Connecting agilent E3631A DC power supply to the computer through a RS 232 for labview

[Iro]

Im trying to connect  agilent E3631A DC power sully to the computer through a RS 232 cable to use labview to operate the instrument. But the instrument is now detected  by the computer and when I check the tools- instrument-find instruments-connected instruments it says no device connected. I have been trying to use max by changing the configurations but so far it did not work either. Can please someone tell me what to do

[crossrulz · Accepted solution]

I'm not sure if MAX will autodetect instruments on the serial port.  Can you communicate with the instrument using Hyperterminal or something like that?  Also make sure you serial port settings are all correct (this is the most common reason).

[Dennis_Knutson]

---

@crossrulz wrote:

I'm not sure if MAX will autodetect instruments on the serial port.  Can you communicate with the instrument using Hyperterminal or something like that?  Also make sure you serial port settings are all correct (this is the most common reason).

---

That's correct. It is impossible for MAX to detect serial instruments. The only thing that MAX can do is list the available com ports. After that, it is up to you to verify communication as crossrulz says.

Besides the serial port settings, verify that you have the correct type of serial cable.

[Iro]

Hi,

So basically what I should do is to use MAX to enter the configurations of the instrument but nothing more? I think the cable that connects the instrument to the machine seems fine, so the only reason that the computer doesn't detect the agilent E3631A is something wrong with the configuration?

[Dennis_Knutson]

You don't have to use MAX for anything if you don't want to. The configuration of the port should be in your program. Use MAX to test the configuration by sending a *IDN? query and being a response.

The pc is not supposed to detect the instrument. It doesn't even try to detect serial instruments. And, you won't know you have the correct cable just by looking at it. Do you know the difference between a null modern and a straight through cable? If you don't, time for some basic research on RS232.

[hadi1320]

Check the Agilent manual to find the right cable. I couldn't find the special null cable modem they required for A34401 any where else  and I had to buy it directly from Agilent.