Local sense measurements use a single set of leads for output and voltage measurement.

Figure 11. Connecting Signals for Local Sense Measurement


When the PXIe-4163 is operating in Constant Voltage mode, local sense forces the requested voltage at the output terminals of the module. The actual voltage at the DUT terminals is lower than the requested output because of the output lead resistance error.

The error in the DUT voltage measurement is due to the output current, the output resistance of the source (specified as load regulation), and the resistance of the leads used to connect the power supply or SMU to the load. This error can be calculated using the following equation:

Local Sense Error (Volts) = Iout(Rlead1 + Rlead2 + Rout.source)

The output resistance of the source typically includes the effective resistance of protection circuitry in series with the sourcing path, and is usually negligible in comparison to external resistance. However, for high-current applications, you may notice the resistance of the protection circuitry. Use remote sense measurements for high-current applications.

Using a Local Sense Hardware Configuration with a Remote Sense Channel Configuration

If the source has remote sense capabilities and a 2-wire configuration needs to be maintained, you can remove the effect of any protection circuitry in series with the sourcing path by configuring the channel for remote sense and connecting the sense terminals externally to their respective output terminals, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 12. Connecting Local Sense Hardware with a Remote Sense Channel Configuration