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êINTRODUCTIONë
àAboutå
ôAbout:

This software is designed specifically for B&K Precision's 1737 and 1747 bench DC power supply.  It provides front panel emulation and simple datalogging function that will allow you to collectively store and log data to a text or CSV file format, giving you the ability to use those data for further analysis.
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àGetting Startedå
ôGetting Started:

Before operating the software, few things must be configured for successful communication between the instrument and the PC.


In order to connect successfully to this instrument, be sure to use a cross-over or null modem serial 9-pin cable.  Take note of the COM port.
If you are using a RS232 to USB adapter, be sure to verify from Windows(R) "Device Manager" which COM port is assigned.

Once determined, select the COM port and click "Connect" button to start communication.  If successful, the model # of the supply will be indicated
at the bottom of the software window, and the color indicator on the bottom left will turn green.
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êFRONT PANEL OVERVIEWë
àCommunication Settingså
ôCommunication Settings:


COM Port - This is the COM Port that is assigned to the connected instrument.  Please verify and select the correct COM port (check "Device Manager")

Connect - This button will attempt to connect to the instrument using the selected COM port.  If connection is successful, the status bar will show a green color indicator on the bottom and will return with the instrument's model.

Close Port - This will close the COM port the instrument is connected to.  If user wants to use another software or interface to communicate with the instrument, be sure to close port first.  Otherwise, other software or interface will not have access to the COM port.

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àSet Parameterså
ôSet Parameters:

This group of selection configures the power supply parameter settings.

VOLTAGE - This allows setting the voltage of the power supply.  Decimal is fixed, and all 4 digits can be adjusted.  Please note that there is a maximum
settable limit depending on which model of power supply is connected.  Because the power supplies have dual range and are automatic, certain parameters
that switch between the range will have different limits.  Please verify the user manual of the power supply to reference the range's maximum and minimum values.

Simply use the + and - button to change each corresponding digits.  When set to the desired value, press "SET" to set the voltage.


CURRENT - This allows setting the current of the power supply.  Decimal is fixed, and all 5 digits can be adjusted depending on range.  Please note that there is a maximum settable limit depending on which model of power supply is connected.  Because the power supplies have dual range and are automatic, certain parameters that switch between the range will have different limits.  In some cases, the left most digit is unused if power supply does not support setting that high of a current.  Please verify the user manual of the power supply to reference the range's maximum and minimum values.

Simply use the + and - button to change each corresponding digits.  When set to the desired value, press "SET" to set the current.

OUTPUT STATUS - This controls the output status of the power supply.  This is only supported by model 1747.  Users can turn on or off the output without having to use the main power switch.  For 1737, output is always turned on when power switch is flipped to ON.

Pressing ON will turn the circle indicator next to "OUTPUT STATUS" to green, indicating that output is on.  When OFF is pushed, it will turn to black, indicating off.

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àSettingså
ôSettings:

This box shows the current set voltage and set current values.  Whenever voltage or current "set" buttons are pressed within the SET PARAMETERS box, this box will update the voltage and/or current that's currently set to the power supply.

Note:  The settings shown here only updates when voltage and current are set within the software.  It does not track settings that are configured from front panel control.

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àMeasurement Displayå
ôMeasurement Display:

Upon connecting to the power supply, this box will obtain measured display information from the power supply and will constantly update voltage, current, and mode of the power supply.

Note:  Sometimes, certain parameters will update first.  All three parameters do not update simultaneously in a single instance.  They are updated individually.  It usually updates in the order of Voltage, Current, then Mode.

Note:  When output is OFF, all three parameters will show OFF, indicating that there is no output at the terminal.

Note:  This display automatically stops updating if "Send/Receive" or "Datalogging" mode are used.  Additionally, if "About" or "Help" menu windows are opened, it will also stop updating.  Upon closing these windows, it will automatically start updating continuously again until software ends or when port is closed.

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àSave Setupå
ôSave Setup:

This box indicates what parameter values are stored for power-on recall, meaning these are settings that will be configured when the power supply restarts or power cycles from off state.

To use, simply set a voltage, current, and output status from SET PARAMETERS box.  Once the desired values are configured, press the "Save Settings for Power-On Recall" button to save the settings.  Those settings will be shown under "Saved Voltage", "Saved Current", and "Saved Output Status" accordingly.

Note:  Settings can only be saved when values are set from within the software, meaning the voltage and current value desired must be shown under the "Settings" box in order to use this function.  Otherwise, it will not save.


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êSEND/RECEIVEë
àSend Command Strings to Instrumentå
ôSend Command Strings to Instrument:

To send a command string to instrument, enter the command under "Enter command string to send:" and press the "send" button.  If it's a query, the returned data will show in the box underneath "Return string from instrument:".

To close this function, click "Close" button to close window.

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êDATALOGGINGë
àWhat to Log...å
ôWhat to Log...:

This allows user to select what data information should be logged.  Users can choose from: Voltage only, Current only, Voltage and Current only, or status only.

Note:  Logging interval is slower when more information is to be logged.  For example, it takes more time to log voltage and current as oppose to logging voltage only.

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àTimestampå
ôTimestamp:

Allows user to enable or disable timestamping in the log.  Timestamp will be logged in the last column of each row of data.
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àData will be saved toå
ôData will be saved to:

Once file name is created and datalogging starts, the logged data will be saved to the file in the directory indicated in this box.  Use this to find the logged data after datalogging ends.

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êHOW TO..ë
àConnect to Instrumentå
ôConnect to Instrument:

1.  First, connect crossover or null modem serial cable to PC.  Power on the power supply.  
2.  Check "Device Manager" to verify which COM port is used.
3.  Choose the COM port used under "Communication Settings".
4.  Click "Connect" button.


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àDataloggingå
ôDatalogging:

1.  Select "Log Data" from the Datalogging menu.
2.  Select the type of data to be logged, then choose whether timestamp should be logged or not.
3.  Click "Log and Save Data" and a window directory will open up.
4.  Go to the directory where you want the data to store, and enter a file name.
5.  Choose the file extension type.  Users can choose from .CSV or .TXT
6.  Once OK is clicked, data will begin to log immediately, and the bottom of the window will say "Datalogging in progress..", indicating that the software is logging data to the file.
7.  When finished, click "Stop Log" button to end data logging.

Note:  If user clicks "Close" button while datalogging is in progress, the software will end the datalogging process before closing the window.


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êFAQë
àFrequently Asked Questionså
ôFrequently Asked Questions:

Q:  How come it takes longer to log each entry when I select more type of parameters to log?

A:  The instrument does not support a single fetch command that can obtain all parameter measured values and status simultaneously, therefore the software attempts to obtain each parameter one at a time and then logs into the entry.  When more parameters are logged, it will in turn require more time to obtain those data.


Q:  Exactly at which point does the the timestamp log the time for each entry if multiple parameters are logged?

A:  Time is obtained at the very beginning of each entry before any information is obtained from the instrument.  For example, if Voltage and current are logged, the timestamp will get time before they are read.  Likewise, if voltage only is selected, the software will still obtain time information at the beginning before voltage data is obtained from the power supply.


Q:  How long can the software log data for?

A:  Data is logged to a text file format, either as .txt or .csv.  There are no limits so as long as enough storage space and memory is available in the system.


Q:  How can I adjust the sampling interval for datalogging?

A:  This feature is currently not supported.  The software is designed for monitoring purposes and will log data at a set interval.


Q:  I tried to press the - or + button under one of the digits but it keeps giving me errors.  How come?

A:  Please note that the software does not auto-increment the next significant digit when you go add or subtract at the selected digit.  For example, if Voltage is at 00.09, software will not automatically go to 00.10 when + is clicked under the digit "9".  It would have to be done manually by clicking the + on the next digit.  In some cases, clicking - when digit is 0 will not work because the software detects the entire parameter (all digits) to see if it meets within boundaries of the instrument.  For example, of current is set to 10.050 A (maximum for 1747), users cannot simply click - below the "0" next to the first digit, "1".  But users will also not be able to click + either because 10.050 is already at maximum.  In order to prevent getting errors, the first digit "1" must be changed to 0, then other digits can be adjusted based on the selectable range of the power supply.

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