ILX Lightwave LDT-5500B Series User manual

User’s Guide
Temperature Controller
LDT-5500B Series
70019907 May 2011
ILX Lightwave Corporation · 31950 Frontage Road · Bozeman, MT, U.S.A. 59715 · U.S. & Canada: 1-800-459-9459 · International Inquiries: 406-556-2481 · Fax [phone]
ilx.custhelp.com ·www.ilxlightwave.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS
05_11 LDT-5500B Series i
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Safety Information and the Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
General Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Safety Marking Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Comments, Suggestions, and Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Chapter 1 Introduction and Specifications
Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Available Options and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2 Operation
AC Power Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Rack Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Power-Up Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Introduction to the LDT-5500B Series Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Parameter Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
THERMISTOR SENSOR CAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
IC Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Output and Control Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Analog Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ii LDT-5500B Series
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Back Panel Controls and Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SENSOR SELECT Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
TEC Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
USB Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
TEC Grounding Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
General Operating Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Warm-Up and Environmental Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Temperature Mode Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Resistance Mode Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Chapter 3 Remote Operation
USB Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Command Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
White Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Command Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Boolean Parameter Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Command Timing and Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Chapter 4 Command Reference
LDT-5500B Series Device-Dependent Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Chapter 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Calibration Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Recommended Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Environmental Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Warm Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Calibration Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Thermistor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Remote Thermistor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
AD590 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Remote AD590 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

TABLE OF CONTENTS
05_11 LDT-5500B Series iii
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LM335 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Remote LM335 Sensor Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
ITE Current Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Remote ITE Current Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Appendix A Steinhart-Hart Equation
Appendix B Sensing Current and Thermistor Selection
Thermistor Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Temperature Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Selecting the Sensing Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Selecting and Using Thermistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Appendix C AD590 and LM335 Sensor Calibration
AD590 Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
LM335 Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
One Point Calibration Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Two Point Calibration Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

TABLE OF CONTENTS
iv LDT-5500B Series
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LIST OF FIGURES
05_11 LDT-5500B Series v
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1 LDT-5500B Series Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Figure 2.2 LDT-5500B Series Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Figure 2.3 Back Panel TEC Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Figure B.1 Thermistor Temperature Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Figure C.1 AD590 Nonlinearity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

LIST OF FIGURES
vi LDT-5500B Series
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LDT-5500B Series vii
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SAFETY AND WARRANTY INFORMATION
The Safety and Warranty Information section provides details about cautionary
symbols used in the manual, safety markings used on the instrument, and
information about the Warranty including Customer Service contact information.
Safety Information and the Manual
Throughout this manual, you will see the words Caution and Warning indicating
potentially dangerous or hazardous situations which, if not avoided, could result in
death, serious or minor injury, or damage to the product. Specifically:
Caution indicates a potentially hazardous situation which can result in minor or
moderate injury or damage to the product or equipment.
Warning indicates a potentially dangerous situation which can result in serious injury or
death.
WARNING
Visible and/or invisible laser radiation. Avoid direct exposure to the beam.
General Safety Considerations
If any of the following conditions exist, or are even suspected, do not use the
instrument until safe operation can be verified by trained service personnel:
•Visible damage
•Severe transport stress
•Prolonged storage under adverse conditions
•Failure to perform intended measurements or functions
If necessary, return the instrument to ILX Lightwave, or authorized local ILX
Lightwave distributor, for service or repair to ensure that safety features are
maintained (see the contact information on page xi).
All instruments returned to ILX Lightwave are required to have a Return
Authorization Number assigned by an official representative of ILX Lightwave
Corporation. See Returning an Instrument on page ix for more information.

SAFETY SYMBOLS
viii LDT-5500B Series

SAFETY SYMBOLS
This section describes the safety symbols and classifications.
Technical specifications including electrical ratings and weight are included within
the manual. See the Table of Contents to locate the specifications and other
product information. The following classifications are standard across all ILX
Lightwave products:
•Indoor use only
•Ordinary Protection: This product is NOT protected against the harmful ingress of moisture.
•Class I Equipment (grounded type)
•Mains supply voltage fluctuations are not to exceed ±10% of the nominal supply voltage.
•Pollution Degree II
•Installation (overvoltage) Category II for transient overvoltages
•Maximum Relative Humidity: <80% RH, non-condensing
•Operating temperature range of 0 °C to 40 °C
•Storage and transportation temperature of –40 °C to 70 °C
•Maximum altitude: 3000 m (9843 ft.)
•This equipment is suitable for continuous operation.
Safety Marking Symbols
This section provides a description of the safety marking symbols that appear on
the instrument. These symbols provide information about potentially dangerous
situations which can result in death, injury, or damage to the instrument and other
components.
Caution,
refer to
manual
Earth
ground
Te r m i n a l
Alternating
current
Visible and/or
invisible laser
radiation
Caution, risk
of electric
shock
Protective
Conductor
Te r m i n a l
Caution, hot
surface
Frame or
chassis
Te r m i n a l
On: In position of a bistable push control.
The slash (I) only denotes that mains are on.
Off: Out position of a bistable push control.
The circle (O) only denotes that mains are off.
or
(I)
or
(O)

WARRANTY
05_11 LDT-5500B Series ix

WARRANTY
ILX LIGHTWAVE CORPORATION warrants this instrument to be free from
defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from date of
shipment. During the warranty period, ILX will repair or replace the unit, at our
option, without charge.
Limitations
This warranty does not apply to fuses, lamps, defects caused by abuse,
modifications, or to use of the product for which it was not intended.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including any
implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. ILX
Lightwave Corporation shall not be liable for any incidental, special, or
consequential damages.
If a problem occurs, please contact ILX Lightwave Corporation with the
instrument's serial number, and thoroughly describe the nature of the problem.
Returning an Instrument
If an instrument is to be shipped to ILX Lightwave for repair or service, be sure to:
1Obtain a Return Authorization number (RA) from ILX Customer Service.
2Attach a tag to the instrument identifying the owner and indicating the required service or
repair. Include the instrument serial number from the rear panel of the instrument.
3Attach the anti-static protective caps that were shipped with the instrument and place the
instrument in a protective anti-static bag.
4Place the instrument in the original packing container with at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) of
compressible packaging material. Shipping damage is not covered by this warranty.
5Secure the packing box with fiber reinforced strapping tape or metal bands.
6Send the instrument, transportation pre-paid, to ILX Lightwave. Clearly write the return
authorization number on the outside of the box and on the shipping paperwork. ILX
Lightwave recommends you insure the shipment.
If the original shipping container is not available, place your instrument in a
container with at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) of compressible packaging material on all
sides.
Repairs are made and the instrument returned transportation pre-paid. Repairs
are warranted for the remainder of the original warranty or for 90 days, whichever
is greater.

WARRANTY
x LDT-5500B Series

Claims for Shipping Damage
When you receive the instrument, inspect it immediately for any damage or
shortages on the packing list. If the instrument is damaged, file a claim with the
carrier. The factory will supply you with a quotation for estimated costs of repair.
You must negotiate and settle with the carrier for the amount of damage.

WARRANTY
05_11 LDT-5500B Series xi

Comments, Suggestions, and Problems
To ensure that you get the most out of your ILX Lightwave product, we ask that
you direct any product operation or service related questions or comments to ILX
Lightwave Customer Support. You may contact us in whatever way is most
convenient:
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [phone] or [phone]
Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [phone]
On the web at: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ilx.custhelp.com
Or mail to:
ILX Lightwave Corporation
P. O. Box 6310
Bozeman, Montana, U.S.A 59771
www.ilxlightwave.com
When you contact us, please have the following information:
If ILX Lightwave determines that a return to the factory is necessary, you are
issued a Return Authorization (RA) number. Please mark this number on the
outside of the shipping box.
You or your shipping service are responsible for any shipping damage when
returning the instrument to ILX Lightwave; ILX recommends you insure the
shipment. If the original shipping container is not available, place your instrument
Model Number:
Serial Number:
End-user Name:
Company:
Phone:
Fax:
Description of what is
connected to the ILX
Lightwave instrument:
Description of the problem:

WARRANTY
xii LDT-5500B Series

in a container with at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) of compressible packaging material
on all sides.
We look forward to serving you even better in the future!

LDT-5500B Series 1
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CHAPTER 1
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INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
This manual contains operation and maintenance information for the LDT-5500B
Series Temperature Controller.
Product Overview
The LDT-5500B Series Temperature Controller is a microprocessor-based,
precision thermoelectric temperature controller designed for temperature control
of laser diodes, detectors and other temperature sensitive devices. The LDT-
5500B Series can be used for laser diode testing, laser diode frequency
stabilization, IR detector cooling, and to determine the characteristics of electronic
devices. The LDT-5500B Series combines high analog stability with the versatility
of a microprocessor-based instrument. The internal microprocessor controls the
operation of the LDT-5500B Series and performs the non-linear conversion of
thermistor resistance to temperature based on user-defined constants.
You can configure the LDT-5500B Series to operate with a wide variety of
thermistor temperature sensors and TE modules, as well as AD590 series and
LM335 series temperature sensors.
Features of the LDT-5500B Series include:
•Intuitive front panel layout
•Large and easy-to-read green LED display
•Display resolution of 0.1 degree Centigrade
•Output current limit control to safely operate TE module based devices
•Configurable for a variety of thermal sensors
•LDT-5525B is capable of 4A, 24W; LDT-5545B is capable of 5A, 50W
•Easy to use remote USB operation
•Closed-case calibration

INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Product Overview
2 LDT-5500B Series
CHAPTER 1

Available Options and Accessories
Options and accessories available for the LDT-5500B Series Temperature
Controller include the following:
Please contact ILX Lightwave or check www.ilxlightwave.com for information on
additional options for your applications.
DESCRIPTION MODEL NUMBER
Single Rack mount kit 
(enables installation into a standard 19” rack) RM-134
Dual Rack mount kit
(enables installation of two LDT-5500B Series instruments into a
standard 19” rack)
RM-135
Temperature Controlled Laser Diode Mount LDM-4405
Temperature Controlled Laser Diode Mount LDM-4407
High Power Laser Diode Mount LDM-4442
Temperature Controlled Laser Diode Mount
(available with collimating assembly) LDM-4412
Temperature Controlled Laser Diode Mount LDM-4990
Temperature Controller Interconnect Cable (unterminated) CC-501S
Temperature Conroller Interconnect Cable (terminated) CC-505S
Calibrated 10 Kohm Thermistor TS-510
Uncalibrated 10 Kohm Thermistor TS-520
Uncalibrated AD590LH IC Temperature Sensor TS-530
Uncalibrated LM335 IC Temperature Sensor TS-540
RTD Sensor Converter TSC-599
Unipolar Heater Adapter UCA-350

INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications
05_11 LDT-5500B Series 3
CHAPTER 1

Specifications
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
OUTPUT
Temperature Control Range1-99 oC to 199.9 oC
Temperature Setpoint Resolution 0.1 oC
Temperature Setpoint Accuracy2
Thermistor +0.2oC
AD590 +0.5oC
LM335 +0.5oC
Short Term Stability (1 hour)3<+0.006oC
Long Term Stability (24 hours)3<+0.01oC
Temperature Coefficient
TEC OUTPUT
Type Bipolar current source
Control Algorithm Smart Integrator, Hybrid PI
Compliance Voltage >6V DC (@ 4A): LDT-5525B
>10V DC (@ 5A): LDT-5545B
Maximum Output Current 4.0A: LDT-5525B
5.0A: LDT-5545B
Maximum Output Power 24W4: LDT-5525B
50W5: LDT-5545B
Current Noise and Ripple6<1 mA rms: LDT-5525B
<1 mA rms: LDT-5545B
CURRENT LIMIT
Current Limit Range 0-4.04A: LDT-5525B
0-5.05A: LDT-5545B
Current Limit Set Accuracy +50 mA: LDT-5525B
+50 mA: LDT-5545B
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Thermistor 2-wire NTC
IC Sensors AD590/LM335
RTD Sensor72-wire RTD 100, 500, or 1 k
Thermistor Sensing Current 10/100 A
IC Sensor Bias AD590 = 8V; LM335 = 0.6 mA
Usable Thermistor Range 250-450,000 

INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications
4 LDT-5500B Series
CHAPTER 1

User Calibration
Thermistor Steinhart-Hart, 3 constants
IC Sensor Slope and offset, two point
Analog Output 0 to 5V
Transfer Function8
10 A thermistor 10 k/V
100 A thermistor 10 k/V
AD590 100 A/V
LM335 1V/V
TEC MEASUREMENT (DISPLAY)
Display Type 4 digit green LED
Temperature Range -99 oC to 199.9 oC
Temperature Resolution
10 A thermistor 0.1oC
100 A thermistor 0.1oC
AD590 0.1oC
LM335 0.1oC
Accuracy3+0.5oC typical
Thermistor Resistance Range
10 A thermistor 2.0 - 450 k
100 A thermistor 0.25 - 45.0 k
Thermistor Resistance Resolution
10 A thermistor 0.1 k
100 A thermistor 0.01 k
Thermistor Resistance Accuracy
10 A thermistor +0.05% of FS
100 A thermistor +0.05% of FS
TE Current Range -4.00 to 4.00A: LDT-5525B
-5.00 to 5.00A: LDT-5545B
TE Current Resolution 0.01A: LDT-5525B
0.01A: LDT-5545B
TE Current Accuracy +0.03A: LDT-5525B
+0.03A: LDT-5545B
OUTPUT CONNECTOR
TEC I/O 15 pin, D-sub, rear panel

INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications
05_11 LDT-5500B Series 5
CHAPTER 1

1 Actual temperature control range depends primarly on the thermal load, sensor, and TE module used.
2 Accuracy figures are quoted for a typical 10kthermistor and 100 A current setting. Accuracy figures are relative
to the calibration standard. Both resolution and accuracy are dependent upon the user-defined configuration of the
instrument.
3 Stability is a strong function of the thermal environment of the temperature sensor and the TE module. Ambient air
currents in particular can cause fluctuations of 0.1oC in an exposed mounting configuration.
4 Output power rated into a 1.5load.
5 Output power rated into a 2.0load.
6 Measured with the instrument in ITE mode at half scale output over a bandwidth of 10 Hz to 10 MHz.
7 With use of optional TSC -599 Temperature Sensor Converter.
8 0 to 5V representing measured temperature.
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Analog Output BNC, front panel
Communications USB, rear panel
GENERAL
Power, VAC (50-60 Hz) 100 +10%; 120 +10%; 230 +10%
Current Draw
LDT-5525B 100-120VAC: 0.86A; 230VAC: 0.42A
LDT-5545B 100-120VAC: 1.16A; 230VAC: 0.55A
Size 88mm x 185mm x 304mm
3.5” x 7.3” x 12”
Weight 3.6 kg (8 pounds)
Operating Temperature 0 to 40 oC
Storage Temperature -40 to 70 oC
Humidity <80% relative, non-condensing
General
Output Connectors TEC I/O: 15-pin, D-sub
Analog Output: BNC
Size 3.5” x 7.3” x 12”
Weight 8.0 pounds
Power Requirements 90 - 125 VAC, 105 - 250 VAC (jumper selectable) 
at 50-60 Hz
Ambient Temperature Range 0 to +40 oC operating
-40 to +70 oC storage
Humidity < 85% relative humidity, non-condensing
Warm-Up 1 hour to rated accuracy

INTRODUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications
6 LDT-5500B Series
CHAPTER 1
