What is the difference between the traditional models and the interactive models?

Traditional models such as the Keithley 2400, 2401, 2410, 2420, 2425, and 2440 feature vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD) and use GPIB and RS-232 interfaces. Interactive models like the Keithley 2450 and 2461 utilize 5-inch color capacitive touchscreens, support TSP-Link, and include Ethernet and USB connectivity.

Which model should be selected for high-voltage testing?

The Keithley 2410 is specifically designed for high-voltage applications, providing sourcing and measurement up to 1000 V at 20 W of output power.

What is the maximum current capacity available in the 2400 Series?

Under standard DC operation, the Keithley 2461 provides up to 7 A (and up to 10 A for pulse applications). Among VFD models, the Keithley 2440 supports up to 5 A.

Keithley 2400 Series SourceMeter Instruments

8 models with full specifications from Keithley.

The Keithley 2400 Series SourceMeter instruments combine a high-precision, stable DC power source with a high-accuracy digital multimeter within a single instrument. These single-channel source measure units (SMUs) operate as voltage sources, current sources, voltmeters, current meters, and ohmmeters. They are designed for precision electronic testing, material characterization, and production test environments. While sharing a common core architecture and operating temperature range of 0 °C to 50 °C, individual models in this family are distinguished by their maximum output power, current and voltage ranges, measurement resolution, and user interfaces. This guide helps engineers and buyers select the appropriate model based on power requirements and interface needs.

Common Form Factor: 2U half-rack width
Power Range: 20 W to 100 W DC
Voltage Range: 21 V to 1000 V
Current Range: 1 A to 10 A
Operating Temperature: 0 to 50 °C

Models in this series

Model	Type	Display	Interfaces	Operating Temperature
2400	Current Sources	Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)	IEEE-488 (GPIB), RS-232, Keithley Trigger Link, Programmable Digital I/O	0 to 50
2450	Current Sources	5-inch, capacitive, color graphical touchscreen (TFT-LCD)	USB 2.0 (Type B), Ethernet (LXI), GPIB, TSP-Link	0 °C to 50 °C
2410	Voltage Sources	Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)	GPIB (IEEE-488), RS-232	0°C to 50°C
2440	*misc	12-character vacuum fluorescent display (VFD)	GPIB (IEEE-488.2), RS-232, Digital I/O, Trigger Link	0°C to 50°C
2425	*misc	12-character alphanumeric vacuum fluorescent (VFD), 2 lines	GPIB (IEEE-488), RS-232, Digital I/O	0°C to 50°C
2401	Voltage Sources	5×7 dot matrix vacuum fluorescent display (VFD)	GPIB (IEEE-488), RS-232, Digital I/O, Trigger Link	0 °C to 50 °C
2461	*misc	5-inch color WVGA (800×480) TFT capacitive touchscreen	GPIB, LAN (LXI Class C), USB 2.0 (Host and Device), TSP-Link, Digital I/O (9-pin D-sub), Safety Interlock	0 °C to 50 °C
2420	Multimeters	Double-line Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)	GPIB (SCPI), RS-232, Keithley Trigger Link, Programmable Digital I/O (DIO)	0 °C to 50 °C

Classic VFD Models and Specialized Ratings

The core of the series consists of classic models featuring vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD) and traditional programming interfaces like GPIB and RS-232. Within this group, power and output boundaries define model suitability. The standard Keithley 2400 provides a 20 W output with sourcing limits up to 200 V and 1 A. For low-voltage testing such as photovoltaic cell and semiconductor device characterization, the Keithley 2401 offers specialized 21 V limits.

When higher voltages or currents are required, specialized VFD models scale accordingly:

Keithley 2410 handles high-voltage components, extending sourcing and measurement capabilities up to 1000 V at 20 W.
Keithley 2420 and Keithley 2440 provide 60 W maximum power, with the Keithley 2420 reaching 3 A (up to 60 V) and the Keithley 2440 reaching 5 A (up to 40 V).
Keithley 2425 expands power capability to 100 W, supporting up to 3 A sourcing and 100 V ranges.

Graphical Touchscreen and Interactive SMUs

The family includes next-generation models that replace the traditional VFD with a 5-inch capacitive color touchscreen interface. These modern units provide enhanced connectivity, including USB 2.0 and LXI-compliant Ethernet, alongside the TSP-Link interface.

The Keithley 2450 is a 20 W unit providing 5.5 to 6.5 digits of resolution. It offers current measurement ranges down to 10 nA and voltage sourcing up to 200 V.

For high-power testing, the Keithley 2461 interactive SMU features a 100 W maximum DC output (expanding to 1000 W pulse power) and a dual 18-bit, 1 MS/s high-speed digitizer. It supports DC currents up to 7 A and pulse currents up to 10 A, making it suitable for high-power semiconductor, materials, and module testing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the traditional models and the interactive models?: Traditional models such as the Keithley 2400, 2401, 2410, 2420, 2425, and 2440 feature vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD) and use GPIB and RS-232 interfaces. Interactive models like the Keithley 2450 and 2461 utilize 5-inch color capacitive touchscreens, support TSP-Link, and include Ethernet and USB connectivity.
Which model should be selected for high-voltage testing?: The Keithley 2410 is specifically designed for high-voltage applications, providing sourcing and measurement up to 1000 V at 20 W of output power.
What is the maximum current capacity available in the 2400 Series?: Under standard DC operation, the Keithley 2461 provides up to 7 A (and up to 10 A for pulse applications). Among VFD models, the Keithley 2440 supports up to 5 A.