Keysight N6786A 2-Quadrant Source/Measure Unit for Functional Test (80 W)

Key Features At A Glance

• 2-quadrant Source/Measure Unit module tuned for functional test, rated 20 V / ±8 A / 80 W
• Part of the Keysight N6780 Source/Measure Unit family for the N6700 Modular Power System, spanning 20 W to 80 W across the series
• Built-in 18-bit digitizers measure and log voltage, current, and power every ~5 us (~200 kHz), with up to 256 k samples/trace (512 k via SCPI) and ~30 kHz measurement bandwidth
• Seamless measurement ranging on the top three current ranges captures current from nA to A in one pass without changing ranges
• User-selectable emulation modes (power supply, CC/CV load, voltmeter, ammeter) configure the unit for common use cases, with a zero-burden current shunt (ammeter) mode for real-world battery rundown tests
• Output modulation up to 100 kHz for functional test, plus an auxiliary voltage measurement input
• GPIB, USB 2.0, and 10/100 LAN standard; fully compliant to LXI Class C, with SCPI / IEEE 488.2 programming and VXIplug&play and IVI-COM drivers for ATE integration
• Output protected against over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature; output fully isolated and floating from ground and from other modules

The Keysight N6786A is a 2-quadrant Source/Measure Unit (SMU) module for the N6700 Modular Power System, tuned for functional test at 80 W. A source/measure unit pairs a controllable power source with integrated, high-resolution measurement in one instrument, so a device under test can be driven and characterized without a separate supply and meter. The N6786A combines precise sourcing, sinking, and measurement in a single module, letting you visualize current drain from nA to A in one pass to gain insight into a device's power consumption.

The N6786A belongs to the Keysight N6780 Series, which comprises the N6781A 2-quadrant SMU for battery drain analysis (20 W), the N6782A 2-quadrant SMU for functional test (20 W), the N6784A 4-quadrant general-purpose SMU (20 W), the N6785A 2-quadrant SMU for battery drain analysis (80 W), and the N6786A 2-quadrant SMU for functional test (80 W). The functional-test members, including this N6786A, are tuned for devices such as DC/DC converters, power management units (PMUs), power management ICs (PMICs), and power amplifiers from 20 W to 80 W, while the battery-drain-analysis members target battery-powered devices and their components — e-Book readers, MP3 players, wireless mice, mobile phones, large smartphone phablets, tablets, military radios, and pacemakers — and the N6784A serves general-purpose applications in automated test systems or on an R&D bench.

As a plug-in module, the N6786A installs in an N6700 Modular Power System mainframe such as the N6705 DC Power Analyzer. In that mainframe, the integrated DMM, oscilloscope, arbitrary waveform generator, and data logger let an engineer set up and view turn-on/turn-off sequences, measure and display voltage and current versus time, control bias-supply or electronic-load ramp-up and ramp-down rates, generate transients and disturbances as arbitrary waveforms, capture inrush current by triggering the oscilloscope on the output's on/off key in single-shot mode, and log current and power consumption over seconds, minutes, hours, or days to capture anomalies — all from the front panel without writing code. Fully programmable and LXI Class C certified, the system also serves ATE applications for test development, DUT troubleshooting, and visualizing results as tests execute.

ValueTronics stocks and holds its own inventory in a 20,000-square-foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Holding inventory under our own roof lets us confirm configuration and condition directly, inspect and functionally verify each unit before it ships, and match the right SMU and condition to the engineers, labs, and production teams who rely on us.

Brand Heritage

Keysight Technologies traces its test-and-measurement heritage to Hewlett-Packard, whose instrument business was spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999. Agilent's electronic measurement division was then established as Keysight Technologies in 2014, the brand under which this product family is produced today. Documentation and ordering references issued before that transition may carry the earlier brand names.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The N6780 Series groups five Source/Measure Units for the N6700 Modular Power System, each combining a controllable source with integrated measurement. The models differ along three lines the series itself defines: output power (20 W or 80 W), quadrant operation (2-quadrant or 4-quadrant), and the application each is tuned for — battery drain analysis, functional test, or general-purpose use. The N6781A and N6785A are tuned for battery drain analysis, the N6782A and N6786A for functional test, and the N6784A is the general-purpose member of the family.

The clearest differences across the family are output power and quadrant operation. The N6781A, N6782A, and N6784A are 20 W modules, while the N6785A and N6786A are 80 W modules with higher current ranges. The N6784A is the only 4-quadrant model and the only one that does not support seamless measurement ranging; the N6781A, N6782A, N6785A, and N6786A are 2-quadrant units whose top three ranges do support it. Application tuning separates the models further: the N6781A and N6785A add programmable output resistance and battery emulator/charger modes for battery drain analysis, while the N6782A and N6786A add output modulation up to 100 kHz for functional test.

Each model below links to its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing for the unit you select. Compare the models here, then open the page for the specific model and configuration that fits your application; see the comparison table for each model's specific voltage, current, and power ratings and measurement ranges.

The wider N6700 Modular Power System family pairs a mainframe with interchangeable DC power and electronic load modules; the N6786A is one module within that catalog of over thirty module types. The low-profile N6700C-series mainframes are 1U-high, multiple-output programmable systems rated at 400 W (N6700C), 600 W (N6701C), and 1200 W (N6702C) of total available output power, each holding one to four modules. The N6705C DC Power Analyzer is a four-slot mainframe with 600 W of total available power that brings the same modules to the R&D bench and adds front-panel scope view, arbitrary waveform generation, and internal/external data logging not present in the lower-profile mainframes; the N6715C is the same system ordered as a fully assembled, build-to-order instrument with modules pre-installed. The same modules also run in the N6700-series low-profile mainframes used for ATE, allowing test correlation between bench and manufacturing setups.

Across the family, modules are grouped into series by role: basic DC power modules (N6730, N6740, N6770) from 50 W to 300 W up to 150 V or up to 20 A; high-performance autoranging modules (N6750) and precision modules (N6760) from 50 W to 500 W up to 60 V and 50 A, adding autoranging output that delivers maximum power across a range of voltage and current combinations and low-range measurement; application-specific source/measure units (N6780) at 20 W to 80 W in two- or four-quadrant operation; the application-specific N6783A modules at 18 W to 24 W for battery and mobile-communications testing; and DC electronic loads (N6790) providing up to 200 W, 60 V, and 40 A with constant voltage, current, resistance, and power modes. Output power ratings span 18 W to 500 W per module, with DC output voltages from 0–5 V up to 0–150 V across the series. High-Speed Test Extensions are optional (Option 054) on the basic, high-performance, and 300 W modules and standard on the precision, SMU, and load modules.

Each new model linked above and below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. The comparison table that follows summarizes ratings for the broader family; consult a model's own row and full specifications for the functions it provides.

Product Core & Specifications

Important: The N6786A is a plug-in module for the N6700 Modular Power System and is not a standalone instrument; an N6700-series mainframe — N6700C, N6701C, N6702C, or N6705C (such as the N6705 DC Power Analyzer) — is required for operation and is sold separately.

Important: Specifications are warranted over the ambient temperature range of 0 to 55 °C after a 30-minute warm-up period, and apply at the mainframe output terminals with local sensing unless otherwise noted.

Important: Output terminal isolation: no output terminal may be more than ±240 VDC from any other terminal or chassis ground. The maximum series operation is 240 V and the maximum rated parallel operation is 100 A per N6705 mainframe.

Important: For the N6761A–N6766A precision modules and the N6781A/N6782A/N6784A/N6785A/N6786A SMU modules, the performance specification values shown are for the highest output/measurement range; these modules have multiple output and measurement ranges.

Important: Option 760 (Output Disconnect/Polarity Reversal Relays) is not available on Models N6741B, N6751A, N6752A, N6761A, N6762A, and N6781A–N6786A; where installed, Option 760 limits the output current to 10 A maximum on Models N6742B and N6773A. Option 761 provides output and sense disconnect relays.

Important: Front-panel binding posts are rated for 20 A per post; modules rated above 20 A, such as the N6753A or N6792A, require high-current wiring routed through the mainframe rear panel. Output current is derated 1% per °C above 40 °C ambient temperature.

Important: Each module occupies one module slot, except for the N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A and N6792A, which each occupy two module slots. For proper operation, fill any empty module slots with filler panels; the filler panel kit (N6708A) contains three panels. Rack mounting requires the rack mount kit (N6709C), as standard rack rails or slides are not compatible with the N6700's 1U size and airflow requirements.

Important: The N6705C / N6715C mainframe has four module slots, provides 600 W total available output power, and includes 4 gigabytes of internal non-volatile storage and a built-in real-time clock; if the sum of the installed modules' power exceeds the available output power, use Keysight's power management capability to allocate mainframe power to the outputs where it is needed.

Important: Universal AC input, 100–240 VAC, 50/60/400 Hz, with power-factor-corrected input. When first turned on, the N6702C 1200 W mainframe senses the available AC line power and limits output power to 600 W so the high-power mainframe can be plugged into any standard outlet; full 1200 W requires operation at the higher AC input.

Important: The Keysight N6791A and N6792A Electronic Load Modules are not supported on the previous Keysight mainframes N6700B, N6701A, N6702A, N6705A, and N6705B. Keysight N6783A modules cannot be used in series with other N6783A modules or any other N67xx module.

Important: This data sheet lists an abbreviated set of specifications and characteristics. For the full list, see Chapter 5 in the Keysight N6700 Modular Power System Family / Power Modules Specifications Guide, part number N6700-90001.

Recommended pairing: the N6780 Series SMUs install in the N6705 DC Power Analyzer mainframe. Add the BV9200B / BV9201B PathWave BenchVue Advanced Power Control and Analysis Software, or the 14585A Control and Analysis Software, to control the family's DC power and electronic load modules across up to four N6705 mainframes — up to 16 installed modules — from a single PC.

About this Pre-Owned unit

This is a Pre-Owned Keysight N6786A. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. For the exact configuration, available options, included accessories, calibration, or current availability for your application, our Test Architects can confirm the details before you order.

ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment, and we keep this equipment on hand in our own warehouse so we can stand behind its condition. Our Test Architects can help you select the condition, calibration, and configuration that fit your application.

Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.