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GPIB Catalog

Keithley 2000

Keithley

2000

6.5-digit digital multimeter

multimeter SCPI
Keithley 2000 6.5-digit digital multimeter front panel
eBay listing photo
Default Address 16
Termination LF
IEEE 488.2 Yes
IDN Patterns
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC.,MODEL 2000,*,*KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS*,*2000*,*,*
Documentation

The Keithley 2000 is a high-performance 6.5-digit multimeter popular in production test and laboratory environments. Supports up to 11 measurement functions with optional scanner card for temperature and multi-channel scanning. Now manufactured by Tektronix (acquired Keithley in 2012). GPIB interface is standard on all units.

Status Byte

Section titled “Status Byte”
Bit 7Bit 6Bit 5Bit 4Bit 3Bit 2Bit 1Bit 0
OperationRQS/MSSESBMAVQuestionable DataError QueueUnusedMeasurement Event
Operation summary bitRequesting service / Master summary statusEvent status byte summary bitMessage available in output bufferQuestionable data summary bitOne or more errors in error queueNot usedMeasurement event summary bit

Use *STB? to read status byte, *SRE to set service request enable register

Commands

Section titled “Commands”

IEEE 488.2 Common Commands

Section titled “IEEE 488.2 Common Commands”

Standard IEEE 488.2 commands supported by all compliant instruments

Command Type Description
*IDN? query Identification query -- returns manufacturer, model, serial, firmware
Details
Returns (string) — Comma-separated identification
Example: KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC.,MODEL 2000,1234567,A08 /A02
*RST command Reset to factory default state
*CLS command Clear status registers and error queue
*ESE {mask} command Set event status enable register
Details
Parameters
  • mask (numeric) — Bitmask 0-255
*ESE? query Query event status enable register
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
*ESR? query Read and clear event status register
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
*OPC command Set operation complete bit in ESR when all pending operations finish
*OPC? query Returns 1 when all pending operations complete
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 1
*SRE {mask} command Set service request enable register
Details
Parameters
  • mask (numeric) — Bitmask 0-255
*SRE? query Query service request enable register
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
*STB? query Read status byte register
Details
Returns (numeric) — Status byte value
Example: 0
*TST? query Self-test; returns 0 for pass, 1 for fail
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
Note: Takes several seconds to complete
*TRG command Trigger measurement from bus (requires trigger source BUS)
*SAV {location} command Save current instrument setup to non-volatile memory
Details
Parameters
  • location (numeric) — Memory location 0-4
*RCL {location} command Recall instrument setup from non-volatile memory
Details
Parameters
  • location (numeric) — Memory location 0-4

Measurement Configuration

Section titled “Measurement Configuration”

Configure measurement function, range, and resolution

Command Type Description
CONF:VOLT:DC [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for DC voltage measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional) — Range in volts (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000) or MIN|MAX|DEF Default: DEF
  • resolution (numeric, optional) — Resolution in volts or MIN|MAX|DEF Default: DEF
Example CONF:VOLT:DC 10,0.001
CONF:VOLT:AC [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for AC voltage measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional) — Range in volts (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 750) or MIN|MAX|DEF
  • resolution (numeric, optional) — Resolution or MIN|MAX|DEF
CONF:CURR:DC [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for DC current measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional) — Range in amps (0.01, 0.1, 1, 3) or MIN|MAX|DEF
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
CONF:CURR:AC [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for AC current measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional)
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
CONF:RES [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for 2-wire resistance measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional) — Range in ohms (100 to 100e6) or MIN|MAX|DEF
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
CONF:FRES [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for 4-wire resistance measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional)
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
CONF:FREQ [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for frequency measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional) — Expected voltage amplitude for gate
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
CONF:PER [{range}[,{resolution}]] command Configure for period measurement
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional)
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
CONF:TEMP [{sensor_type}] command Configure for temperature measurement (requires option card)
Details
Parameters
  • sensor_type (enum, optional) — TC=thermocouple, THER=thermistor, FRTD=4-wire RTD, RTD=2-wire RTD Values: TC, THER, FRTD, RTD
Note: Requires rear-panel scanner card option (2000-SCAN or equivalent)
CONF:CONT command Configure for continuity test (threshold ~1000 ohm, beeper)
CONF:DIOD command Configure for diode test (1mA test current, reads forward voltage)
CONF? query Query current measurement configuration
Details
Returns (string)
Example: "VOLT:DC +1.00000000E+01,+1.00000000E-06"

Measurement Execution

Section titled “Measurement Execution”

Trigger and read measurements

Command Type Description
MEAS:VOLT:DC? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one DC voltage reading
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric, optional)
  • resolution (numeric, optional)
Returns (numeric) — Voltage in volts
Example: +1.23456789E+00
Example MEAS:VOLT:DC? 10,0.001
MEAS:VOLT:AC? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one AC voltage reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.20000000E+02
MEAS:CURR:DC? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one DC current reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +5.00000000E-02
MEAS:CURR:AC? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one AC current reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E-01
MEAS:RES? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one 2-wire resistance reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E+03
MEAS:FRES? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one 4-wire resistance reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E+03
MEAS:FREQ? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one frequency reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E+03
MEAS:PER? [{range}[,{resolution}]] query Configure, trigger, and return one period reading
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E-03
MEAS:TEMP? [{sensor_type}] query Configure, trigger, and return one temperature reading
Details
Returns (numeric) — Temperature in configured units
Example: +2.34500000E+01
Note: Requires temperature option card
READ? query Trigger and return one reading using current configuration
Details
Returns (numeric) — Measurement result in current function's units
Example: +1.23456789E+00
INIT command Initiate measurement and place in wait-for-trigger state
FETCH? query Return stored readings from internal memory (no new trigger)
Details
Returns (numeric) — Comma-separated readings
Example: +1.23456789E+00,+1.23456790E+00
R? [{max_count}] query Read and remove readings from memory; optionally limit count
Details
Parameters
  • max_count (numeric, optional) — Maximum readings to return
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.23456789E+00

Measurement Parameters

Section titled “Measurement Parameters”

Detailed configuration of measurement parameters (range, NPLC, averaging, autozero)

Command Type Description
VOLT:DC:RANG {range} command Set DC voltage range manually
Details
Parameters
  • range (numeric) — 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 or MIN|MAX
VOLT:DC:RANG? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E+01
VOLT:DC:RANG:AUTO {state} command Enable/disable DC voltage autoranging
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
VOLT:DC:NPLC {nplc} command Set integration time in power line cycles for DC voltage
Details
Parameters
  • nplc (numeric) — 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 or MIN|MAX Values: 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100
Note: Higher NPLC = better resolution but slower. 100 NPLC = 6.5 digits.
VOLT:DC:NPLC? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.00000000E+01
VOLT:DC:DIG {digits} command Set display digits for DC voltage (sets NPLC indirectly)
Details
Parameters
  • digits (numeric) — 4, 5, 6, or 7 (7 = 6.5 digit mode)
VOLT:DC:AVER:STAT {state} command Enable/disable digital filter (averaging) for DC voltage
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
VOLT:DC:AVER:COUN {count} command Set number of readings to average in the digital filter
Details
Parameters
  • count (numeric) — 1 to 100
VOLT:DC:AVER:TCON {type} command Set digital filter type
Details
Parameters
  • type (enum) — MOV=moving average, REP=repeating average Values: MOV, REP
ZERO:AUTO {state} command Enable/disable autozero for DC measurements
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF, ONCE
Note: ONCE performs single zero then disables. OFF doubles measurement speed.
SYST:AZER:STAT {state} command Enable/disable system autozero (alternate path for autozero control)
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
SYST:LSYN:STAT {state} command Enable/disable line-cycle synchronization for noise rejection
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
Note: Synchronizes measurements to power line frequency for best noise rejection

Trigger

Section titled “Trigger”

Trigger system configuration

Command Type Description
TRIG:SOUR {source} command Set trigger source
Details
Parameters
  • source (enum) — BUS=*TRG/GET, IMM=immediate, EXT=external trigger link Values: BUS, IMM, EXT
TRIG:SOUR? query
Details
Returns (string)
Example: IMM
TRIG:DEL {seconds} command Set trigger delay
Details
Parameters
  • seconds (numeric) — Delay in seconds (0 to 999999.999) or MIN|MAX|DEF
TRIG:DEL? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +0.00000000E+00
TRIG:DEL:AUTO {state} command Enable/disable automatic trigger delay
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
TRIG:COUN {count} command Set number of triggers to accept before returning to idle
Details
Parameters
  • count (numeric) — 1 to 99999, or MIN|MAX|INF
TRIG:COUN? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1
SAMP:COUN {count} command Set number of readings per trigger
Details
Parameters
  • count (numeric) — 1 to 99999 or MIN|MAX
SAMP:COUN? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1

Math Operations

Section titled “Math Operations”

Built-in math, null offset, dB, limit test, and statistics functions

Command Type Description
CALC:FUNC {function} command Select math function
Details
Parameters
  • function (enum) — NULL=offset, DB=dB relative, DBM=dBm, AVER=statistics, LIM=limit test Values: NULL, DB, DBM, AVER, LIM
CALC:STAT {state} command Enable/disable selected math function
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
CALC:NULL:OFFS {value} command Set null offset value
Details
Parameters
  • value (numeric) — Offset value in current measurement units
CALC:NULL:OFFS? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +0.00000000E+00
CALC:DBM:REF {impedance} command Set dBm reference impedance
Details
Parameters
  • impedance (numeric) — Reference impedance in ohms (1 to 9999)
CALC:DB:REF {value} command Set dB reference value
Details
Parameters
  • value (numeric) — Reference value in dBm
CALC:AVER:MIN? query Query minimum reading since statistics cleared
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.20000000E+00
CALC:AVER:MAX? query Query maximum reading since statistics cleared
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.30000000E+00
CALC:AVER:AVER? query Query average of all readings since statistics cleared
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +1.25000000E+00
CALC:AVER:COUN? query Query number of readings taken since statistics cleared
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +100
CALC:LIM:LOW {value} command Set lower limit for limit test
Details
Parameters
  • value (numeric)
CALC:LIM:UPP {value} command Set upper limit for limit test
Details
Parameters
  • value (numeric)
CALC:LIM:LOW? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +0.00000000E+00
CALC:LIM:UPP? query
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: +0.00000000E+00

Buffer / Data Store

Section titled “Buffer / Data Store”

Internal data buffer for storing readings

Command Type Description
TRAC:CLE command Clear readings from buffer
TRAC:POIN {size} command Set buffer size (number of readings to store)
Details
Parameters
  • size (numeric) — 2 to 1024 or MIN|MAX
TRAC:POIN? query Query buffer size
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 1024
TRAC:POIN:ACT? query Query number of readings currently stored in buffer
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
TRAC:FEED {source} command Select data source for buffer
Details
Parameters
  • source (enum) — SENS=raw readings, CALC=math results, NONE=disable Values: SENS, CALC, NONE
TRAC:FEED:CONT {control} command Set buffer control mode
Details
Parameters
  • control (enum) — NEXT=fill once and stop, ALW=continuous wrap, NEV=disable Values: NEXT, ALW, NEV
TRAC:DATA? query Return all readings from buffer
Details
Returns (numeric) — Comma-separated readings
Example: +1.23456789E+00,+1.23456790E+00,+1.23456791E+00

Status

Section titled “Status”

Status register queries for event detection and service requests

Command Type Description
STAT:MEAS? query Read and clear measurement event register
Details
Returns (numeric) — Measurement event register value
Example: 0
STAT:MEAS:ENAB {mask} command Set measurement event enable register
Details
Parameters
  • mask (numeric) — Bitmask 0-65535
STAT:OPER? query Read and clear operation event register
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
STAT:OPER:ENAB {mask} command Set operation event enable register
Details
Parameters
  • mask (numeric) — Bitmask 0-65535
STAT:QUES? query Read and clear questionable data event register
Details
Returns (numeric)
Example: 0
STAT:QUES:ENAB {mask} command Set questionable data event enable register
Details
Parameters
  • mask (numeric) — Bitmask 0-65535
STAT:PRES command Preset all enable registers to 0

System

Section titled “System”

System configuration and queries

Command Type Description
SYST:ERR? query Read and remove one error from error queue
Details
Returns (string) — Error code and message
Example: +0,"No error"
SYST:VERS? query Query SCPI version
Details
Returns (string)
Example: 1995.0
DISP {state} command Turn front panel display on/off
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
Note: Turning display off improves measurement speed
DISP:TEXT "{message}" command Display custom text on front panel (up to 32 chars)
Details
Parameters
  • message (string) — Up to 32 characters
Example DISP:TEXT "TESTING"
DISP:TEXT:CLE command Clear custom display text and return to normal display
SYST:BEEP command Issue a single beep
SYST:BEEP:STAT {state} command Enable/disable beeper
Details
Parameters
  • state (enum) Values: ON, OFF
SYST:PRES command Return to factory default settings (like *RST but also resets GPIB defaults)

Output Format

Section titled “Output Format”

Control the format of returned data

Command Type Description
FORM:ELEM {elements} command Select data elements included in readings
Details
Parameters
  • elements (string) — Comma-separated: READ, UNIT, CHAN, TST (timestamp)
Example FORM:ELEM READ,UNIT,TST
FORM:DATA {format} command Set data transfer format
Details
Parameters
  • format (enum) — ASC=ASCII text, REAL=IEEE 754 binary, SRE=single real, DRE=double real Values: ASC, REAL,32, REAL,64, SRE, DRE
Note: REAL formats are faster for bulk data transfer but require binary parsing
FORM:DATA? query
Details
Returns (string)
Example: ASC

Common Workflows

Section titled “Common Workflows”

Measure DC Voltage

Section titled “Measure DC Voltage”

Take a single DC voltage measurement on the 10V range with 6.5-digit resolution

1

Reset to known state

*RST
2

Clear status registers

*CLS
3

Configure for DC voltage, 10V range, max resolution

CONF:VOLT:DC 10,MIN
4

Set 100 NPLC for maximum resolution

VOLT:DC:NPLC 100
5

Enable autozero for accuracy

ZERO:AUTO ON
6

Trigger and read one measurement

READ?
Expected: +X.XXXXXXXXE+XX

Temperature Measurement

Section titled “Temperature Measurement”

Measure temperature using thermocouple sensor (requires option card)

1

Reset to known state

*RST
2

Clear status registers

*CLS
3

Configure for temperature, thermocouple

CONF:TEMP TC
4

Set high resolution integration

VOLT:DC:NPLC 10
5

Trigger and read temperature

READ?
Expected: +2.XXXXXXXXE+01
6

Read in degrees C/F/K depending on UNIT:TEMP setting

Manual step
Default unit is Celsius

Data Logging

Section titled “Data Logging”

Capture 500 readings into the internal buffer for later retrieval

1

Reset to known state

*RST
2

Configure DC voltage, autorange

CONF:VOLT:DC
3

Set fast integration (4.5 digits)

VOLT:DC:NPLC 0.1
4

Disable autozero for speed

ZERO:AUTO OFF
5

Turn off display for speed

DISP OFF
6

Clear buffer

TRAC:CLE
7

Set buffer size to 500

TRAC:POIN 500
8

Feed raw sensor data to buffer

TRAC:FEED SENS
9

Fill buffer once then stop

TRAC:FEED:CONT NEXT
10

Set trigger count to match buffer

TRIG:COUN 500
11

Set immediate trigger

TRIG:SOUR IMM
12

Initiate measurement sequence

INIT
13

Wait for completion

*OPC?
Expected: 1
14

Retrieve all buffered readings

TRAC:DATA?
Expected: Comma-separated values
15

Re-enable display

DISP ON