations ____________________ 15
2.1 Preparation Flowchart ................................................15
2.2 Checking the Power Voltage...................................... 16
2.3 Connecting the Power Cord....................................... 17
2.4 Connecting the Probes and Fixtures.......................... 18
2.5 Turning the Power On and Off ...................................19
Chapter 3
Basic Measurement __________________________ 21
3.1 Pre-Operation Inspection ...........................................21
3.2 Measurement Example ..............................................23
3.3 Setting the Measurement Conditions
(Required Settings) ....................................................25
3.3.1 Measurement Mode ......................................................25
3.3.2 Measurement Frequency ..............................................25
3.3.3 Measurement Signal Level ............................................26
3.3.4 Measurement Speed .....................................................27
3.3.5 Equivalent Circuit Mode ................................................27
3.3.6 Measurement Range .....................................................29
3.4 Measurement Conditions (Optional Settings) ............31
3.4.1 Open Circuit Compensation • Short Circuit
Compensation ...............................................................31
3.4.2 Load Compensation ......................................................36
3.4.3 Trigger Signal ................................................................39

Contents
ii
Chapter 4
Application Functions_________________________41
4.1 Comparator Function ................................................. 41
4.2 BIN Measurement Function (Only for 3504) .............. 50
4.3 Synchronous Measurement Function
(3504 special specification) ....................................... 60
4.4 Trigger Synchronous Output Function ....................... 62
4.5 Keylock Function ....................................................... 64
4.6 Panel Save Function ................................................. 65
4.7 Panel Load Function .................................................. 66
4.8 Printing Function ........................................................ 69
4.8.1 Preparation Prior to Connecting the Printer ..................69
4.8.2 Connection Procedure ..................................................71
4.8.3 Printing ..........................................................................72
Chapter 5
Other Settings ______________________________73
5.1 Setting Beep Tones ................................................... 73
5.1.1 Setting the Beep Tone for Judgment Results of
Comparator and BIN .....................................................73
5.1.2 Setting the Beep Tone for Key Operations ...................74
5.2 Performing a System Reset ....................................... 76
5.3 Countermeasures Against Incorporation of External
Noise ......................................................................... 78
5.3.1 Countermeasures Against Incorporation of Noise from
the Power Line ..............................................................78
5.3.2 Countermeasures Against Incorporation of Noise from
the Input Line (Types of Probe) ....................................79
Chapter 6
Application Measurement______________________81
6.1 Measurement Using EXT I/O..................................... 81
6.1.1 About the EXT I/O Connector .......................................81
6.1.2 Circuit Configuration and Connections of the EXT I/O
Connector..................................................................... 83
6.1.3 About Input and Output Signals ....................................84
6.1.4 About Measurement Times ...........................................86
6.2 Measurement of High Impedance Components ........ 87
6.3 Measurement of In-circuit Components ..................... 88
6.3.1 Measurement Using Guarding Technique ....................88
6.3.2 Synchronous Measurement ..........................................89

iii
Contents
Chapter 7
Controlling the Unit from a PC __________________ 91
7.1 Outline and Features ..................................................91
7.2 Specifications .............................................................92
7.2.1 RS-232C Specifications ................................................92
7.2.2 GP-IB Specifications (Only for 3504) ............................93
7.3 Connection and Setting Procedures ..........................94
7.3.1 Connecting the RS-232C Cable / GP-IB Cable .............94
7.3.2 Setting the Interface Communication Conditions ..........96
7.4 Remote Function ........................................................98
7.5 Communication Procedure .........................................98
7.6 Things to Know before Beginning Communication ....99
7.6.1 About Message Formats ...............................................99
7.6.2 About the Output Queue and Input Buffer ...................104
7.6.3 About the Status Byte Register ...................................105
7.6.4 About Event Registers ................................................107
7.7 Message List ............................................................112
7.8 Ability to Use Commands by State ...........................121
7.9 Message Reference .................................................124
7.9.1 Common Commands ..................................................125
7.9.2 Unique Commands ......................................................131
7.9.3 Response Format of Queries for Returning Values ....172
7.10 Initialized Items ........................................................174
7.11 Creating Programs ...................................................175
7.11.1 Creation Procedure .....................................................175
7.11.2 Sample Programs ........................................................178
7.12 Troubleshooting the Interface ..................................181
7.13 Device Document Requirements
(Only for the 3504) ...................................................183
Chapter 8
Specifications______________________________ 187
8.1 Basic Specifications .................................................187
8.2 Accuracy ..................................................................190
8.3 Measurement Parameters and Arithmetic
Expressions ..............................................................192

Contents
iv
Chapter 9
Maintenance and Service_____________________195
9.1 Inspection, Repair, and Cleaning ............................ 195
9.2 Replacing the Power Fuse ...................................... 197
9.3 Discarding the Unit .................................................. 198
Chapter 10
Options___________________________________199
Appendix _________________________________ A1
Appendix 1 Mounting the Unit in a Rack..............................A1
Appendix 2 External View....................................................A3
Index__________________________________ Index i

Introduction 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the HIOKI “Model 3504, 3504-10 C HiTester.” To
obtain maximum performance from the unit, please read this manual first, and
keep it handy for future reference.
Verifying Package Contents
When you receive the unit, inspect it carefully to ensure that no damage
occurred during shipping. In particular, check the accessories, panel
switches, and connectors. If damage is evident, or if it fails to operate accord-
ing to the specifications, contact your dealer or Hioki representative.
This unit 3504 C HiTester
3504-10 C HiTester
Accessories • Instruction Manual..............................................................................1
• Power cord......................................................................................... 1
• Spare fuse for power supply (according to voltage specification)......1
100 V, 120 V setting : 250 V F 1.0 AL 5 x 20 mm dia
220 V, 240 V setting : 250 V F 0.5 AL 5 x 20 mm dia
Shipping precautionsUse the original packing materials when transporting the unit, if possible.
Options
Chapter 10 "Options" (p. 199)
About Special Specifications
These specifications are not included in standard products.
Probes, fixture are not supplied with the unit as standard equipment. You
should order them separately, according to requirements.

2Safety Information
Safety Information
This manual contains information and warnings essential for safe operation of
the unit and for maintaining it in safe operating condition. Before using it, be
sure to carefully read the following safety precautions.
Safety Symbols
The following symbols in this manual indicate the relative importance of cau-
tions and warnings.
Other Symbols
This unit is designed to comply with IEC 61010 Safety Standards, and
has been thoroughly tested for safety prior to shipment. However, mis-
handling during use could result in injury or death, as well as damage
to the unit. Be certain that you understand the instructions and precau-
tions in the manual before use. We disclaim any responsibility for acci-
dents or injuries not resulting directly from unit defects.
In the manual, the symbol indicates particularly important
information that the user should read before using the unit.
The symbol printed on the unit indicates that the user should
refer to a corresponding topic in the manual (marked with the
symbol) before using the relevant function.
Indicates AC (Alternating Current).
Indicates a grounding terminal.
Indicates a fuse.
Indicates the ON side of the power switch.
Indicates the OFF side of the power switch.
Indicates that incorrect operation presents a significant haz-
ard that could result in serious injury or death to the user.
Indicates that incorrect operation presents a possibility of
injury to the user or damage to the unit.
Indicates advisory items related to performance or correct
operation of the unit.
Indicates a prohibited action.
Indicates the location of reference information.
Indicates quick references for operation and remedies for
troubleshooting.
*Indicates that descriptive information is provided below.

Safety Information 3
Measurement Categories (Overvoltage categories)
To ensure safe operation of measurement units, IEC 60664 establishes
safety standards for various electrical environments, categorized as CAT I to
CAT IV, and called overvoltage categories. These are defined as follows.
Higher-numbered categories correspond to electrical environments with
greater momentary energy. So a measurement device designed for CAT III
environments can endure greater momentary energy than a device designed
for CAT II.
Using a measurement unit in an environment designated with a higher-num-
bered category than that for which the unit is rated could result in a severe
accident, and must be carefully avoided.
Accuracy We define measurement tolerances in terms of rdg. (reading) and dgt. (digit) val-
ues, with the following meanings:
CAT I: Secondary electrical circuits connected to an AC elec-
trical outlet through a transformer or similar device.
CAT II: Primary electrical circuits in equipment connected to
an AC electrical outlet by a power cord (portable tools,
household appliances, etc.)
CAT III: Primary electrical circuits of heavy equipment (fixed
installations) connected directly to the distribution
panel, and feeders from the distribution panel to out-
lets.
CAT IV: The circuit from the service drop to the service
entrance, and to the power meter and primary over-
current protection device (distribution panel).
rdg.
(reading or displayed value) The value currently being measured and indicated on the measuring unit.
dgt. (resolution) The smallest displayable unit on a digital
measuring unit/ device/ product, i.e., the
input value that causes the digital display
to show a "1" as the least-significant digit.

4Operating Precautions
Operating Precautions
Follow these precautions to ensure safe operation and to obtain the full bene-
fits of the various functions.
Operating Temperature and Humidity: 0 to 40°C), 80%RH or less, no con-
densation
Storage Temperature and Humidity: -10 to 55°C, 80%RH or less, no conden-
sation
Accuracy-guaranteed temperature and humidity ranges: 23±5°C, 80%RH
Installing • Do not install the unit with any side except the bottom facing down.
• Vents must not be obstructed.
Unit Installation
Avoid the following locations that could cause an accident or damage
to the unit.
Exposed to direct sun-
light
Exposed to high tem-
perature
In the presence of cor-
rosive or explosive
gases
Exposed to liquids
Exposed to high hu-
midity or condensa-
tion
Exposed to strong
electromagnetic fields
Near electromagnetic
radiators
Exposed to high lev-
els of particulate dust Subject to vibration
OK
5 cm or more 10 cm or more

Operating Precautions 5
• To avoid damage to the unit, protect it from physical shock when transport-
ing and handling. Be especially careful to avoid physical shock from drop-
ping.
• Do not apply heavy downward pressure with the stand extended. The stand
could be damaged.
Never modify the unit. Only Hioki service engineers should disassem-
ble or repair the unit. Failure to observe these precautions may result in
fire, electric shock, or injury.
If anything unusual happens during operation of the unit, turn off the
power switch immediately and contact any HIOKI service facility for
help, advice and service.
Handling this device
• Before turning the unit on, make sure the supply voltage matches
that indicated on the its power connector. Connection to an improper
supply voltage may damage the unit and present an electrical hazard.
• The power supply voltage for this unit is switchable. To avoid electri-
cal accidents, check that the voltage selector is set correctly for the
supply voltage you are using.
Setting Procedure for the Power Voltage : 2.2 "Checking the Power Voltage" (p.
16)
• To avoid electrical accidents and to maintain the safety specifications
of this unit, connect the power cord only to a 3-contact (two-conduc-
tor + ground) outlet.
Connection Procedure : 2.3 "Connecting the Power Cord" (p. 17)
• To avoid shock and short circuits, turn off all power before connect-
ing probes.
Check the connections carefully in order to avoid any chance of setting
up a short-circuit etc.
Before connection and powering on

6Operating Precautions
About the guarantee You should be aware that HIOKI cannot accept any responsibility directly or
indirectly if the unit has been incorporated in some other system, or if it is
resold to a third party.
Preliminary Checks Before using the unit the first time, verify that it operates normally to ensure
that the no damage occurred during storage or shipping. If you find any dam-
age, contact your dealer or Hioki representative.
Before using the unit, make sure that the insulation on the probes and
cables is undamaged and that no bare conductors are improperly
exposed. Using the unit in such conditions could cause an electric
shock, so contact your dealer or Hioki representative for replacements.

1.1 Product Overview 7
1
The HIOKI Model 3504 and 3504-10 C HiTesters are capacitance meters
employing 120 Hz and 1 kHz frequencies to measure capacitors other than
electrolysis capacitors (Capacitors other than the non-electrolytic capacitors)
at high speed and high accuracy. Primary applications include pass-fail judg-
ment and ranking of capacitors on tape machines and sorters.
These capacitance meters use 120 Hz and 1 kHz measurement frequencies.
The 3504 and 3504-10 are capable of high-speed measurement: 2 ms at
measurement frequency 1 kHz, and 10 ms at 120 Hz.
Provides constant-voltage measurement capability.
(With 1 kHz selected) 1V: to 70 μF 500 mV: to 170 μF
(With 120 Hz selected) 1V: to 700 μF 500 mV: to 1.45 mF
Capacitors are easily ranked according to C (Capacitance*1) measurement
values into as many as 14 classifications.
Easily perform pass-fail judgment of components according to measurements
of both C and D (Dissipation Factor*2).
Provides superior visibility.
The 3504 offers external I/O for sequencing, a standard RS-232C interface,
and a standard GP-IB interface (Model 3504 only).
Overview Chapter 1
1.1 Product Overview
1.2 Features
Capacitance-specific units
High-speed measurement
Constant-voltage measurements
Bin sorting function (Model 3504 only)
Comparator function
LED display
Equipped with standard data transfer interfaces

81.2 Features
Up to 200 measurement values can be stored in memory.
The measurement signal can be input to the sample in sync with a trigger.
Synchronize multiple meters to reduce interference-induced measurement
instability.
*1. Capability to store electric charge.*2. An indicator of capacitor losses.
Measurement value memory
Trigger-synchronous measurement capability
Synchronous measurement (Special feature of Model
3504)

1.3 Entire Workflow 9
1
Measurement
Preparations Chapter 2 "Measurement Preparations" (p. 15)
1.Check the power voltage.
2.Connect the power cord.
3.Connect the probes or fixture (option) to the measurement terminals.
4.Turn the power on.
5.Connect the sample.
Pre-Operation
Inspection 3.1 "Pre-Operation Inspection" (p. 21)
Be sure to perform pre-operation inspection prior to measurement.
Basic Measurement 3.2 "Measurement Example" (p. 23)
1.Prepare the unit, fixture, and sample.
2.Connect the fixture to the measurement terminals.
3.Set the measurement conditions.
4.Connect the sample to the fixture.
5.Check the measurement results.
Application Functions Chapter 4 "Application Functions" (p. 41), Chapter 7 "Controlling the Unit from a
PC" (p. 91)
1.3 Entire Workflow
Function Description Reference
Section
Comparator mea-
surement function Set the upper limit and lower limit valuesandjudgewhethersamples
pass or fail.
4.1 (p. 41)
BIN measurement
function
(only for 3504)
Set variations of the upper limit
and lower limit values and rank
samples accordingly.
4.2 (p. 50)
Synchronous mea-
surement function
(specialspecification
for 3504)
Reduce the differences in mea-
surement values caused by inter-
ference when using multiple 3504
units for measurement.
4.3 (p. 60)
Trigger synchro-
nous output function Apply the measurement signal only during measurement to re-
duce the generation of heat in the
sample and decrease electrode
wear.
4.4 (p. 62)
Key lock function Disable key operations. 4.5 (p. 64)
Communication
function Control the unit from a PC. Chapter 7 (p. 91)
Panel save function Save measurement conditions. 4.6 (p. 65)
Panel load function Load saved measurement condi-
tions 4.7 (p. 66)
Printing function Print measurement values. 4.8 (p. 69)

10 1.3 Entire Workflow
Application
Measurement Chapter 6 "Application Measurement" (p. 81)
Measurement using EXT I/O
Measurement of high impedance components
Measurement of components in circuit networks
Other Settings Chapter 5 "Other Settings" (p. 73)
Beep tone setting
Reset of system
Countermeasures against incorporation of external noise

1.4 Names and Functions of Parts 11
1
1.4 Names and Functions of Parts
Front
MAIN Display
Displays the measurement
values of C and D.
Displays the MENU items.
Comparator Evaluation
Result Display
Displays evaluation results in
Comparator Mode.
4.1 "Comparator Function" (p.
41)
Operating Panel
Use to set measurement
conditionsandtomakeother
settings
(⇒p. 12)
Measurement Terminals
There are five measurement ter-
minals:
HCUR Measurement-signal
input terminal
HPOT Detected voltage high
terminal
LPOT Detected voltage low
terminal
LCUR Measurement current
detected terminal
GUARD Guard terminal
2.4 "Connecting the Probes and
Fixtures" (p. 18)
Setting Condition
Display
Displays current measure-
ment conditions, preset-
tings, and other information.
*BIN (3504 only)
SUB Display
Displays the limit values of
BIN (only for 3504) and
comparator.
BIN Judgment Result
Display (only for 3504)
Displays judgment results in
BIN mode.
4.2 "BIN Measurement Func-
tion (Only for 3504)" (p. 50)

12 1.4 Names and Functions of Parts
Operating Panel
Measurement frequency setting
(⇒p. 25)
Measurement signal level setting
(⇒p. 26)
Measurement speed setting
(⇒p. 27)
Equivalent circuit mode
(⇒p. 27)
Measurement range setting
(⇒p. 29)
Open short circuit compensation
(⇒p. 31)
Load compensation setting
(⇒p. 36)
Trigger mode setting
(⇒p. 39)
Measurement mode
setting
(⇒p. 25)
ComparatorandBIN
measurement func-
tion settings
4.1 "Comparator
Function" (p. 41),
4.2 "BIN Measure-
ment Function
(Only for 3504)" (p.
50)
Arrow keys
Used to change set-
tings and move to
menu items or digits.
Enter
Measurement range
setting
(⇒p. 29)
Lock/ Local
(⇒p. 64)
Menu
Manual trigger
(⇒p. 39)
Keypad
Used to enter numeric values.

1.4 Names and Functions of Parts 13
1
Back
Power Inlet
Connect the supplied
power cord
 2.3 "Connecting the
Power Cord" (p. 17)
GP-IB
Connector
(only for 3504)
Connect a GP-IB
cable.
Chapter 7 "Control-
ling the Unit from a
PC" (p. 91)
RS-232C
Connector
Connect an RS-232C
cable.
Chapter 7 "Controlling
the Unit froma PC" (p.
91)
EXT I/O Connector
Inputs external trigger sig-
nals and outputs comparator
result signals and other sig-
nals. Supports connection to
a sequencer.
6.1 "Measurement Using
EXT I/O" (p. 81)
Power Switch
Turns the power on and
off. : Turns the power off.
: Turns the power on.
2.5 "Turning the Power
On and Off" (p. 19)
Voltage
Selectors
Changes the power
voltage
I
Phase Synchronization Connector
(Special Specification)
Connect this to another 3504 (3504-10) unit when per-
forming synchronous measurement.
 4.3 "Synchronous Measurement Function (3504 special
specification)" (p. 60)
Stand
Side
Left side Right side
Do not apply heavy downward pressure with the stand extended. The stand
could be damaged.

14 1.4 Names and Functions of Parts