XDM 2041 Digital Multimeter

Programming Manual

www.owon.com.cn
 Content

Table of Contents
Introduction to the SCPI Language ......................................................................................... 1

Syntax Rules........................................................................................................................... 1

Rule to format mnemonics ........................................................................................ 1

Usage of symbols ......................................................................................................... 1

Parameter Type ............................................................................................................. 2

Command Abbreviation ..................................................................................................... 3

Contact Us .............................................................................................................................. 4

Third-party API ..................................................................................................................... 4

IEEE488.2 Common Commands ............................................................................................... 5

*IDN ......................................................................................................................................... 5

*RST ......................................................................................................................................... 5

SCPI Command List ..................................................................................................................... 1

SENSe command subsystem..................................................................................... 1

[SENSe:]FUNCtion[1|2] ................................................................................................ 1

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:TYPe ............................................................................... 3

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:UNIT ............................................................................... 3

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:SHOW ............................................................................ 4

[SENSe:]CONT:THREshold.................................................................................................. 4
CONFigure command sub system ............................................................................................. 4

CONFigure[:SCALar][:VOLTage]:{AC|DC}................................................................. 4

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CURRent:{AC|DC} ................................................................... 5

CONFigure[:SCALar]:{RESistance|FRESistance} ..................................................... 5

i
 Content

CONFigure[:SCALar]:{FREQuency|PERiod} ............................................................. 6

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CAPacitance ............................................................................ 6

CONFigure[:SCALar]:TEMPerature:RTD .................................................................. 7

CONFigure[:SCALar]:DIODe ....................................................................................... 7

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CONTinuity.............................................................................. 8

CALCulate command Subsystem ............................................................................................... 8

CALCulate:AVERage:ALL?............................................................................................ 8

CALCulate:AVERage:AVERage? ................................................................................. 9

CALCulate:AVERage:MAXimum? .............................................................................. 9

CALCulate:AVERage:MINimum? ............................................................................. 10

CALCulate:DB:REFerence .......................................................................................... 10

CALCulate:DBM:REFerence ...................................................................................... 11

CALCulate:FUNCtion.................................................................................................. 11

CALCulate:NULL:OFFSet ........................................................................................... 12

CALCulate:STATe ......................................................................................................... 12

SYSTem command Subsystem ................................................................................................. 13

SYSTem:BEEPer:STATe ................................................................................................ 13

SYSTem:DATE? ............................................................................................................. 13

SYSTem:TIME? ............................................................................................................. 14

SYSTem:LOCal .............................................................................................................. 14

SYSTem:REMote .......................................................................................................... 15

Other commands .................................................................................................................... 15

AUTO ............................................................................................................................. 15

RANGE ........................................................................................................................... 16

ii
 Content

RATE ............................................................................................................................... 16

MEAS? ........................................................................................................................... 17

MEAS1? ......................................................................................................................... 17

MEAS2? ......................................................................................................................... 18

iii
 Introduction to the SCPI Language

Introduction to the SCPI Language

Syntax Rules

SCPI language itself defines a group of sub-system keywords, and at the same time allows users

to add or reduce keywords. Those keywords can be some meaningful English words and are easy

to remember, which are called mnemonics. Mnemonic has long and short types. The short are

the abbreviation of the long. Use specific character to separate keywords, data and sentences.

Rule to format mnemonics

1) If the letter number of an English word is less than or equal to 4, then the word itself can be

the mnemonic.(such as “Free” can be “FREE”);

2) If the letter number of an English word exceeds 4, then the first four letters will be the

mnemonic.(such as “Frequency” can be “FREQ”);

3) If the forth letter is vowel, then mnemonic uses the former three letters. Vowels consists of a,

e, i, o, and u.(such as “Power” can be “POW”);

4) If it is not a word but a sentence, then use the first letters of the former words and the whole

of the last word. (such as “Input Voltage “ can be “IVOLtage”)

Usage of symbols

1) Space

1
 Introduction to the SCPI Language

The space is used to separate command and parameter.

2) Colon:

If the colon is in front of the first character, it means the following is Root Command. When the

colon is set between two keywords, then it means moving from the current level to the next level.

3) *asterisk

The commands start with asterisk are named Common Command, which is used to execute

IEEE488.2 common commands.

4) Braces{}

The parameters enclosed in the braces are optional and are usually separated by the vertical bar

"|". When using this command, one of the parameters must be selected.

5) Vertical Bar |

The vertical bar is used to separate multiple parameters and one of the parameters must be

selected when using the command.

6) Triangle Brackets < >

The parameter enclosed in the triangle brackets must be replaced by an effective value.

Parameter Type

1) Value

The command required to use value type parameter. It’s compatible with all the common

decimal display terms including optional symbol, decimal point, scientific notation and etc.

Specific value such as MIN, MAX and DEF are available.

VOLTage:{AC|DC}:RANGe {<range>|MINimum|MAXimum}

2
 Introduction to the SCPI Language

2) Discrete

The parameter should be one of the values listed. For example,

TEMPerature:RTD:UNIT {C|F|K}

3) Integer

Unless otherwise noted, the parameter can be any integer (NR1 format) within the effective value

range. Note that, do not set the parameter to a decimal, otherwise errors will occur.

4) Bool

The parameter could be "OFF", "ON", for example,

TEMPerature:RTD:NULL {OFF|ON}

Command Abbreviation

Each SCPI command can be written mixed with uppercase and lowercase according to the syntax

rules, and the capital letter part is just the abbreviation of the command. If abbreviation is used,

all the capital letters in the command must be written completely. For parameters with units,

please refer to the detail parameter specifications in the sub-system.

VOLTage:DC:RANGe
Abbreviation Below:
VOLT:DC:RANG

3
 Introduction to the SCPI Language

Contact Us

If you have any problem or requirement when using our products, please contact OWON.

Service & Support Hotline:4006 909 365

E-mail: info@owon.com.cn

Website：www.owon.com.cn

Third-party API

The SCPI protocol of this product adopts USB port or LAN port to communication.

If you want to use the software of our company, after you open the software, click to enter

remote control, then click the SCPI command on the remoter control interface to enable SCPI

protocol and communicate through SCPI protocol.

4
 IEEE488.2 Common Commands

IEEE488.2 Common Commands

*IDN

Return the ID character string of the instrument

Description

The query returns the ID character string of the instrument.

Return Format

OWON,<model>,<serial number>,X.XX.XX,{3}

<model>：the model number of the instrument

<serial number>：the serial number of the instrument

X.XX.XX：the software version of the instrument.

Example

OWON,XDM2041,1546011,V1.0.0,3

*RST

Restore the instrument to its default value.

5
 SCPI Command List

SCPI Command List

SENSe command subsystem

SenSe subsystem configuration. The basic SenSe command is [SENSe:]FUNCtion[1|2], which can

choose main display and sub display measurement function. FUNCtion[1|2] to switch mode.

Other SenSe command only change specific mode parameter, don’t change mode, for example:

VOLT:AC:RANGE:AUTO ON command will start AC voltage mode and auto-measure, but don’t

switch to AC voltage mode.

[SENSe:]FUNCtion[1|2]

Command format

[SENSe:]FUNCtion[2] "<function>"
[SENSe:]FUNCtion[1|2]?

Function description

Select measure function, some functions can only be selected as main display.

Parameter

[1|2]

1 for main display, 2 for sub display. If leave out this parameter, display defaults at 1 (main display).

The parameter for [SENSe:]FUNCtion[2] "<function>", that is, can only been used as sub

display：

1
 SCPI Command List

Name Type Parameter Measure Function

Secondary display opening

FREQuency
<function> discrete frequency measurement

NONe close sub display

Return format

Use quotation to keep abbreviated selected return function, no available keyword.

Return value Measure function

VOLT AC AC voltage measure

VOLT DC voltage measure

CURR AC AC current measure

CURR DC current measure

FREQ Frequency measure

PER Period measure

CAP Capacitance measure

CONT Continuity test

DIOD Diode test

Four-wire Resistance
FRES
measure

RES Resistance measure

TEMP Temperature measure

For FUNCtion2? command, if not start dual display, then return NONe.

2
 SCPI Command List

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:TYPe

Syntax

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:TYPe {<RTD Type>}

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:TYPe?

Description

Select RTD type for temperature measurement.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<RTD Type > Discrete KITS90, PT100

Return format

Return the query result by character.

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:UNIT

Syntax

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:UNIT {C|F|K}

Description

Select temperature unit for temperature measurement, optional for C (Celsius), F(Fahrenheit),

K(Kelvin).

Return format

Return the query result by character

3
 SCPI Command List

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:SHOW

Syntax

[SENSe:]TEMPerature:RTD:SHOW {TEMP|MEAS|ALL}

Description

Select temperature measurement display mode, optional for TEMP (only display temperature),

MEAS (only display measured value), ALL (display both temperature and measured value)

Return format

Return the query result by character

[SENSe:]CONT:THREshold

Syntax

[SENSe:]CONT:THREshold <values>

Description

Sets the continuity threshold

CONFigure command sub system

CONFigure sub system is used to switch measure mode

CONFigure[:SCALar][:VOLTage]:{AC|DC}

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar][:VOLTage]:{AC|DC} [<range>]

4
 SCPI Command List

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process AC/DC voltage

measurement. Then set the measuring range.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<range> Discrete AC: 500E-3(500mV), 5(5V), 50(50V), 500(500V), 750(750V)
DC: 500E-3(500mV), 5(5V), 50(50V), 500(500V), 1000(1000V)

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CURRent:{AC|DC}

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CURRent:{AC|DC} [<range>]

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process AC/DC current

measurement. Then set the measuring range.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<range> Discrete AC: 500E-3(500mV), 5(5V), 50(50V), 500(500V), 750(750V)
DC: 50E-3(50mV), 500E-3(500mV), 5(5V), 50(50V), 500(500V), 1000(1000V)

CONFigure[:SCALar]:{RESistance|FRESistance}

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:{RESistance|FRESistance} [<range>]

5
 SCPI Command List

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process RESistance and

FRESistance measurement. Then set the measuring range.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<range> Discrete 500(500Ω), 5E3(5KΩ), 50E3(50KΩ), 500E3(500KΩ), 5E6(5MΩ), 50E6(50MΩ),
500E6(500MΩ)
Note: the maximum range of four-wire resistance is 50KΩ.

CONFigure[:SCALar]:{FREQuency|PERiod}

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:{FREQuency|PERiod}

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process FREQuency/PERiod

measurement.

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CAPacitance

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CAPacitance [<range>]

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process capacitance

measurement. Then set the scale.

6
 SCPI Command List

Parameter

Name Type Range

<range> Discrete 50E-9(50nF),500E-9(500nF),5E-6(5uF),50E-6(50uF),500E-6(500uF),5E-3(5mF),
50E-3(50mF)

CONFigure[:SCALar]:TEMPerature:RTD

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:TEMPerature:RTD [{<RTD Type>}]

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process temperature

measurement. Then set the PT type.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<RTD Type > Discrete KITS90, PT100

CONFigure[:SCALar]:DIODe

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:DIODe

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process diode measurement.

7
 SCPI Command List

Parameter

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CONTinuity

Syntax

CONFigure[:SCALar]:CONTinuity

Description

Restore all the measurement and trigger parameters to default, process continuity test.

Parameter

CALCulate command Subsystem

CALCulate command is used to manage math function (Sum up, db/dbm, relative value),

Function command is used to switch math mode (from three modes). AVERage, DB,DBM, NULL

command is used to set corresponding function parameter, won’t change the current math

function.

CALCulate:AVERage:ALL?

Syntax

CALCulate:AVERage:ALL?

Description

8
 SCPI Command List

Query returns the minimum value, maximum value , average value and count of all

measurements taken since the statistics were last cleared.

Parameter

(none)

CALCulate:AVERage:AVERage?

Syntax

CALCulate:AVERage:AVERage?

Description

Query returns the average value of all measurements taken since the statistics were last cleared.

Parameter

(none)

CALCulate:AVERage:MAXimum?

Syntax

CALCulate:AVERage:MAXimum?

Description

9
 SCPI Command List

Query returns the maximum value of all measurements taken since the statistics were last

cleared.

Parameter

(none)

CALCulate:AVERage:MINimum?

Syntax

CALCulate:AVERage:MINimum?

Description

Query returns the minimum value of all measurements taken since the statistics were last

cleared.

Parameter

(none)

CALCulate:DB:REFerence

Syntax

CALCulate:DB:REFerence <Ref R>

CALCulate:DB:REFerence?

Description

10
 SCPI Command List

Set DB relative resistance.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<Ref R> Discrete 50, 75, 93, 110, 124, 125, 135, 150, 250, 300, 500, 600, 800, 900, 1000, 1200, 8000

CALCulate:DBM:REFerence

Syntax

CALCulate:DBM:REFerence <Ref R>

CALCulate:DBM:REFerence?

Description

Set DBM relative resistance.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<Ref R> Discret 50, 75, 93, 110, 124, 125, 135, 150, 250, 300, 500, 600, 800, 900, 1000, 1200, 8000
e

CALCulate:FUNCtion

Syntax

CALCulate:FUNCtion {NULL|DB|DBM|AVERage}
CALCulate:FUNCtion?

Description

Set mathematic calculation as NULL, DB, DBM, AVERage.

11
 SCPI Command List

CALCulate:NULL:OFFSet

Syntax

CALCulate:NULL:OFFSet {<value>|MINimum|MAXimum}
CALCulate:NULL:OFFSet? [MINimum|MAXimum]

Description

Set relative value.

Parameter

Name Type Range

<value>

CALCulate:STATe

Syntax

CALCulate:STATe {OFF}

Description

Close MATH function

Parameter

Name Type Range

<bool> Bool {OFF}

12
 SCPI Command List

SYSTem command Subsystem

SYSTem:BEEPer:STATe

Syntax

SYSTem:BEEPer:STATe {ON|OFF}
SYSTem:BEEPer:STATe?

Description

Start or close the buzzer

Parameter

Name Type Range 默认值

<bool> Bool {ON|OFF} ON

Return format

Return 0 (OFF) or 1 (ON) after query。

SYSTem:DATE?

Syntax

SYSTem:DATE?

Description

Query date (includes year, month and day) inside device real-time clock

Parameter

13
 SCPI Command List

Return format

Return query result

SYSTem:TIME?

Syntax

SYSTem:TIME?

Description

Query time (includes hour, minute and second) inside device real-time clock

Parameter

Return format

Return query result

SYSTem:LOCal

Syntax

SYSTem:LOCal

Description

Exit SCPI mode

Parameter

14
 SCPI Command List

SYSTem:REMote

Syntax

SYSTem:REMote

Description

Enter SCPI mode

Parameter

Other commands

AUTO

Syntax

AUTO
AUTO?

Description

Enable autoscale

Parameter

Return format

15
 SCPI Command List

Return autoscale setting, 1 for auto, 0 for manual

RANGE

Syntax

RANGE {<range1>|DEF}

Description

Set measuring range

Parameter

Name Type Range

DCV 1(50mV), 2(500mV), 3(5V), 4(50V), 5(500V), 6(1000V)

ACV 1(500mV), 2(5V), 3(50V), 4(500V), 5(750V)
DCI 1(500uA), 2(5mA), 3(50mA), 4(500mA), 5(5A), 6(10A)
<range1> Discrete ACI 1(500uA), 2(5mA), 3(50mA), 4(500mA), 5(5A), 6(10A)
RES 1(500Ω), 2(5KΩ), 3(50KΩ), 4(500KΩ), 5(5MΩ), 6(50MΩ)
CAP 1(50nF), 2(500nF), 3(5uF), 4(50uF), 5(500uF), 6(5mF) ,7(50mF)
TEMP 1(KITS90),2(PT100)

RATE

Syntax

RATE <speed>
RATE?

Description

Set speed.

Parameter

16
 SCPI Command List

Name Type Range

<speed> Discret F:high speed; M:middle speed; L:low speed
e

Return format

Return current speed, F for high speed, M for middle speed, L for low speed.

MEAS?

Syntax

MEAS?

Description

If start dual display, return main and sub display measured value; or return main display measure

value.

Parameter

Return format

Return measured result by scientific notation. If start dual display, the return format is: main

display measured value, sub display measured value.

MEAS1?

Syntax

MEAS1?

Description

17
 SCPI Command List

Return main display measured value

Parameter

Return format

Return measured result by scientific notation.

MEAS2?

Syntax

MEAS2?

Description

Return sub display measured value

Parameter

Return format

Return measured result by scientific notation.

18