How to Measure Power Power Measurement
Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, and 8166A/B User’s Guide, Fourth Edition 85
How to Remove Electrical Offsets
Optical Power Meters measure optical power by converting optical
power to electrical power, and then measuring electrical power. An
electrical offset is electrical power that is always present, even if there
no optical power is input. If electrical offsets are not removed, they
affect the accuracy of power measurement.
Performing a zero sets the zero power level to the average electrical
offset level for the current environmental conditions.
NOTE The environmental conditions and the temperature of the instrument
affect electrical offset. For the best results you must:
• Allow the instrument time to acclimatize (around 24 hours).
• Allow the instrument time to warm up (around 20 minutes).
• Make sure that the optical input is not receiving any light. If you are
using multi-mode fiber-optic cable, you must disconnect the cable
and cover the input to the Power Meter to perform a zero.
It is good practice to perform a zero before making any important
measurements.
To remove electrical offsets:
1 Make sure the optical input is not receiving any light. If the
instrument has just been switched on, wait until SETTLING is not
displayed for the module channel.
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