Keysight / Agilent / HP 59501A HP-IB Isolated D/A Power Supply Programmer

The Keysight/Agilent/HP 59501A is an HP-IB isolated digital-to-analog power supply programmer that translates digital commands into analog control voltages for compatible HP power supplies. Operating as an HP-IB listener with acceptor hand-shake capability, it provides isolated D/A conversion that protects networked instruments from ground loops and supply-induced noise—critical for automated test environments requiring multiple synchronized power sources.

– Technical Specifications

Output Voltage
• High Range: 0 to 9.99 V (unipolar), -10 to +9.98 V (bipolar)
• Low Range: 0 to 9.999 V (unipolar), -1 to +0.998 V (bipolar)
• Maximum output current: 10 mA
• PARD (ripple and noise): 2 mV rms / 10 mV p-p

Programming Resolution
• Unipolar: 10 mV (high range), 1 mV (low range)
• Bipolar: 20 mV (high range), 2 mV (low range)

Accuracy (at 23°C ± 5°C)
• Unipolar: 0.05% M + 0.25% P (high range); 0.01% M + 0.25% P (low range)
• Bipolar: 0.1% M + 0.25% P (high range); 0.02% M + 0.25% P (low range)

Temperature Performance
• Temperature coefficient: 0.005 to 0.01% M/°C + 0.015% P/°C across ranges
• Zero adjust: ± 250 millivolts
• Power supply full-scale adjust: ± 5%
• Programming speed: ~250 µs for full-scale voltage change

– Key Features

• Isolated D/A architecture eliminates ground loop coupling
• Supports both voltage and current programming modes
• Dual-range output accommodates precision and wide-span applications
• Low noise performance (2 mV rms) suitable for sensitive analog circuits
• Fast settling for dynamic test sequences

– Typical Applications

• Automated power supply control in production test systems
• Multi-supply coordination in parallel/redundant power configurations
• Precision voltage/current sourcing in characterization labs
• HP-IB networked instrumentation environments

– Compatibility & Integration

Controls voltage or current of one HP power supply per unit. Two units required for dual-supply programming or simultaneous voltage and current control of a single supply. Compatible with 71 different HP laboratory and industrial power supplies rated above 100 volts. Accepts digital data in ASCII-coded, bit-parallel, byte-serial format via 6 screw terminals.