Keysight N6742B 8 V, 12.5 A, 100 W DC Power Module

Key Features At A Glance

• 1U-high modular mainframe holds 1 to 4 DC power or electronic load modules for up to four outputs in a single rack unit
• Mix and match from over 30 DC power and electronic load modules spanning 18 W to 500 W ratings and voltages up to 150 V
• GPIB, USB 2.0, and 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet LAN standard with a built-in web server; fully compliant to the LXI Class C specification
• SCPI / IEEE 488.2 programming with VXIplug&play and IVI-COM drivers; command set shared across the N6700 ATE systems
• Built-in voltage and current measurement standard on every module to simplify ATE wiring
• 4-wire remote sensing and programmable voltage slew rate on each output
• Per-module over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature protection with 10 µs cross-module fault detection
• Each module output fully isolated and floating from ground and from one another
• Mainframes available in 400 W, 600 W, and 1200 W total-output-power tiers
• Universal 100–240 VAC input (50/60/400 Hz) with power factor correction
• Programmable output sequencing and series/parallel virtual-channel operation
• Source/Measure Unit modules available in 2-quadrant and 4-quadrant configurations for both sourcing and sinking power
• Electronic load modules offer voltage, current, power, and resistance priority modes with programmable slew rates
• Optional High-Speed Test Extensions add LIST sequencing and digitizing (standard on precision, SMU, and load modules)
• In the N6705C DC Power Analyzer mainframe, modules add front-panel scope view, arbitrary waveform generation, and internal/external data logging

The Keysight N6700 is a low-profile Modular Power System (MPS) — a 1U-high, multiple-output programmable DC power supply and electronic load system that lets test system integrators optimize performance, power, and price to match their test needs. Built on an advanced switching power supply design that fits within 1U of rack space, a single mainframe holds one to four DC power or electronic load modules, and the system lets you mix and match from over 30 different modules to create a 1- to 4-channel DC power system tailored to specific test requirements. Test system engineers can invest in high-performance outputs where speed and accuracy are needed, or choose basic performance outputs for simple DC power requirements.

The N6700 MPS is designed for automatic test equipment (ATE) systems in R&D, design validation, and manufacturing, where designers must reduce the rack space occupied by multiple supplies or loads while increasing test system throughput. Power supplies and electronic loads of this kind are a fundamental component of test systems across aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, communications, semiconductor, and automotive electronics. 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.

The same modules also run in the Keysight N6705C DC Power Analyzer, a mainframe that combines one to four DC power supply or electronic load modules with the functions of a DMM, an oscilloscope, an arbitrary waveform generator, and a data logger in a single integrated instrument that sources and measures DC voltage and current into a device under test. On the N6705C all sourcing, loading, and measurement functions are available directly from the front panel without writing code: engineers use it to gain insight into a device's power consumption, set up and view turn-on and turn-off sequences, control bias-supply or electronic-load ramp-up and ramp-down rates, generate transients and disturbances as arbitrary waveforms, capture inrush current by triggering the integrated oscilloscope on the output's on/off key, and log current and power over seconds, minutes, hours, or days to capture anomalies. Running the same modules on both the low-profile ATE mainframes and the N6705C bench analyzer allows test correlation between bench and manufacturing setups.

ValueTronics stocks and holds its own test and measurement inventory in a 20,000 sq ft secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Holding inventory under our own roof lets us confirm configuration and condition directly and ship quickly to the engineers, labs, and production teams who rely on us — dealing directly with a company that keeps measurement instruments on hand and stands behind their condition.

Brand Heritage

Keysight Technologies traces its measurement heritage to Hewlett-Packard, whose test and measurement business was spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999. Agilent's electronic measurement division was then established as Keysight Technologies in 2014, the brand under which this product line is offered today.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The N6700 Modular Power System is a family built around a 1U mainframe and an extensive catalog of interchangeable DC power and electronic load modules. Rather than a fixed instrument, it gives test system designers the flexibility to mix and match from over 30 different modules to create a 1- to 4-channel DC power system optimized to meet specific test requirements — investing in high-performance outputs where speed and accuracy are needed, and basic outputs for simple DC power requirements. Module capability depends not only on the module's own hardware but also on the mainframe in which it is installed; modules placed in an N6705C DC Power Analyzer gain front-panel scope view, arbitrary waveform generation, and data logging that are not present in the lower-profile N6700-series mainframes.

The catalog organizes modules 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). Mainframes are available in 400 W, 600 W, and 1200 W tiers. Each module occupies one mainframe slot, except the double-wide N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A, and N6792A, which occupy two of the four slots.

The N6700 family is offered in several mainframe generations and packaging options. The mainframe-plus-modules configuration (for example the N6700B/N6701A/N6702A and the newer N6700C/N6701C/N6702C) is ordered with one to four modules as separate items and assembled by the user, while the build-to-order versions (such as the N6705C/N6715C systems) ship fully assembled with modules pre-installed. The N6705C DC Power Analyzer mainframe has four module slots and 600 W of total available power, front-panel binding posts rated 20 A per post, 4 gigabytes of internal non-volatile storage, a built-in real-time clock, and power management that allocates mainframe power to the outputs that need it.

Each new model linked below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Select the specific mainframe or module that fits your configuration to see its availability and price.

Across the mainframes, output sequencing can be synchronized between multiple units by wiring the rear-panel I/O ports together — a capability supported on the N6700B, N6701A, and N6702A mainframes but not on the discontinued N6700A. The N6702A/N6702C 1200 W mainframe additionally senses the available AC line power at turn-on and automatically scales back output power to avoid overloading a standard AC outlet, limiting output to 600 W so a high-power mainframe can be plugged into any standard outlet.

The models differ primarily in mainframe power and in module output ratings and performance class. Mainframes provide 400 W (N6700B/N6700C), 600 W (N6701A/N6701C), or 1200 W (N6702A/N6702C) of total available output power, and modules are rated from 18 W up to 500 W with output voltages ranging from 0–5 V up to 0–150 V depending on the module. Basic DC power modules cover 50 W, 100 W, and 300 W outputs up to 150 V and up to 20 A; high-performance autoranging and precision modules span 50 W to 500 W up to 60 V and up to 50 A and add autoranging output that delivers maximum power across a range of voltage and current combinations, with the precision series adding low voltage and current ranges and precision measurement in the milliampere and microampere region; source/measure units operate in two or four quadrants at 20 W to 80 W; the application-specific N6783A modules target battery and mobile-communications testing at 18 W to 24 W; and the electronic loads provide up to 200 W, 60 V, and 40 A. The comparison table below details each model's output ratings and key performance specifications.

Performance features also separate the series: High-Speed Test Extensions, output disconnect relays (option 761), and output disconnect/polarity reversal relays (option 760) are available according to each module's row in the options table. High-Speed Test Extensions are optional on the basic, high-performance, and 300 W modules (option 054) and standard on the precision, SMU, application-specific, and load modules. Consult the comparison table for which functions each model includes.

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

Product Core & Specifications

The table below lists the published performance specifications for this N6742B 100 W DC power module.

The N6705C DC Power Analyzer adds a built-in digitizer to 200 kHz, up to 256 k samples per trace (512 k via SCPI), and approximately 30 kHz measurement bandwidth.

For the N6761A–N6766A precision modules and the N6781A/N6782A/N6784A/N6785A/N6786A SMU and N6783A application-specific modules, the values shown are for the highest output/measurement range; these modules have multiple ranges. The N6783A-BAT and N6783A-MFG values are shown for the highest measurement range.

Important: This is a modular system: the DC power and electronic load modules (N6731B–N6792A) are not standalone instruments and require an N6700B/N6701A/N6702A, N6700C/N6701C/N6702C, or N6705C mainframe (or an N6710C/N6711C/N6712C build-to-order system), sold separately, to operate. At least one module is required for the DC power analyzer to operate.

Important: Installing one of the 500 W modules in the 400 W N6700B/N6700C mainframe may prevent that module from running at its full rated output power.

Important: Each module occupies one module slot, except for the N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A and N6792A, which each occupy two module slots.

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: If you will be rack mounting the N6700, you MUST order the rack mount kit (N6709A / N6709C); standard rack rails or slides are not compatible with the N6700 because of its 1U size and airflow requirements.

Important: Front-panel binding posts are rated for 20 A per post; modules rated above 20 A, such as the N6753A or N6792A, require high-current wiring routed through the rear panel.

Important: Each N6705C / N6715C mainframe has 4 module slots and provides 600 W total available output power. If the sum of the installed modules' power exceeds the mainframe's available output power, use Keysight's power management capability to allocate mainframe power to the outputs where it is needed.

Important: For model N6712A / 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. For the N6702C mainframe, an AC mains rated at 100-180 VAC cannot supply enough current to power the mainframe at its full rated power; internal circuits limit the module power to 600 W maximum at that input.

Important: When the N6702A / N6702C 1200 W mainframe is plugged into a standard AC outlet, it automatically senses the available AC line power and limits output power to 600 W to prevent overloading the AC line.

Important: Output current is limited on some modules when option 760 (Output Disconnect/Polarity Reversal Relays) is installed; option 760 limits output current to 10 A maximum on models N6742B and N6773A, and is not available on models N6741B, N6751A, N6752A, N6761A, N6762A, and N6781A–N6786A.

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

Important: Output current is derated 1% per °C above 40 °C ambient temperature.

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

Important: Arbitrary waveform generation, scope view, and the related N6705 oscilloscope measurement capabilities apply only when the power modules are installed in a Keysight N6705 DC Power Analyzer.

Important: The Keysight N6791A and N6792A Electronic Load Modules are not supported on the previous Keysight mainframes N6700B, N6701A, N6702A, N6705A, and N6705B.

Important: Keysight 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 time; when the internal temperature exceeds its safe limit, the output latches off and a protect clear is required to resume operation.

Important: Multi-mainframe output sequencing synchronization is supported on the N6700B, N6701A, and N6702A mainframes; it is not supported on the discontinued N6700A mainframe.

Important: This data sheet does not include a comprehensive list of all power module specifications and characteristics; complete performance specifications and supplemental characteristics for all power modules are in the Keysight N6700 Modular Power System Family Specifications Guide, part number N6700-90001.

Recommended pairing: add the BV9200B PathWave BenchVue Advanced Power Control and Analysis Software, or the 14585A Control and Analysis Software, to control the family's DC power and electronic load modules in up to four N6705 mainframes — up to 16 installed modules — from a single PC.

About this Pre-Owned unit

This is a Pre-Owned (used) unit. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. For the exact configuration, available options, included accessories, or current lead time for your application, our Test Architects can confirm the details before you order.

ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships, and 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.