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The Agilent 4288A 1 kHz/1 MHz Capacitance Meter is a high-speed capacitance measurement instrument designed for ceramic capacitor production testing. The datasheet positions the 4288A as a measurement solution combining 1 kHz and 1 MHz test frequencies, basic capacitance accuracy of ±0.07%, dissipation factor accuracy of ±0.0005, and selectable short-mode (6.5 ms) and long-mode (16.5 ms) measurement times. The instrument measures Cp, Cs, D, Q, G, Rs, and Rp parameters through a four-terminal pair configuration.
The datasheet identifies four production-test application areas for the 4288A: accelerating sorting test throughput on production lines, upgrading measurement-data accuracy for production process control, improving the efficiency and reliability of shipping inspection, and enhancing efficiency of high-volume capacitor incoming inspection. The 1 MHz frequency covers low-value capacitors from 1 pF to 1.5 nF, while the 1 kHz frequency covers medium- to high-value capacitors from 100 pF up to 20 µF, enabling sorting tests in compliance with the IEC 60384 and JIS C5101 standards named in the datasheet.
ValueTronics has supported the test and measurement community since 1992, operating from a 20,000 square foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every instrument we list passes through our facility for inspection and performance verification by our in-house technicians before shipping. This direct ownership of the inspection workflow — rather than drop-shipping from third-party sources — is what allows us to stand behind the condition grades we publish and the warranty terms we offer on each {{CONDITION}} unit.
The 4288A carries the Agilent Technologies brand, which originated when Hewlett-Packard spun off its test and measurement division as Agilent in 1999. In 2014, Agilent's electronic measurement business was transferred to Keysight Technologies, which is the current corporate home for the legacy HP and Agilent test and measurement product lines.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurement Parameters | |
| Parameters | Cp, Cs, D, Q, G, Rs, Rp |
| Parameter combinations | Cp-D, Cp-Q, Cp-G, Cp-Rp, Cs-D, Cs-Q, Cs-Rs |
| Cs, Cp display range (1 kHz) | 0.00001 pF to 20.0000 µF |
| Cs, Cp display range (1 MHz) | 0.00001 pF to 1.50000 nF |
| D display range | 0.00001 to 9.99999 |
| Q display range | 0.1 to 99999.9 |
| Rs, Rp display range | 0.01 mΩ to 999.999 MΩ |
| G display range | 0.00001 µS to 9.99999 kS |
| Δ% display range | -999.999% to +999.999% |
| Measurement Range | |
| Capacitance range at 1 kHz | 100 pF to 10 µF, 16 ranges (over range 150%, 200% at 10 µF) |
| Capacitance range at 1 MHz | 1 pF to 1 nF, 10 ranges (over range 150%) |
| Measurement Accuracy | |
| Basic C accuracy (long mode) | ±0.07% |
| Basic D accuracy (long mode) | ±0.0005 |
| C accuracy (short mode) | ±0.085% |
| D accuracy (short mode) | ±0.00065 |
| Measurement Functions | |
| Test frequency | 1 kHz (±0.01%), 1 MHz (±0.01%) |
| Frequency shift | 1 MHz can be varied to 990 kHz, 1.01 MHz or 1.02 MHz |
| Test signal level | 0.1 V to 1.0 V rms in 0.1 V rms steps |
| Test signal level accuracy | ±5% @ all C ranges |
| Source impedance (220 nF to 10 µF @ 1 kHz) | 1 Ω (nominal) |
| Source impedance (100 pF to 100 nF @ 1 kHz) | 20 Ω (nominal) |
| Source impedance (1 pF to 1 nF @ 1 MHz) | 20 Ω (nominal) |
| Measurement terminals | Four-terminal pair |
| Ranging | Auto and manual |
| Display digits | Selectable from 4, 5 and 6 digits |
| Deviation measurement | Deviation and percent deviation from a reference |
| Measurement time mode | Short and long |
| Averaging | 1 to 256 |
| Trigger mode | Internal, external, manual and GPIB |
| Delay time | Programmable 0 to 1000 ms in 1 ms steps |
| Cable length | 0 m, 1 m and 2 m |
| Measurement Time | |
| Short mode | 6.5 ms ±0.5 (T1=4.5, T2=2) |
| Long mode | 16.5 ms ±1 (T1=14.5, T2=2) |
| Compensation | |
| Open/short compensation | Stray C and residual L: No limits; Residual G: ≤ 20 µS; Residual R: ≤ 20 Ω |
| Load compensation | Valid at selected frequency only |
| Offset compensation | Subtracts desired compensation values from measured values |
| Scanner multi-compensation | Open/short/load compensation for up to 64 channels |
| Comparator | |
| Bins | 9 bins and out of bins for C; Pass/fail decision for D, Q, G, Rs and Rp |
| Status outputs | AUX, P-Hi, P-Lo, S-Reject, Low C Reject |
| Limit setting | Absolute value, deviation and % deviation |
| Bin count | 0 to 999999 |
| Circuit Protection | |
| Max withstanding discharge voltage (typical) | √(2/C) V and ≤ 1000 V |
| Memory and Setup | |
| Resume function memory period (typical) | 72 hours @ 23 °C ±5 °C |
| Save/Recall | 10 instrument setups in non-volatile memory |
| Interfaces | |
| GPIB | Complies with IEEE-488.1 and 488.2; SCPI programming language |
| Data buffer | Up to 1000 sets of measured values and comparator decision results |
| Handler interface | Negative true logic, optically-isolated open collector signals |
| Handler output signals | Bin 1 to 9, out of bins, aux bin, P-Hi, P-Lo, S-reject, Low C, index, EOM, Ready for Trigger, Overload, Alarm |
| Handler input signals | External trigger and keylock |
| Scanner interface | Open/short/load compensation for up to 64 channels |
| Scanner output signals | Index and EOM |
| Scanner input signals | CH0 to CH5 (channel identification), external trigger, CH VALID |
| Supplemental Data (Typical) | |
| Test signal voltage resolution | 1 mV rms |
| Voltage monitor accuracy | ±(3% of reading + 1 mV) |
| Measurement stability C (long mode) | ≤ 0.005% / 24 hours |
| Measurement stability D (long mode) | ≤ 0.00005 / 24 hours |
| Temperature coefficient C | ≤ 0.001% / °C |
| Temperature coefficient D | ≤ 0.00001 / °C |
| Settling time (frequency) | 10 ms |
| Settling time (test signal level) | 10 ms |
| General | |
| Power requirement | 90 V to 132 V, 198 V to 264 V ac, 47 Hz to 66 Hz, 35 W/100 VA max |
| Operating temperature | 0 °C to 45 °C |
| Operating humidity | 15% to 95% RH @ ≤ 40 °C, no condensation |
| Dimensions | 320 mm (W) × 100 mm (H) × 300 mm (D) (12.6 in × 3.9 in × 11.8 in) |
| Weight | Approximately 3 kg (6.6 lbs) |
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.
Model No
Agilent
Condition
Used
Manufacturer
Agilent
Type
Bench
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