Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C vs Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D
This technical comparison details the physical and operational differences between the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C and the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D GPIB (IEEE-488) cables. These products are designed for engineers and laboratory technicians configuring automated test setups, system integration, or instrument racks. While both cables perform the same primary function of establishing robust data communication between instruments and controllers, they differ significantly in length, specified weight, and mechanical design details. Selecting the appropriate model depends primarily on the spatial layout of your test bench and the total allowable length limits of your GPIB system architecture. This guide analyzes these key specifications side-by-side to assist in purchasing decisions.
- 10833C Cable Length
- 4 m (13.2 ft)
- 10833D Cable Length
- 0.5 m (1.6 ft)
- Locking Screw Thread
- Metric M3.5 x 0.6
- Maximum System Length
- 20 m
Specifications
| Specification | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)10833C | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)10833D |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Interfaces | GPIB (IEEE-488) | GPIB (IEEE-488) |
| Physical & Mechanical Properties | ||
| Cable Length | 4 m (13.2 ft) | 0.5 m (1.6 ft) |
| Locking Screw Thread Type | Metric M3.5 × 0.6 | Metric M3.5 × 0.6 (black-colored metric screw locks) |
| Shielding Type | Double-shielded (braid and foil) | Double-shielded (braid and foil) |
| Outer Jacket Color | Gray | — |
| Connector Contact Plating | — | Gold |
| Cable Outer Jacket Color | — | Gray |
| Connector & Interconnect Configuration | ||
| Connector A Type | 24-pin GPIB (Centronics-type, Male/Female piggyback) | 24-pin GPIB (IEEE-488) Stackable Male/Female |
| Connector B Type | 24-pin GPIB (Centronics-type, Male/Female piggyback) | 24-pin GPIB (IEEE-488) Stackable Male/Female |
| Stackable Connector Design | Yes | Yes |
| Pin Allocation Standard | — | Standard IEEE-488 24-pin assignment |
| Compliance & Certifications | ||
| IEEE-488.1 Compatibility | Fully compatible (mechanical specification) | Fully compatible (mechanical & electrical specifications) |
| IEEE-488.2 Compatibility | Compatible | Compatible |
| RoHS Directive Compliance | Compliant | Yes |
| System Integration & Topology Limits | ||
| Maximum Recommended System Cable Length | 20 m (total system length limit) | 20 m |
| Maximum Number of Connectable Instruments | 15 (per system) | 15 (including controller) |
| Maximum Recommended Cable Length per Device | — | 2 m (average) |
| Construction | ||
| Number of Conductors | 24 | — |
| Contact Plating | Gold | — |
| Physical | ||
| Weight(kg) | — | 0.3 kg |
| Electrical Performance | ||
| Maximum Data Transfer Rate | — | Up to 1 MB/s (standard GPIB) / Up to 8 MB/s (with HS488) |
Cable Length and System Layout
The physical distance between instruments is the primary deciding factor when choosing between these two cables. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C provides a cable length of 4 meters (13.2 feet), making it suitable for connecting devices separated across different racks or connecting a mainframe to a distant system controller. In contrast, the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D offers a short 0.5-meter (1.6 feet) length and weighs 0.3 kg, making it ideal for clean, localized routing between stacked instruments directly on a workbench.
Both cables must operate within standard GPIB physical limitations. The maximum recommended system cable length is 20 meters, and a single system can accommodate up to 15 connectable instruments. For the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D, the average recommended length per device is 2 meters.
Shielding and Electrical Performance
Both cables feature double-shielding, utilizing both braid and foil to protect digital communication from electromagnetic interference in demanding laboratory environments. They also share gold contact plating to maintain high signal integrity over time. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C specifies 24 conductors inside its gray outer jacket.
There is a slight difference in how compliance is rated. While both support IEEE-488.2, the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C is noted as fully compatible mechanically with IEEE-488.1, whereas the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D specifies full compatibility for both mechanical and electrical IEEE-488.1 specifications. Additionally, the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D lists a maximum data transfer rate of up to 1 MB/s under standard GPIB, and up to 8 MB/s when utilizing the HS488 protocol.
Connector Design and Compatibility
Both models are engineered with stackable connector designs, allowing multiple GPIB cables to piggyback onto a single instrument interface. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833C is built with 24-pin Centronics-type male/female piggyback connectors. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D uses standard stackable male/female IEEE-488 connectors.
To ensure secure connections, both cables utilize metric M3.5 x 0.6 locking screw threads. The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D features distinctive black-colored metric screw locks, which can help quickly identify metric cabling in environments where both imperial and metric hardware coexist. Both cables meet RoHS directive compliance requirements.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the weight of the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D?
- The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D has a specified weight of 0.3 kg.
- What is the maximum data rate supported by the Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D?
- The Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 10833D supports standard transfer rates up to 1 MB/s and up to 8 MB/s with HS488.