Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833A vs Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C
This comparison details the technical differences and applications for the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833A and Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C GPIB (IEEE-488) instrument control cables. Both cables provide double-shielded protection and metric thread components, but they serve different system topologies due to their distinct lengths and recommended system integration limits. This guide helps engineers select the correct cable configuration for automated test configurations.
- 10833A Cable Length
- 1 m (3.3 ft)
- 10833C Cable Length
- 4 m (13.2 ft)
- Conductors
- 24
- Shielding Type
- Double-shielded (braid and foil)
Specifications
| Specification | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)10833A | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)10833C |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Interfaces | GPIB (IEEE-488) | GPIB (IEEE-488) |
| Physical & Mechanical Properties | ||
| Cable Length | 1 m (3.3 ft) | 4 m (13.2 ft) |
| Outer Jacket Color | Gray | Gray |
| Locking Screw Thread Type | Metric M3.5 × 0.6 | Metric M3.5 × 0.6 |
| Locking Screw Finish / Color | Black (signifying metric M3.5 thread) | — |
| Number of Conductors | 24 | — |
| Shielding Type | — | Double-shielded (braid and foil) |
| Connector & Interconnect Configuration | ||
| Connector A Type | 24-pin GPIB (IEEE-488) Male/Female Stackable | 24-pin GPIB (Centronics-type, Male/Female piggyback) |
| Connector B Type | 24-pin GPIB (IEEE-488) Male/Female Stackable | 24-pin GPIB (Centronics-type, Male/Female piggyback) |
| Stackable Connector Design | Yes (Piggyback configuration) | Yes |
| System Integration & Topology Limits | ||
| Maximum Recommended System Cable Length | 20 m (or 2 m per device, whichever is less) | 20 m (total system length limit) |
| Maximum Number of Connectable Instruments | 15 | 15 (per system) |
| Maximum Recommended Stack Height | 3 connectors | — |
| Compliance & Certifications | ||
| IEEE-488.1 Compatibility | Fully compatible (mechanical specification) | Fully compatible (mechanical specification) |
| IEEE-488.2 Compatibility | — | Compatible |
| RoHS Directive Compliance | — | Compliant |
| Physical | ||
| Cable Length in Feet | 3.3 ft | — |
| Connector Contact Plating | Gold | — |
| Shielding | Double-shielded (braid and foil) | — |
| Compliance & Standards | ||
| RoHS Compliant | Yes | — |
| Construction | ||
| Number of Conductors | — | 24 |
| Contact Plating | — | Gold |
Physical Layout and Cable Reach
The main difference between these two cables is physical length. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833A is a 1-meter (3.3 ft) cable, making it ideal for compact test setups where instruments are placed next to each other in a rack. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C is a 4-meter (13.2 ft) cable, suited for systems requiring wider spatial layouts or connections across different racks.
Construction and Shielding
Both cables feature a robust construction with 24 conductors, double shielding (braid and foil) to prevent noise interference, gray jackets, and gold contact plating. They utilize metric M3.5 x 0.6 locking screw threads. For the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833A, the locking screw finish is black to clearly identify the metric thread size. Additionally, the 10833A has a specified maximum recommended connector stack height of 3.
System Limitations and Standards
While both models allow up to 15 connectable instruments per system and a total system limit of 20 meters, the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833A includes a recommendation of 2 meters per device (whichever is less). Both cables maintain full mechanical compatibility with the IEEE-488.1 standard. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C datasheet also explicitly notes compatibility with the IEEE-488.2 standard.
Frequently asked questions
- What is denoted by the black finish on the 10833A locking screws?
- The black finish on the locking screws of the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833A indicates that the hardware uses a metric M3.5 x 0.6 thread size.