Low-Level Measurement Resources
Print
Overview
The tutorials and webcasts linked below concentrate on minimizing measurement error in order to achieve accurate and reliable readings on temperature, low-voltage, low-current and low-resistance measurements. Many sources of error are discussed including the common topics of noise and interference, as well as the more subtle effects of cabling, switching, and environmental changes that become important for low-level signals.
Presentations and Webcasts
Developing Precision DC Test Systems in PXI
Watch this National Instruments webcast to learn techniques for low-level voltage, current, and resistance measurements, guarding, voltage/current sweeps, and high-performance switching in the PXI platform. After presenting the theory behind these techniques, demonstrations will include the new PXI-4110 programmable power supply, PXI-4022 guard and current amplifier, and PXI-4071 7½-digit DMM.
Interactive Tutorial - Eliminating Errors in Low Resistance Measurements
This interactive tutorial is a self-paced, multimedia-based technical presentation designed to help you understand how to reduce errors in low resistance measurements and how the NI 4070 FlexDMM improves measurement accuracy.
Digital Multimeter Measurement Techniques and Definitions
This tutorial recommends tips and techniques for using a National Instruments digital multimeter (DMM) to build the most accurate measurement system possible. In this tutorial, you learn how the NI 4070 can operate as both a 6½ digit digital multimeter and a fully isolated, high-voltage digitizer, capable of acquiring waveforms at sample rates up to 1.8 MS/s at ±300 V input. This section of the tutorial covers the topics below.
White Papers
Switching Low-Level Signals to a DMM
This document describes the fundamental principles that affect low-level measurements, which relay types best address these principles, the recommended NI Switches to use, and other tips and techniques for making low-level measurements.
How To Reduce Errors When Switching Low-Voltage Signals
This tutorial is part 1 of a three part series that discusses switching low-level voltage,current, and resistances. Each tutorial in this series, will provide you with insights on low-level switching for various different applications and measurement types. This tutorial introduces and discusses the techniques and challenges when switching low-voltage signals.
How To Reduce Errors When Switching Low-Current Signals
This tutorial is part 2 of a three part series that discusses switching low-level voltage,current, and resistances. This tutorial introduces and discusses the techniques and challenges when switching low-current signals.
How To Reduce Errors When Switching Low Resistances
This tutorial is part 3 of a three part series that discusses switching low-level voltage,current, and resistances. This tutorial introduces and discusses the techniques and challenges when switching low-resistances.
Improve Resistance Measurement Accuracy with 6-Wire Technique
This tutorial discusses how to make 6-wire resistance meausurements to reduce measurement errors in applications where the resistor under test is in parallel with another resistance or when automated test probes become contaminated from particles or solvents (and therefore provide a parallel resistance themselves).
How to Minimize Errors for Low-Current Measurements
Measuring currents in the nanoamp and picoamp ranges requires greater attention to detail when setting up your measurement system. Simply assuming that the value returned from your instrument is infallible can often be a costly mistake. You should understand two factors in particular to ensure accurate measurements – the ammeter measurement method and the impact of measurement cabling.
Removing Thermal Offset Errors from Contact, Switch, and Relay Resistance Measurements Tutorial
This document will describe the traditional methods and it will describe how to use the NI 4070 FlexDMM Offset Compensated Ohms (OCO) feature to remove thermal offset errors from low-level contact, switch, and relay resistance measurements.
Calculating Thermocouple Measurement Error in DMM/Switch Temperature Measurement Systems
Temperature measurements are by definition low-voltage measurements, so great care must be taken to ensure the accuracy of a temperature measurement system. This paper describes the considerations to take into account when creating a temperature measurement system and how to characterize its accuracy.
Performing High-Accuracy Temperature Measurements Using a NI Digital Multimeter and Switch
This tutorial is part of the National Instruments Measurement Fundamentals series. Each tutorial in this series will teach you a specific topic of common measurement applications by explaining theoretical concepts and providing practical examples. This document introduces you to taking high-accuracy temperature measurements using thermocouples and RTDs.
Related Links
- NI Digital Multimeter (DMM) and LCR Meter
- NI PXI Programmable Power Supplies and Precision Sources
- NI Switches
Print
Reader Comments | Submit a comment »
Legal
This example program (this "program") was developed by a National Instruments ("NI") Applications Engineer. Although technical support of this program may be made available by National Instruments, this program may not be completely tested and verified, and NI does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this program with each new revision of related products and drivers. THIS EXAMPLE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).