Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833B vs Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C
This comparison highlights the technical specifications of the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833B and 10833C GPIB (IEEE-488) instrument control cables. These double-shielded, high-reliability cables are designed for connecting instruments to controllers or daisy-chaining multiple devices in automated test benches. This guide outlines the physical, mechanical, and electrical differences to assist technical buyers and engineers in selecting the proper cable length and connector style for their system layouts.
- 10833B Cable Length
- 2 m (6.6 ft)
- 10833C Cable Length
- 4 m (13.2 ft)
- Locking Screw Thread
- Metric M3.5 x 0.6
- Maximum System Instruments
- 15
- Max System Cable Length
- 20 m
Specifications
| Specification | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)10833B | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)10833C |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Interfaces | GPIB (IEEE-488) | GPIB (IEEE-488) |
| Physical & Mechanical Properties | ||
| Cable Length | 2 m (6.6 ft) | 4 m (13.2 ft) |
| Locking Screw Thread Type | Metric M3.5 x 0.6 | Metric M3.5 × 0.6 |
| Outer Jacket Color | Gray | Gray |
| Shielding Type | Double shielded | Double-shielded (braid and foil) |
| Connector & Interconnect Configuration | ||
| Connector A Type | 24-pin GPIB (IEEE-488) Male / Female | 24-pin GPIB (Centronics-type, Male/Female piggyback) |
| Connector B Type | 24-pin GPIB (IEEE-488) Male / Female | 24-pin GPIB (Centronics-type, Male/Female piggyback) |
| Stackable Connector Design | Yes (Piggyback) | Yes |
| System Integration & Topology Limits | ||
| Maximum Number of Connectable Instruments | 15 | 15 (per system) |
| Maximum Recommended System Cable Length | 20 m | 20 m (total system length limit) |
| Compliance & Certifications | ||
| IEEE-488.1 Compatibility | Fully compatible (mechanical specification) | Fully compatible (mechanical specification) |
| IEEE-488.2 Compatibility | Compatible | Compatible |
| RoHS Directive Compliance | — | Compliant |
| Construction | ||
| Number of Conductors | — | 24 |
| Contact Plating | — | Gold |
Cable Length and System Integration
The primary physical differentiator between these two models is overall length. The 10833B spans 2 meters (6.6 feet), whereas the 10833C offers a longer reach of 4 meters (13.2 feet). While the longer cable provides greater flexibility for physically distant instruments or multi-rack setups, engineers must consider the overall system limits. Both cables are subject to the same standard IEEE-488 system constraints, including a maximum recommended total system cable length of 20 meters and a limit of 15 connectable instruments per system.
Mechanical and Electrical Specifications
Both models feature gray outer jackets and metric M3.5 x 0.6 locking screw threads, ensuring secure mechanical connections to standard instruments. They both offer fully stackable, piggyback connector designs to allow multi-device daisy-chaining. For shielding, the 10833B is double shielded, while the 10833C explicitly specifies a double-shielded construction consisting of braid and foil. Additionally, the 10833C specification details a 24-conductor configuration with gold contact plating and compliance with the RoHS directive.
Frequently asked questions
- Can the 10833B and 10833C be used together in the same test system?
- Yes, both cables utilize the same metric M3.5 x 0.6 thread type and stackable design. They can be interconnected up to the maximum limit of 15 instruments or a total combined system length of 20 meters.
- Are these cables compatible with current IEEE standards?
- Yes. Both the 10833B and 10833C are fully compatible with the IEEE-488.1 mechanical specification and are compatible with the IEEE-488.2 standard.