Tags: 11-5-2, 34401a, dmm, following, format, hewlett-packard, idn, labview, number, programming, query, returns, serial, write
How do I write a serial number into 34401A DMM?
On Programmer » LabVIEW
3,704 words with 2 Comments; publish: Wed, 07 May 2008 14:31:00 GMT; (20062.50, « »)
Hi,
I am trying to read a serial number from 34401A DMM using IDN query. The que
ry returns in the following format.
HEWLETT-PACKARD,34401A,0,11-5-2.
As per IEEE 488.2 it returns the above, but serial number as 0. Looks l
ike the instrument is not updated with the proper serial number.
Now my question is how do I update the serial number(manually or programmati
cally) in the instrument so that the *IDN? returns the serial number in
the above string?.
Thx
Abdulla Ghouse
http://labview.itags.org/q_labview_16530.html
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- 2 Comments

- From the manual. You know, that thing that no one rades anymore.
<a href="/app/links/?link=http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/34401-90004.pdf" target="_blank">[
url]http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/34401-90004.pdf[/url]</a>
CALibration:STRing <quoted string>
Record calibration information about your multimeter. For example,
you can store such information as the last calibration date, the next
calibration due date, the instrument serial number, or even the name
and phone number of the person to contact for a new calibration.
[Stored in non-volatile memory]
? You can record information in the calibration message only from the
remote interface. However, you can read the message from either the
front-panel menu or the remote interface.
? The calibration message may contain up to 40 characters. However,
the multimeter can display only 12 characters of the message on the
front panel (additional characters are truncated).
CALibration:STRing?
Query the calibration message and return a quoted string.
#1; Wed, 07 May 2008 14:33:00 GMT

- To add to what has been said, you must first unsecure the cal memory area be
fore you can write to it. Cal memory is secured by default so that it
won't be accidentally overwritten. Look at the manual starting on page
95. You will see the
commands to unsecure the memory area. After writing the serial number,
secure the cal memory. This makes it read only so that no unauthorize
d user can overwrite the data.
I have run into a similar situation with the E3631A power supply. I ha
ve successfully stored the serial number into the cal memory area. Lik
e yours, this instrument returned a 0 for the serial number when responding
to the IDN query. I t
hink Agilent intended to store the serial number there originally, but never
followed through with the plan. Each instrument they sold would have
had to be programmed individually. Newer instruments return their seri
al numbers with the IDN que
ry.
For what it is worth, I have attached my vi to change the secure code on the
E3631A. You can modify it to fit the 34401A. I will try to also
attach the vi's to write to and read from cal memory. The way I did i
t, I read the cal memory, a
nd appended the serial number at the end. That way, some cal data can
still be stored by our cal lab if they wished to do so.
Message Edited by tbob on 05-03-2006 11:32 AMMessage Edited by tbob on 05-0
3-2006 11:32 AM
E3631AChangeSecureCode.vi:
http://forums.ni.com/attachments/ni...geSecureCode.vi
E3631AWriteSN.vi:
http://forums.ni.com/attachments/ni...3631AWriteSN.vi
E3631AReadSN.vi:
http://forums.ni.com/attachments/ni...E3631AReadSN.vi
#2; Wed, 07 May 2008 14:34:00 GMT