GENERAL DESCRIPTION

SECTION 1.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
1-1. GENERAL,
a, The
Keithley Model 610B Electrometer is a
measures wide ramges of dc voltages, versatile instrument which
is a highly currents, resistances
improved form of conventional dc vacuum tube and chargeS. It
uses an electrometer tube input to voltmeters that
sistance. The Model 610B has all theprovide greater than 1014 ohm input re
but it can also make many
more capabilities of conventional VTVMS ,
measurements without loading circuits.
b. The Electromet er has 11
100 volts, 28 current voltage ranges from 0.00l volt full scale tO
ranges from l0-14 ampere full
from 100 ohms full scale scale
25 linear resistance ranges to 0.3 ampere ,
coulob ranges from 10-12 coulomb full scale to to 1014 ohms, and l5
l0-5 coulomb.
C. The Model 610B input stage uses a
The output stage uses a vacuum tube; matched pair of electrometer tubes.
used for all amp lifier stages and otherwise, solid-state devices are
the power supply. This increases re
liability and stability and allows greater
regulation of the power supply.
1-2. FEATURES.
a. Voltmet er accuracy is t1% of full scale, exclusive of
noise and drift.
b. Zero drift of the Mode1 610B is 200
microvolts per hour maximum averaged
over any 24-hour period after warm-up, During
is no more than 2 millivolts after
the 2-hour warm-up, zero drift
the first hour.

C. Two amp lifier outputs are available. A Switch on the rear

either 3 volts o t1 milliampere for full-scale meter panel allows
output is variable t5% with 1.4-kilohm recorders. The deflection. The Current
unity-gain amplifier
vutput is equal to the input voltage within 50 ppm or l00
of zero drift. microvolts, exclusive

d Current measurements can be made by one of two methods, the

in which the current is normal method
determined by measuring the voltage drop across a re
sistor shunting the input, or the fast method in which negative
feedback is
applied through the shunt resistor. The latter method reduces the input
and greatly increas es the response speed on the low-current ranges. drop

l-3. DIFF ERENCES BETWEEN THE MODELS 610B AND 610 BR.

a. The Model 610BR is the rack version of the cabinet

Model 610B. The circuits, specifications, electrical parts and
configuration.
procedures for the two models are the same. Besides the outside operating
dimens ions,
the main difference between them is the Model 610 BR's COARSE ZERO
Control
is on the front panel, not on the rear panel.

b The instructions in the Manual are for both models,

although only the
Model 610B is mentioned. Any differences are identified for the
correct model.

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 GENERAL DESCRIPTION MODELS 610B, 610BR ELECTROMETERS

1-4. SPECIFICATIONS.

AS A VOLTME TER:

RANGE : .001 volt ful1 scale to l00 volts in eleven lx

and 3x ranges.
ACCURACY: 1% of full scale on al1. ranges exclusive of noise and drift.
ZERO DRIFT: After l-hour warm-up no more than 2 millivolts in the second hour, and in any
subsequent 24 -hour period, the average drift will not exceed 200 microvolts per hour.
METER NOISE : F10 microvolts with input shorted.
INPUT IMPEDANCE:
the Range Switch.
Greater than 1014 ohms shunted by 22 picofarads on the VOLTS position of
Lnput resistance may be selected in decade steps from 10 to 101 ohms
with the Range Switch.

AS AN AMMETER:

RANGE : l0-14 ampere full scale to 0.3 ampere in twenty-eight lx and 3x ranges.

ACCURACY: t2%% of full scale on 0.3 to l01 ampere ranges us ing smallest available Multi
plier Switch setting; t4% of full scale on 3x 10-12 to 10--14 ampere ranges.

METER NOISE: Less than t3 x 10-15 ampere.

GRID CURRENT: Less than 2 x 10-14 ampere.

AS AN OHMMETER:

RANGE : 100 ohms fu11 scale to l0** ohms on twenty-five linear lx and 3x ranges.

ACCURACY: 3% of full scale on 100 to 10 ohm ranges using highest available

Multiplier
Switch setting; t5% of full scale on 3 x 10 to 1014 ohm ranges.
AS A COULOMBME TER:

RANGE : 10-12 coulomb ful1 scale to l0 coulomb in fifteen lx and 3x ranges.

ACCURACY: t5%, of full scale on all ranges. Drift due to grid current does not exceed
2 x l0-14 coulomb per second.

AS AN AMPLIFIER:

INPUT IMPEDANCE: Greater than 10* ohms shunted by 22 picofarads on the VOLTS position
of the Range Switch. Input resistance may be selected in decade steps from 10 to 1011
ohms with the Range Switch.

OUTPUTS: Unity-gain output and either voltage or current recorder output.

Unity-Gain Output: At de, output is equal to input within 50 ppm or l00 microvolts ,
exclusive of zero drift, for output currents of 100 microamperes or less. Up to one
milliampere may be drawn for input voltages of 10 volts or less.

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 ODELs 610B, 610BR ELECTROMETERS GENERAL DESCRI PTI ON

Voltage Recorder Output: t3 volts for full-scale input. Internal resistance is 3 kil
ohms. Output polarity is opposite input polarity.
Gain: 0.03, 0.1, etc. , to 3000.

Frequency Response (Within 3 db): de to 300 cps at a gain of 3000, rising to 25 kc

at a gain of 30, decreasing to 2.5 kc at a
gain of 0.03.

J Noise: S7% Ims of full scale at a gain of 3000. decreasing to l% at gains below IO0.

Current Recorder Output: Tl milliampere for full -scale input, variable t5% with 1400
ohm recorders.
J GENERAL:
POLARITY: METER Switch selects left zero (positive or negative) or center- zero scales.
Output polarity is not reversed.
LINE STABILITY:
A 107% change in line voltage will cause less than a 10-microvolt meter
deflection on, all ranges.
CONNECTORS: Input: uhf type; ground binding post.
Output: Voltage or current, Amphenol 80-PC2F; Unity-gain, bind ing posts .
POWER: 105-125 or 210-250 volts (switch selected): 50 to l000 cps; 10 watts.

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT: Model 610B: 10-1/2 inches high x 6-5/8 inches wide x 10 inches deep;
net weight, 12 pounds. Model 610BR: 5-1/4 inches high x 19 inches wide x 10 inches deep;
net weight, 12 pounds.

ACCESSORIES SUPPLIED: Mating input and output plugs; 3:2 power line adapter; binding plug.
1-5. APPLICATIONS.
a.
Voltmeter applications include directly measuring potentials of vacuum tube plates
and grids, pH electrodes, piezo-electric crystals , capacitors and electrochemical cells.
and the gate potentials of field effect transistors. With the Model 2501 or 2503 Static
Detector Probe, the Model 610B can measure electrostatic voltages.

b. As a picoameter, the Electrome ter can measure mass spectrograph currents . It can
be used with pho to multiplier tubes, flame and beta ray and lithium ion -drift detectors.
Other uses are in gas chromatograph work, nuclear studies , plasma physic studies and
vacuum studies. Also. it can be used as a current null detector with an accurate current
reference source.

C. As an ohmeter, its uses include measur ing diode characteristics, insulation resis
tance, and resistor voltage coefficients. With the Model 6105 Resistivity Adapter and a
power supply, the Model 610B can measure volume and surface resistivities.
d. In addition to measuring charge directly, other coulombmeter uses are me asuring charge
current over a period and obtaining integral curves of time -varying currents. The Model
610B can measure the total energy output from a pulsed 1laser on its coulomb ranges when
used with a calibrated photo tube or photo diode . It also can be used as a charge amp li
fier to measure piezo -electric crystal outputs.

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 GENERAL DESCRIPTION MODELS 610B, 610BR ELECTROME TERS

l-6. ACCESSORIES,

a,
Three accessory probes, fully described in Section
extend the Electrome ter's voltage range to 30
5, facilitate measurements and
kilovolts.
b. Model 6104 Test Shield is suitable for resistance measurements with
either 2 or J
terminal guarded connections, as well as voltage and current
tests.
C.
Model 6105 Resistivity Adapter is a guarded test fixture for measuring volume and
urface resistivities of materials when used with the Model 610B and the Keithley Model
240A High Voltage Supply.
d. Models 2501 and 2503 Static Detector Probes are capacitive voltage dividers with a
10,000:1 ratio, when used with the probe 3/8 inch from the charged surtace.
e. Model 6106 Electrometer Connection Kit cont ains a group of the most useful leads
and adapters for electrometer measurements.
f. Model 6107 pH Electrode Adapter has a 2-foot cable and coaxial connector and accepts
a Beckman and Coleman (B-C) or a Leeds and Northrup (L & N) connector. The Adapter allows
accurate and convenient pH potential measurements with the Model 610B.
Model 370 Recorder is uniquely compat ib le with the Model 610B as well as other
Keithley microvoltmeters, electrome ters and picoammeters. The recorder is a high quality
economical instrument that maximizes the performance of the Model 610B and many other
Keithley instruments, even in the most critical applications.
l-7. EQUIPMENT SHIPPED. The Model 61OB Electrometer is factory-calibrated and is ship
ped with all components in place. The shipping carton contains the Instruction Manual and
matit g plugs for the input and output receptacles. The Model 610BR is shipped with the
angles and screws for rack mounting packed separately within the shipping carton.

Mult Lplier Switch

(S106)

METER Swi tch

(S107) Range Switch
FINE ZERO Control
(Top Knob) (RI23) (S101)
MEDIUM ZERO Switch ZERO CHECK But ton
(Bottom Knob) (S105) (S103)

Mechani ca)
Meter Zero
IOBAROTOMETe

COARSE ZERO INPUT Receptacle

Switch (S104) (J101)
P1lot Light Ground Post
FEEDBACK Swit ch (J102)
(102)

FIGURE 3. Model 610BR Front Panel Controls and Terminals. Circuit designations refer to
Replaceable Parts List and the schematic diagram.

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 SECTION 2. OPERATION

2-1. FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND TERMINALS (See Figures 3 and 4).

mode and the

a. Range Switch. The Range Switch selects the measuring
ranges, eight OHMS
range. It is divided into a VoLTS position, 11 AMPERES
indicated by an X above
ranges and four COULOMB S ranges. The range used is
the dial skirt.
voltage sen
b. The Multiplier Switch determines the
Multiplier Switch.
when the
sitivity of the dc amplifier and sets the full-scale voltage range to
may also be used
Range Switch is set to VOLTS. The Multiplier Switch
and COULOMBS
multiply the AMPERES (3x maximum setting above 10-3), OHMS
ranges on the Range Switch.
shuts off
C. METER Switch. The Switch has five positions: POWER OFF
operation.
the instrument. OFF disconnects only the meter during recorder
CENTER ZER0
The + and - positions det ermine the polarity of the meter.
sets the instrument for center zero operation (lower meter scale).

d. ZERO Controls. Two ZERO Controls are on the front panel: a MEDIUM

Switch (outer knob) and a 10-turn FINE potentiometer (center knob). These
allow precise meter zeroing.

3
4 5 6

1
9
3 2
4

3TOE ELECTROMETER
Mechanícal
Meter Zero Multiplier Swítch
(S106)

MET ER Switch
MEDIUM ZERO Swítch
(S107)
(Bottom Knob) (S105)
FINE ZERO Control ZERO CHECK But ton
(Top Knob) (R123) tNPUT
(S103)
INPUT Receptacle FEEDBACK Switch
(J101) (S10 2)
Ground Post
(J102)

Range Switch.
(S101)

FIGURE 4. Model 610B Front Panel Controls and Terminals.

Circuit designations refer to Replaceable Parts List and the
schematic diagram.

5
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