HIOKI E. E. CORPORATION
Aug. 2021
Revised edition 3
DT4250 series DIGITAL MULTIMETER Remote
Operation Manual
Remote Interface Overview
Step1. Connect the USB cable to the USB port on the computer.
Step2. Once the USB cable is connected and the USB driver is installed, a virtual COM port is created on the computer.
Interface Parameters
In order to operate the meter via a host computer or terminal, the parameters in interface within the DT4251,DT4252,DT4253,DT4254,DT4255,DT4256 have to match the parameters the serial interface provided by the host or terminal.
The following procedures will guide to set up interface parameters within these models.
Table.1
| Item | Parameter | Setting |
| 1 | Baud Rate | 9600 bps |
| 2 | Data Length | 8 bit |
| 3 | Parity Check | None |
| 4 | Stop Bit | 1 bit |
About Command
3.1. Terminator
A terminator is a character sent by a host, which identified the end of a command string.
A valid terminator consists of two-byte data.
<CR> (Carriage Return, ASC(&H0D) )
<LF> (Line Feed, ASC(&H0A) )
3.2. Return result
After execution of query command, digital multimeter will return the following format.
<Result> + <CR> <LF>
3.3. Data Types
Returned message is the ASCII string from the digital multimeter responding to a query.
Table.2
| Data Type | Explanation | Example |
| <NR1> | An integer | +10000, -10000, 123, -100 |
| <NR2> | This numeric representation has an explicit radix point. | +13.234, -.00002, 3.4567 |
| <NR3> | This representation has an explicit radix point and an exponent. | -1.000000E+02 |
| <Boolean> | String ASCII-encoded byte, is return for the setting query. | 0 or 1 |
| <Literal> | ASCII string | ACV, DCV |
Summary of Commands
Table.3
| Command | Parameter | Description |
| QPID | Query the Meter model. | |
| *IDN | Query the Meter identification. | |
| :SYST:RST | Put the meter to reset. | |
| :SYST:LLO | Put the meter into the local lockout state. | |
| :SYST:GTL | Put the meter into the local state. | |
| :CONF? | Query the main function of the display. | |
| :CONF2? | Query the sub function of the display. | |
| :CONF | <function,range> | Configure the range. |
| :FETCCNT? | Query main measured count value. | |
| :FETCCNT2? | Query sub measured count value. | |
| :CALC:STAT:MAX? | Query measured maximum count value. | |
| :CALC:STAT:MIN? | Query measured minimum count value. | |
| :CALC:STAT: AVER? | Query measured average count value. | |
| :CALC:REL:OFFS? | Query the offset value of the relative. | |
| :SYST:APS | <0|1> | Set the APS. |
| :SYST:BEEP | <0|1> | Set the action of the beeper. |
| :SYST:BLIT | <0|1> | Set the backlight. |
| :SYST:BLA | <0|1> | Set the auto backlight. |
| :SYST:BATT? | Query the battery level. | |
| :SYST:REL | <0|1> | Set the relative. |
| :SYST:FILTER | <0|1>,<100|500> | Set the filter. |
| :MEAS:AUTOV? | Query the status DC or AC of AutoV function. | |
| :SYST:INIT | Put the meter to power-on-reset state. | |
| :STAT? | Query the status of the meter. |
Detail of Commands
5.1. Description of Commands
The DT4251,DT4252,DT4253,DT4254,DT4255,DT4256 only accepts the UPPERCASE command. (Except Unit etc.)
Table.4
| Command | Explanation |
| QPID | Query the Meter model. Syntax QPID Response “DT4251” or “DT4252” or “DT4253” or ”DT4254” or “DT4255” or “DT4256” |
| *IDN | Query the Meter identification. Syntax *IDN? Response <data×3> <data> maker name, model number, serial, version Example; “HIOKI,DT4251,130501234,Ver 1.00” |
| :SYST:RST | Put the meter to reset. Syntax :SYST:RST Response “OK” |
| :SYST:LLO | Put the meter into the local lockout state. Syntax :SYST:LLO Response “OK” |
| :SYST:GTL | Put the meter into the local state. Syntax :SYST:GTL Response “OK” |
| :CONF? :CONF2? | Query the function of the display. Syntax :CONF? [:CONF2?] Response <data×2> <data> function,range Example; “ACV, 600m” → 5.2 Combination response string function and range |
| :CONF | Configure the range. Syntax :CONF <data×2> <data> function,range Example; “:CONF RES, 60k” →5.2 Combination response string function and range Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” or “EXE ERR” |
| :FETCCNT? :FETCCNT2? | Query measured count value. Syntax :FETCCNT? [:FETCCNT2?] Response <data×1> <data> count value Example; “3000” |
| :CALC:STAT:MAX? | Query measured maximum count value. (1) Syntax :CALC:STAT:MAX? Response <data×1> <data> count value Example; “5000” |
| :CALC:STAT:MIN? | Query measured minimum count value. (1) Syntax :CALC:STAT:MIN? Response <data×1> <data> count value Example; “2000” |
| :CALC:STAT:AVER? | Query measured average count value. (1) Syntax :CALC:STAT: AVER? Response <data×1> <data> count value Example; “3500” |
| :CALC:REL:OFFS? | Query the offset value of the relative. Syntax :CALC:REL:OFFS? Response <data×2> <data> offset value, range Example; “20, 600m” |
| :SYST:APS | Set the APS. Syntax :SYST:APS <data×1> <data> “0” (off) or“1” (on) Example; “:SYST:APS 1” Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” |
| :SYST:BEEP | Set the action of the beeper. Syntax :SYST:BEEP <data×1> <data> “0” (off) or “1” (on) Example; “:SYST:BEEP 1” Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” |
(1) Since the internal count value is returned, the value beyond the display range is not guaranteed to be accurate.
| :SYST:BLIT | Set the backlight. Syntax :SYST:BLIT <data×1> <data> “0” (off) or “1” (on) Example; “:SYST:BLIT 1” Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” |
| :SYST:BLA | Set the auto backlight. Syntax :SYST: BLA <data×1> <data> “0” (off) or “1” (on) Example; “:SYST: BLA 1” Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” |
| :SYST:BATT? | Query the battery level. Syntax :SYST:BATT? Response <data×1> <data> Four steps remaining battery level. “3” or “2” or “1” or “0” |
| :SYST:REL | Set the relative. Syntax :SYST: REL <data×1> <data> “0” (off) or “1” (on) Example; “:SYST: REL 1” Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” |
| :SYST:FILTER | Set the filter. Syntax :SYST: FILTER <data×2> <data1> “0” (off) or “1” (on) <data2> “100” (100Hz) or “500” (500Hz) Example; “:SYST: FILTER 1,100” Response “OK” or “CMD ERR” |
| :MEAS:AUTOV? | Query the status DC or AC of AutoV function. Syntax :MEAS: AUTOV? Response “0” (DC) or “1” (AC) or “EXE ERR” (Other than AutoV function) |
| :SYST:INIT | Put the meter to power-on-reset state. Syntax :SYST: INIT Response “OK” |
| :STAT? | Query the status of the meter. Syntax :STAT? Response “<ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX>” (24char)
|
5.2. Combination response string function and range
Table.5
Function | Range |
| ACV | 6, 60, 600, 1000 |
| DCV | 600m（※1）, 6, 60, 600, 1000 |
| DCmV | 600m |
| AutoV | 600 |
| CONT | 600 |
| RES | 600, 6k, 60k, 600k, 6M, 60M |
| CAP | 1u, 10u, 100u, 1m, 10m |
| DIODE | 1500 |
| TEMP | 400 |
| CLAMP | 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 |
| ACA | 600m（※2）, 6, 10 |
| DCA | 60m（※3）, 600m（※4）, 6, 10 |
| DCmA | 6m, 60m |
| DCuA | 60u, 600u |
| VDET | 0 (Lo, Hi) （※5） |
| FREQ | 100, 1k, 10k, 100k |
（※1）600mV range is for DT4251 or DT4253 or DT4254 or DT4255 or DT4256.
（※2）600mA range is only DT4256
（※3）60mA range is only DT4256
（※4）600mA range is only DT4256
（※5）1 is for DT4254 or DT4255 or DT4256
5.3. Count value of abnormal data
Response of count value query return the values shown in Table.6 in the case of abnormal data.
Table.6
| Type of abnormal value | Count value |
| Over Range value | 1000000 |
| Invalid data | 2000000 |
| Open value (DT4253, TEMP function) | 3000000 |
| Internal error value (DT4253, TEMP function) | 4000000 |
6. Compatible command with earlier products
Table.7 shows the command compatibility with earlier products 3800 series.
Table.7
| Command | Description |
| *CLS | Clear the system Error Queue. |
| *RST | Put the meter to power-on-reset state. |
| LLO | Put the meter into the local lockout state when in remote control. This means no local key operation at the front panel is allowed during remote control. |
| GTL | Put the meter into the local state, clearing the remote state and front panel lockout. |
| FETC? [@2] | Return the primary or secondary function value of output butter. Response：<NR3> |
Please note
-1. Contents subject to change without notice.
-2. This document contains copyrighted content.
-3. It is prohibited to copy, reproduce, or modify the content of this document without permission.
