Equipment/HP3488A Electronic Switch Unit
The electronics area currently has a HP3488A Electronic Switch Unit with GPIB on loan (User:dirkx) with the following cards:
- HP44471A General Purpose Relais card (slot 1,2) (on loan, User:dirkx)
- HP44474A Digital IO card (slot 3, 4) (on loan, User:dirkx)
- HP44473A Matrix Switrch card (slot 5) (on loan, User:dirkx)
Most of above card come both with a screw-terminal and D connector breakout. You generally want to use the D connectors - a large pile of spares are in the drawers on your right.
Documentation can be found [here] and [here] (though the latter depends on the firmware key).
You can use this unit in many ways. First it is basically is a robust relay/IO system (and as you can verify a relay setting; it won't lose them across powercuts and is autonomous from the PC/laptop controlling - it is generally more suitable for controlling the more dangerous things - such as a climate chamber left on overnight). Secondly - as it understands GPIB one can use the matrix or the relay cards to measure many values in quick succession - with the HP3488A going to the next value on completion of the metering (as it follows the action on the GPIB bus).
