Using NI-VISA Interactive Control with an RMX-410x Programmable Power Supply

Updated Feb 14, 2022

Environment

Hardware

  • RMX-4104

Driver

  • NI-VISA

I would like to communicate with my RMX-410x PSU via USB and the NI-VISA Interactive Control Panel.  I would like to use SCPI commands to control the RMX device, but am experiencing timeout errors.  What steps can I take to get the NI-VISA panel to communicate with my PSU?

1. Make the following selections on the RMX-410x device's REM Menu: Interface = USB, Address = 1, Baud = 57.6 Lang = SCPI
2. Turn the device off, and connect it to the PC via USB
3. Turn the device on, open NI-VISA Interactive Panel, and select the Serial Instrument Resource from the list that corresponds to your PSU.
4. In the VISA window that appears, the Serial Settings tab should be selected.  Set the Baud Rate to 57600, and Apply Changes.
5. Go to the Flow Control Settings tab, select XON/XOFF and Apply Changes.
6. Go to the I/O Settings tab, Check "Enable Termination Character", set "End Mode For Writes" to "Termchar", and "Termination Character" to "Carriage Return - \r" and Apply Changes.
7. Go to the Input/Output tab, type the command INST:NSEL 01 into the text box, and select Write.
8. Try to enter the command *IDN? into the text box, and press the Query button.
9. If the PSU does not respond at this point, return to Configuration -> Serial Settings tab and use Flush Buffer on both the Transmit and Receive Buffers.
10. Once *IDN? returns the PSU info, try to Write another supported command, such as OUTP:STAT ON (note that this command turns the PSU's output on).