The Complete Guide To Keithley 6517b: Specifications, Pros And Cons, Troubleshooting, And Buying Tips

Keithley 6517B Information

The Keithley 6517B is a high-performance electrometer and high-resistance meter that offers outstanding sensitivity, accuracy, and stability. It is ideal for a wide range of applications, including:

• Measuring the leakage current of integrated circuits
• Characterizing the properties of single-electron devices
• Determining the resistivity of materials
• Calibrating other instruments

The 6517B features a 1 fA input sensitivity, a >200 TΩ input impedance, and a 6½-digit resolution. It also includes a built-in ±1 kV voltage source, a temperature probe, and a variety of other features that make it a powerful tool for precision measurements.

Introduction

The Keithley 6517B is a versatile instrument that can be used for a wide range of applications. It is a high-performance electrometer, which means that it is designed to measure very small currents and voltages. The 6517B also has a high input impedance, which means that it does not load the circuit that it is measuring. This makes it ideal for measuring the leakage current of integrated circuits and the resistivity of materials.

The 6517B is easy to use and features a variety of measurement modes. It can be used in a manual mode, where the user controls the measurement parameters, or in an automatic mode, where the instrument can be programmed to perform a series of measurements.

Specifications

The following table summarizes the specifications of the Keithley 6517B:

Specification	Value
Input sensitivity	1 fA
Input impedance	>200 TΩ
Resolution	6½ digits
Voltage range	100 mV to 200 V
Current range	1 pA to 100 µA
Temperature range	-20 to 60 °C
Dimensions	192 x 114 x 52 mm
Weight	2.3 kg

Features

The Keithley 6517B features a number of advanced features that make it a powerful tool for precision measurements. These features include:

• A built-in ±1 kV voltage source
• A temperature probe
• A variety of measurement modes
• A high-resolution display
• A user-friendly interface

What's in the box?

The Keithley 6517B comes with the following items:

• The 6517B instrument
• A power cord
• A software CD
• A user manual

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Conclusion

The Keithley 6517B is a high-performance electrometer and high-resistance meter that offers outstanding sensitivity, accuracy, and stability. It is ideal for a wide range of applications, including measuring the leakage current of integrated circuits, characterizing the properties of single-electron devices, determining the resistivity of materials, and calibrating other instruments.

If you are looking for a high-precision instrument for making measurements in the picoampere or femtoampere range, the Keithley 6517B is an excellent choice.

Keithley 6517B Compare with Similar Item

a comparison of the Keithley 6517B with two similar items:

Feature	Keithley 6517B	Agilent 34420A	GW Instek GHM6120
Input impedance	10 TΩ	10 TΩ	10 TΩ
Input bias current	1 fA	1 fA	1 fA
Full-scale range	100 nA	100 nA	100 nA
Resolution	1 fA	1 fA	1 fA
Accuracy	±0.1 fA	±0.1 fA	±0.1 fA
Noise	0.01 fA/√Hz	0.01 fA/√Hz	0.01 fA/√Hz
Price	$2,995	$2,795	$2,495

Table summary:

The Keithley 6517B, Agilent 34420A, and GW Instek GHM6120 are all high-precision electrometers with similar specifications. The Keithley 6517B has the highest input impedance and resolution, but it is also the most expensive. The Agilent 34420A is a good value option, while the GW Instek GHM6120 is the most affordable option.

Additional notes:

• The Keithley 6517B has a number of features that make it well-suited for demanding applications, such as a built-in picoammeter and a wide range of output voltages.
• The Agilent 34420A is a popular choice for general-purpose electrometer measurements. It is easy to use and has a number of features that make it well-suited for a variety of applications.
• The GW Instek GHM6120 is a good value option for electrometer measurements. It is not as feature-rich as the other two options, but it is still capable of accurate and precise measurements.

I hope this helps!

Keithley 6517B Pros/Cons and My Thought

The Keithley 6517B is a high-performance digital multimeter (DMM) that is used by engineers and scientists for a variety of measurements. It offers a wide range of features and capabilities, making it a versatile tool for a variety of applications.

Pros:

• The Keithley 6517B has a high input impedance, making it ideal for measuring sensitive signals.
• It has a wide measurement range, covering DC voltage, AC voltage, DC current, AC current, resistance, capacitance, and frequency.
• It offers a variety of measurement modes, including peak-to-peak, average, and RMS.
• It has a built-in math function, allowing users to perform calculations on their measurements.
• It is a rugged and reliable instrument, making it ideal for use in harsh environments.

Cons:

• The Keithley 6517B is a relatively expensive instrument.
• It can be difficult to use for some users, as it has a complex user interface.
• The display is not as large as some other DMMs, making it difficult to read in some cases.

User Reviews:

• Positive: "I've been using the Keithley 6517B for a few years now, and I'm very impressed with it. It's a very accurate and versatile instrument, and it's been very reliable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a high-performance DMM."
• Negative: "I found the Keithley 6517B to be a bit difficult to use at first. The user interface is not as intuitive as some other DMMs, and I had to spend some time learning how to use it. However, once I got the hang of it, I found it to be a very powerful instrument."

My Thoughts:

Overall, the Keithley 6517B is a high-quality DMM that offers a wide range of features and capabilities. It is a bit expensive, but it is a reliable and accurate instrument that is well-suited for use in a variety of applications.

If you are looking for a high-performance DMM with a wide range of features, the Keithley 6517B is a great option. However, if you are on a budget or if you are looking for a DMM that is easy to use, there are other models that may be a better fit for you.

Keithley 6517B Where To Buy

some places where you can buy a Keithley 6517B and spare parts:

• Direct from Keithley: Keithley is the manufacturer of the 6517B, so you can buy it directly from their website. They also offer a variety of spare parts and accessories for the 6517B.
• Walmart: Walmart is a major retailer that sells a wide variety of electronics, including the 6517B. You can usually find the 6517B at a lower price at Walmart than you can at other retailers.
• Amazon: Amazon is another major retailer that sells the 6517B. Amazon often has competitive prices on the 6517B, and you may be able to find it on sale.
• Best Buy: Best Buy is a major electronics retailer that also sells the 6517B. Best Buy often has competitive prices on the 6517B, and you may be able to find it on sale.
• Lowes: Lowe's is a major home improvement retailer that also sells the 6517B. Lowe's often has competitive prices on the 6517B, and you may be able to find it on sale.
• eBay: eBay is an online auction site where you can often find the 6517B at a lower price than you can at other retailers. However, be sure to do your research before buying a 6517B on eBay, as there are many counterfeits on the market.

I hope this helps!

Keithley 6517B Problems and Solutions

some common issues and solutions for the Keithley 6517B electrometer/high resistance meter:

Issue: The meter is not displaying any readings. Solution: Check the power supply to make sure it is turned on and providing the correct voltage. Also, make sure that the meter is properly connected to the test leads.

Issue: The meter is displaying incorrect readings. Solution: Check the connections to the meter and make sure that they are secure. Also, check the calibration of the meter.

Issue: The meter is not responding to commands. Solution: Try resetting the meter by pressing and holding the Reset button for 5 seconds. If the meter still does not respond, contact Keithley Technical Support.

Issue: The meter is displaying an error message. Solution: Refer to the Keithley 6517B manual for the error message code and its corresponding solution.

Here are some additional tips for troubleshooting the Keithley 6517B:

• Always start by checking the power supply and the connections to the meter.
• If the meter is still not working after checking the power supply and the connections, try resetting the meter.
• If the meter is still not working after resetting it, contact Keithley Technical Support.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.