2400S-903-01 Rev. E / September 2011 Return to Section Topics 1-17
Series 2400 SourceMeter® Quick Start Guide Section 1: Introduction
Settings to optimize performance
Range
To achieve best accuracy, the SourceMeter should be on the lowest possible measurement range. 
In most situations, auto range can be used to automatically select the best range. Auto range is 
controlled (enabled/disabled) by the AUTO range key (AUTO annunciator indicates auto range is 
enabled).
 RANGE 
arrow keys are used for manual range selection. Note that pressing either of these keys 
disables auto range.
NOTE Basic ranging information (including the SCPI commands for remote 
operation) is covered in “Fundamental source-measure operations.”
Table 1-10
Command sequence for auto ohms example
Command* Comments
*RST Restore GPIB defaults (one-shot measurement mode). 
:SENS:FUNC  “RES” Select ohms measurement function. 
:SENS:RES:RANG  200 Select 200Ω range. 
:SENS:RES:MODE  AUTO Select the auto ohms measurement method.
:SYST:RSEN  ON  Select 4-wire sense mode. 
:OUTP  ON
Turn the output on. 
:READ? Trigger and acquire one data string. 
*SourceMeter must be addressed to talk after sending :READ? to trigger and acquire data. 
Table 1-11
Command sequence for manual ohms example
Command* Comments
*RST Restore GPIB defaults (one-shot measurement mode). 
:SENS:FUNC  “RES” Select ohms measurement function. 
:SENS:RES:MODE  MAN Select the manual ohms measurement method.
:SOUR:FUNC  VOLT Select voltage source fun
c
tion. 
:SOUR:VOLT:MODE  FIX Select fixed voltage sourcing mode. 
:SOUR:VOLT:RANG  2 Select 2V source range. 
:SOUR:VOLT:LEV 2 Set source level to 2V. 
:SENS:CURR:PROT  10e-3 Set current compliance to 10mA.
:SENS:CURR:RANG:AUTO  
ON
Select auto range for current measurements. 
:SYST:RSEN  OFF Select 2-wire sense mode. 
:OUTP  ON
Turn the output on. 
:READ? Trigger and acquire one data string.
*SourceMeter must be addressed to talk after sending :READ? to trigger and acquire data.