6.5 Measure Mode
6.5.1 Measure Mode Operation
In MEASURE Mode, the AT3600 tester is set up to operate like a component bridge. It repeatedly makes measurements for one selected test, and continuously updates the front panel display with results.
To access MEASURE mode, press the MEASURE soft key at the top-level display:
the following display lists the tests that are available for your tester in MEASURE mode.
By using the soft-key cursors (↑ and ↓) or by typing the initial letter of a test, you may select the test you require. The cursors are displayed only when they are valid, hence the ↑ cursor is not visible when the screen is displaying the top line of the list of tests.
The ABORT soft-key may be used to return the tester to the top level menu.
Having selected the test, for example ‘C Capacitance’,
pressing ENTER takes you to the relevant set up display:
The details of the set up display will vary depending on which test you have selected. For the capacitance test, the list of parameters to enter is: Test voltage, Test frequency, Integration, Hi node(s), and Lo node(s). For Winding Resistance, the list is simply: Integration, Hi node, and Lo node.
Some tests, such as Winding Inductance and Capacitance, will require you to set up the measurement conditions - the test voltage and frequency. If these are known, you can enter the values you require.
Alternatively, the tester allows a choice of AUTO for the measurement conditions for some tests. Choose this if you are unsure of what voltage and / or frequency to program.
Note that there are sometimes restrictions on which combinations of parameters can be AUTO and SPECIFIED. In the ‘C Capacitance’ test, the valid combinations are as follows:
| Voltage |
Auto |
Auto |
Specified |
| Frequency |
Auto |
Specified |
Specified |
In the set up list, it is always the parameter on the third line that is active, for example ‘Test voltage’ in the display above.
Parameter data is either typed in via the keyboard (if the data to be entered is for example a number of volts), or selected by pressing the third soft-key. Examples of using the third soft-key are: selecting between AUTO and SPECIFIED for the ‘Test voltage’; and selecting the ‘Integration’:
In this particular case, the Integration is set to MEDIUM, and the next available choice is LONG. Pressing the third soft-key repeatedly will cycle the parameter setting through all the available choices:
Because node numbers (1 to 20) are used in the MEASURE Mode, the test nodes are entered using the keyboard number pad. After each node number has been typed, proceed to the next by using the cursor (↑ or ↓) soft-keys, or by using the ENTER key (
).
If you have have purchased an AT1600 without the optional nodes 11 to 20 fitted, the display will show node 10 if you try to enter 11 to 20.
For simple tests such as Winding Resistance, there is only one Hi (or Lo) node value to enter. However, for the ‘C Capacitance’ test, there may be several values for both Hi and Lo nodes.After you have entered the first Hi node, the display will show:
As you enter more numbers, these will be added to the list of Hi nodes. When you press the Enter key, or the ↓ soft-key with no new number (for example at the display above), then the group of Hi nodes will be terminated, and the display will move to the Lo nodes:
When you have entered values for each parameter in the set up list, press the EXIT softkey.
The next display will depend on the particular test. For the ‘C Capacitance’ test, it is:
If you wish to apply Fixture Compensation to the measurements, ensure that the fixture is empty, and press the COMPENSATE soft-key. When the Compensation is finished, the display will return to one similar to the one above, but with the COMPENSATE soft-key and message omitted. (For some tests there is no COMPENSATE option, and for others compensation requires the fixture to be fitted with short-circuit links.)
Pressing the MEASURE soft-key will start the measurements.
and the measurements will be continually updated until a key is pressed.
The results are shown with 5 significant figures, in normal engineering notation, with symbols for the units (Ω, F, H etc.), and with the normal multipliers covering 10-18 to 10+18 (a, f, p, n, μ, m, K, M, G, T, P and E).
Pressing NEW MEASURE takes the operator back to the ‘Select measurement’ display above. You should do this if you wish to measure a different parameter.
If you wish to simply change the test conditions for the existing measurement, then press the soft-key NEW SET UP to return to the set up list for the current test.
Pressing FINISH goes back to the top-level display.
Please study chapter 7. ‘Tests and test conditions’ for help with selecting MEASURE Mode test parameters.