Agilent N6782A 20 V, ±3 A, 20 W 2-Quadrant Source/Measure Unit for Functional Test (Pre-Owned)

Key Features At A Glance

• 20 V / 6 V dual-range, ±1 A / ±3 A, 20 W 2-quadrant Source/Measure Unit (SMU) tuned for functional test of devices such as DC/DC converters, power management units (PMUs), power management ICs (PMICs), and power amplifiers
• Built-in 18-bit digitizers measure and log voltage, current, and power every ~5 us (~200 kHz)
• Seamless measurement ranging across the top three current ranges captures current from nA to A in one pass without changing ranges
• User-selectable emulation modes (power supply, CC/CV load, voltmeter, ammeter) plus a zero-burden current shunt (ammeter) mode; output modulation up to 100 kHz for functional test
• Plug-in module for the N6700 Modular Power System: a 1U-high mainframe holds one to four DC power modules selected from over 30 mix-and-match modules for a 1- to 4-channel system
• GPIB, USB 2.0, and 10/100 Base-T LAN interfaces standard for ATE integration; fully compliant to the LXI Class C specification
• Per-module over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature protection with 10 µs cross-module fault detection
• Optional BV9200B/BV9201B PathWave BenchVue power control and analysis software (sold separately)

The Agilent N6782A is a 2-quadrant Source/Measure Unit (SMU) module in the N6780 Series for the Agilent N6700 Modular Power System. A source/measure unit pairs a controllable power source with integrated, high-resolution measurement in one instrument, so a device under test can be driven and characterized without a separate supply and meter. The N6782A is tuned for functional test of devices such as DC/DC converters, power management units (PMUs), power management ICs (PMICs), and power amplifiers, combining precise sourcing, sinking, and measurement so you can visualize current drain from nA to A in one pass and gain insight into a device's power consumption.

The Agilent N6700 Low-Profile Modular Power System (MPS) is a 1U-high, multiple-output programmable DC power supply system that gives test system integrators the flexibility to mix and match from over 30 different DC power modules to build a 1- to 4-channel system optimized to a specific set of test requirements, investing in high-performance outputs where speed and accuracy matter and basic outputs where simple DC power is all that is needed. As a plug-in module, the N6782A is not a standalone instrument; its capabilities depend not only on its own hardware but also on the hardware and firmware of the mainframe in which it is installed. Installed in an N6705 DC Power Analyzer mainframe, the module gains front-panel scope view, arbitrary waveform generation, and data logging.

The N6700 MPS is built for automatic test equipment (ATE) systems in R&D, design validation, and manufacturing. Power supplies are a fundamental component of test systems across aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, communications, semiconductor, and automotive electronics — industries where complex ATE systems often require multiple power sources and where reducing occupied rack space and increasing test throughput are constant pressures. Within the family, precision modules are suited to semiconductor and passive device testing where a precisely controlled output and highly accurate measurements are needed, while the source/measure unit modules support applications such as battery drain analysis and functional test.

ValueTronics stocks and holds its own test-and-measurement inventory in a 20,000-square-foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer. Keeping inventory on hand and verifying used units in our own facility means an order can be filled quickly and with confidence in the unit's condition.

Brand Heritage

These instruments are branded Agilent Technologies. Agilent Technologies was formed in 1999 as a spin-off of Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement business; that electronic measurement business was subsequently established as Keysight Technologies in 2014, the brand under which this product line is carried forward today. Documentation and ordering references issued before that transition may carry the earlier brand names.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The N6780 Series groups five Source/Measure Units for the N6700 Modular Power System, each combining a controllable source with integrated measurement, differing in output power (20 W or 80 W), quadrant operation, and the application each is tuned for: the N6781A (2-quadrant, battery drain analysis, 20 W), the N6782A (2-quadrant, functional test, 20 W), the N6784A (4-quadrant, general-purpose, 20 W), the N6785A (2-quadrant, battery drain analysis, 80 W), and the N6786A (2-quadrant, functional test, 80 W). The N6781A and N6785A are tuned for battery drain analysis of battery-powered devices from 20 W to 80 W — e-Book readers, MP3 players, wireless mice, mobile phones, large smartphone phablets, tablets, military radios, and pacemakers — and add programmable output resistance for battery emulation and battery emulator/charger modes; the N6782A and N6786A are tuned for functional test and add output modulation up to 100 kHz. The N6784A is the only 4-quadrant model and the only one that does not support seamless measurement ranging; the N6781A, N6782A, N6785A, and N6786A are 2-quadrant units whose top three ranges do support it.

Beyond the SMUs, the N6700 family pairs a choice of mainframe with a broad catalog of plug-in modules organized into distinct series: basic DC power modules (the N6730, N6740, and N6770 ranges), high-performance autoranging modules (N6750 series), precision modules (N6760 series), source/measure units (N6780 series), application-specific modules (N6783A), and DC electronic loads (N6790 series). A single mainframe can combine a high-power autoranging output with several economical basic outputs, and the same modules are shared between the N6705 bench DC Power Analyzer and the N6700 low-profile mainframes used in ATE, allowing test correlation and program sharing between R&D and manufacturing.

The N6700 platform is built around low-profile mainframes — the 400 W N6700B, the 600 W N6701A, and the 1200 W N6702A (and their N6700C-series successors) — each holding one to four modules within a single 1U chassis. The N6705 DC Power Analyzer (N6705A/N6705B and the N6705C) is the four-slot mainframe that extends the same module platform to the bench with 600 W of total available power, combining one to four DC power supply or electronic load modules with the functions of a DMM, oscilloscope, arbitrary waveform generator, and data logger in one integrated instrument. The system can be purchased as a mainframe plus separate modules for self-assembly, or as a build-to-order N6710B, N6711A, N6712A (or N6715B / N6715C) system shipped fully assembled with one to four modules installed.

Each pre-owned model below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Select the mainframe or module that matches your configuration to see its pre-owned availability and details.

The mainframes differ chiefly in total available output power — 400 W, 600 W, and 1200 W — and only the 1200 W mainframe offers the automatic AC-line power scaling that lets a 1200 W frame run from a standard outlet: at turn-on it senses the available AC line power and limits output to 600 W to avoid overloading a standard outlet. Cross-mainframe output sequencing synchronization is supported on the N6700B, N6701A, and N6702A mainframes by wiring the rear-panel I/O ports together; it is not supported on the discontinued N6700A mainframe.

Among the modules, the differences are output rating (from 18 W up to 500 W), voltage and current range (output voltages from 0–5 V up to 0–150 V and currents up to 50 A), ripple and noise, and programming and measurement accuracy, along with which series each belongs to. Basic DC power modules cover 50 W, 100 W, and 300 W; high-performance autoranging and precision modules add autoranging output, lower noise, and faster voltage changes and reach 500 W; the precision series further provides dual programming and measurement ranges with 16-bit programming and 18-bit measurement precision; the N6780 source/measure units add multi-quadrant operation and highly accurate measurements down to nanoamperes; and the N6790 electronic loads offer 100 W and 200 W modules with constant voltage, current, resistance, and power modes (up to 60 V and 40 A). The 300 W and 500 W autoranging and precision modules each occupy two of the four module slots. The comparison table below lays out per-model ratings side by side so the right module can be matched to each output requirement.

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.

Product Core & Specifications

Detailed ripple & noise and programming/measurement accuracy for each companion module appear on that model's own dedicated product page; the N6760 precision and N6780 SMU values are stated for the highest range. The N6790 electronic loads (N6791A, N6792A; 100 W and 200 W, up to 60 V and 40 A) absorb rather than source power and are not supported on the previous N6700B, N6701A, N6702A, N6705A, and N6705B mainframes.

DC Power Analyzer Mainframe Key Characteristics (N6705B / N6715B)

Important: The N6782A is a plug-in module for the N6700 Modular Power System; an N6700-series mainframe (N6700B/N6701A/N6702A or N6700C/N6701C/N6702C) or an N6705 DC Power Analyzer (such as the N6705B/N6705C) is required for operation and is not included with the module. At least one DC power module is required for the system to function.

Important: Output terminal isolation: no output terminal may be more than ±240 VDC from any other terminal or chassis ground. The maximum series operation is 240 V, and the maximum rated parallel operation is 100 A per N6705 mainframe.

Important: Front-panel binding posts are rated for 20 A per post; modules with outputs rated greater than 20 A (such as the N6753A or N6792A) route their high-current wiring through the N6705 rear panel.

Important: Each module occupies one module slot, except the N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A, and N6792A double-wide modules, which each occupy two of the four mainframe slots.

Important: Installing a 500 W module in the 400 W N6700B mainframe may prevent that module from running at its full rated output power.

Important: The mainframe's total available output power is 600 W (N6705B / N6705C). If the sum of the installed module power exceeds the available output power, the mainframe's power management feature allocates available power to the outputs where it is needed.

Important: Option 760 (Output Disconnect/Polarity Reversal Relays) is not available on Models N6741B, N6751A, N6752A, N6761A, N6762A, and N6781A–N6786A, and it limits the output current to 10 A maximum on Models N6742B and N6773A. Option 761 provides output (and sense) disconnect relays.

Important: Option 2UA (200 µA measurement range) is only available on Models N6761A and N6762A.

Important: Option LGA (large-size FPGA) must be ordered on the N6751A and N6752A modules; it is required to support output sequencing between multiple mainframes.

Important: Output sequencing synchronization across multiple mainframes is supported on N6700B, N6701A and N6702A mainframes; it is not supported on the discontinued N6700A mainframe.

Important: When configuring a mainframe with fewer than four filled module slots, you must order a filler panel kit (N6708A); each kit contains three filler panels, and every empty module slot must be filled with a filler panel for proper operation.

Important: Rack mounting requires the N6709A rack mount kit (option 908); standard rack rails or slides are not compatible with the N6700 because of its 1U size and airflow requirements. The N6700 vents from the sides only, so instruments can mount directly above or below it.

Important: For model N6712A (and N6712C), the maximum output power is limited to 600 W at 100 VAC; to achieve full output power of 1200 W you must use option 929 and operate at 200 VAC. An AC mains rated at 100–180 VAC cannot supply enough current to power the N6702A/N6702C mainframe at its full rated power; internal circuits then limit the module power to 600 W maximum.

Important: N6783A modules cannot be used in series with other N6783A modules or any other N67xx module.

Important: When sinking power, Model N6784A can operate at the maximum rated output power for only a limited amount of time; the unit monitors internal power-device temperature and latches the output off if the safe limit is exceeded (annunciated by the OT status bit), and a protect clear is required to resume operation.

Important: Published current/power ratings for Models N6751A and N6752A differ between the datasheet's specification table (page 16: N6751A 50 V/5 A/50 W, N6752A 50 V/10 A/100 W) and the ordering tables (pages 19 and 21: both listed as 50 V/1.5 A/50 W); confirm the installed module's rating from the instrument before relying on maximum output.

Important: This page lists an abbreviated set of specifications. Complete performance specifications and supplemental characteristics for all power modules are in the N6700 Modular Power System Family Specifications Guide, part number N6700-90001; the N6780 Series SMU specifications appear in the N6780 Series Source/Measure Units Data Sheet, literature number 5990-5829EN.

Recommended pairing: the Agilent 14585A Control and Analysis Software controls up to four N6705 mainframes — up to 16 power modules simultaneously — from a single PC, adding enhanced data visualization and management. For the N6781A and N6785A battery-drain SMUs, the BV9200B/BV9201B PathWave BenchVue software adds advanced battery drain analysis.

About this Pre-Owned unit

This pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships and is backed by our pre-owned warranty. To confirm its exact condition, firmware revision, installed options, or included accessories for your application before ordering, contact our Test Architects.

• Warranty included
• Functional verification included
• Standard Calibration Upgrade Options: No Calibration Required, NIST Traceable, Z540.1 or ISO 17025 with Data, Z540.3 Guardbanding with Data.
• Note that unnecessary accessories may not be included (contact Test Architect to confirm).

ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment. New units ship factory-sealed, exactly as received from the manufacturer; every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. Our Test Architects can help you select the condition, calibration, and configuration that fit your application.

Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.