34410A DMM stays in Remote mode after session, using USB

[JoeN]

My Agilent 34410A DMM stays in remote mode after my code exits, or if I use MAX to communicate with it, but only if I'm communicating over USB.  If I use GPIB, the DMM returns to local mode when my code closes.  Apparently there is no LOCAL command for this instrument.  Is there any way, other than pressing the Local button, to put the instrument back in local mode using a USB interface?  I call hp34401a_close() to close the instrument.

Thanks for any suggestions. 

[Can_W]

Hi JoeN,

I think what is happening is that when using the GPIB interface you are sending a code to set the instrument back to Local. I took a look at the user's manual for the hp34401a and it seems to have a command to set this back: SYSTem:LOCal. 

You can try this at the end of your USB interface program, and see if this is able to help you out. Otherwise I would run NI-SPY on the GPIB end and see exactly what command is being sent to disable remote control of the device.

Let me know if this helps

Regards,

[JoeN]

Hi Can,

SYST:LOC doesn't work for the 34410A, and it's not listed in the 34410A Programmer's Reference.  When I send the command the instrument displays "ERROR", and returns error code -113,"Undefined header".  It turns out that SYST:LOC is listed as a command that only works on the 34401A over RS-232, and the 34410A doesn't have an RS-232 interface, so I guess I'm out of luck.

Thanks very much for taking the time to try to answer my question.

Joe

[Can_W]

Sorry about that JoeN,

I misread the instrument number.

There should be a command that you can send to the device that gets it back to Local mode

It might be necessary to get in touch with Agilent and find out. It may be a draw back in the device itself, but if you can get it out of remote via GPIB, there should be something.

Have you tried NI-SPY to see what commands actually are being sent to the instrument. It may hold the key.

Hope this helps

[somanath]

Hey JoeN

Did you find a solution to this. I am having a similar problem when I used the LAN interface.

Thanks
Arun

[Hassan_Atassi]

Hi Arun,

Did you try out the suggestions posted above?

[somanath]

Yes I tried SYSTem:LOCal but I got the same error that Joe N got. I am using the Agilent 34410A. For some reason it just remains in the remote mode and I can't figure out how to get out of with without having to press the local button on the instrument.

Thanks

Arun

[Hassan_Atassi]

Hi somanath,

Have you checked the manual to see if there was a diffrent command?  Perhaps the device is not capable of being set this way. and can only be set manually by using the button. It might be a good idea to contact Agilent to see if your device has this capability. 

[kfr]

I found a way to do it.

If you use the VISA GPIB Control REN VI and set the input to "Go To Local".

It is found in Instrument IO/VISA/VISA Advanced/Bus-Interface Specific

Hope this helps!

-Ken

Oops.  Just realized this was under the Labwindows CVI forum, not LabView.  Anyway, it will help some.