User Manual – Rev AV    AMETEK Programmable Power 
MX Series    71 
3.10  Clock and Lock Configurations 
The MX Series may optionally be equipped for clock and lock mode of operation. This mode is a 
special form of Master/Auxiliary, which requires each chassis to have its controller. As such, it is 
possible to create 2, 3, 6 or 9 phase power systems using 2 to 3 MX chassis. For most 2 or 3 
phase configurations, the normal multi-box mode of operation as described in section 3.8 is 
recommended as it provides a single controller (and GPIB/RS232 control interface). 
In a clock and lock configuration, each unit has its own front panel controls (as well as individual 
GPIB and RS232C interfaces) for operating the supply but the output frequency of the auxiliary 
unit(s) (-LKS option) is synchronized (locked) tot he Master MX unit (-LKM). 
This mode of operation requires that one MX has the -LKM (Lock Master) option and one or two 
MX units have the -LKS (Lock auxiliary) option.  
3.10.1  Clock/Lock Configuration Settings 
 
Clock and lock configuration. settings for -LKM and -LKS equipped MX's are set at the factory at 
the time of shipment and cannot be changed. To check the configuration settings for an MX, 
select the UTILITY2, CONFIGURATION screen. In the configuration screen, the CLK/LOC entry 
determines if the unit is a Master or Auxiliary as follows: 
 
 
 
Stand alone MX or MX-LKM clock and lock 
master.
 
Frequency mode is set to either INT (internal 
= default) or SYNC (external sync).
 
Auxiliary MX. 
Frequency mode selection is
 
INT (internal = 
for stand alone use) or EXT (external for 
Clock and Lock mode operation.)
 
Table 3-13: Clock and Lock Configuration settings 
Note that the actual mode of operation of a Clock/Lock MX-LKM auxiliary unit is determined by 
the Clock mode set in the PROGRAM2 screen. For clock and lock mode of operation, the master 
is set to INT and the Auxiliary to EXT.