The Keysight N6785A is a 2-quadrant Source/Measure Unit (SMU) module in the Keysight N6780 Series, rated 20 V / ±8 A / 80 W and tuned for battery drain analysis. The N6780 Series is a family of Source/Measure Units for the N6700 Modular Power System and 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). These modules combine precise sourcing, sinking, and measurement in a single unit, letting you visualize current drain from nA to A in one pass to gain insight into a device's power consumption. 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.

Within this series, the N6781A and N6785A are tuned for battery drain analysis of battery-powered devices from 20 W to 80 W, including e-Book readers, MP3 players, wireless mice, mobile phones, large smartphone phablets, tablets, military radios, and pacemakers. The N6782A and N6786A are tuned for functional test of devices such as DC/DC converters, power management units (PMUs), power management ICs (PMICs), and power amplifiers from 20 W to 80 W. The N6784A is designed as a versatile tool for general-purpose applications in automated test systems or on an R&D bench. The Source/Measure Unit modules address optimizing power consumption and maximizing battery life of battery-powered devices and their components.

The N6785A is a plug-in module for the N6700 Modular Power System, a modular DC power platform built from a mainframe chassis populated with interchangeable power, source/measure, and electronic load modules. The N6700 Low-Profile Modular Power System is a 1U-high, multiple-output programmable DC power supply and electronic load system that lets test system integrators mix and match from over 30 different DC power and electronic load modules to build a one- to four-channel system optimized to match specific test needs, balancing performance, power, and price. Power supplies and electronic loads are a fundamental component of every test system across aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, communications, semiconductor, and automotive electronics, and the N6700 is built for ATE systems in R&D, design validation, and manufacturing where designers must reduce the rack space occupied by multiple supplies or loads while increasing test system throughput.

The same modules also run in the Keysight N6705C DC Power Analyzer mainframe, which brings them to the R&D bench for sourcing and measuring DC voltage and current into a device under test. The N6705C combines one to four DC power supply or electronic load modules with the functions of a DMM, an oscilloscope, an arbitrary waveform generator, and a data logger in a single integrated instrument, with all sourcing, loading, and measurement functions available directly from the front panel without requiring any programming. Keysight positions it as an entirely new instrument category for R&D engineers. From the front panel an engineer can set up and view critical turn-on and turn-off sequences, measure and display voltage and current versus time to visualize power into the DUT, control DC bias-supply or electronic-load ramp-up and ramp-down rates, generate DC bias transients and disturbances as arbitrary waveforms, and log current and power consumption over seconds, minutes, hours, or days to capture anomalies. A common task is inrush current measurement: triggering the integrated oscilloscope on the DC output's on/off key in single-shot mode captures the current flowing into the DUT as the output turns on. While designed primarily as an R&D bench tool, it is fully programmable and LXI Class C certified and shares its command set with N6700 ATE systems, so it also serves ATE systems 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. Every pre-owned unit we sell is inspected and functionally verified in-house by our technicians before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer. Holding inventory under our own roof lets us confirm configuration and condition directly, match the right SMU and condition to your application, and ship quickly 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. Within each application pairing, the 20 W and 80 W versions cover devices from 20 W to 80 W.

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 further separates the models: 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. The N6781A is the 20 W, 2-quadrant member tuned for battery drain analysis, supporting seamless measurement ranging across its top three current ranges, programmable output resistance for battery emulation, an auxiliary voltage measurement input, zero-burden ammeter mode for battery rundown tests, and battery emulator and battery charger emulation modes.

More broadly, the N6700 Modular Power System Family is a single platform spanning a mainframe and a broad set of plug-in modules. Rather than a fixed-function instrument, it lets the user assemble a multiple-output DC power system by combining DC Power, High-Performance, Precision, Source/Measure, application-specific, and electronic load modules in one chassis. The modules are drawn from several series: the basic N6730 / N6740 / N6770 DC power modules, the N6750 high-performance autoranging modules, the N6760 precision modules, the N6780 source/measure units, the N6783 application-specific modules, and the N6790 electronic loads. Module capability depends not only on the module's own hardware but also on the mainframe in which it is installed; modules placed in an N6705C DC Power Analyzer gain front-panel scope view, arbitrary waveform generation, and data logging that are not present in the lower-profile N6700C-series mainframes.

The N6700 family centers on three low-profile mainframes — the N6700C rated at 400 W, the N6701C at 600 W, and the N6702C at 1200 W of total available output power — each holding one to four modules within a single 1U chassis. The 1200 W mainframe automatically senses the AC line and limits output to 600 W on a standard outlet, drawing full power only when operated at the higher AC input. For the R&D bench, the N6705C DC Power Analyzer mainframe has four slots and 600 W of total available power, accepting one to four modules; the N6715C is the same system ordered as a fully assembled, build-to-order instrument with one to four modules pre-installed. The N6705C also provides front-panel binding posts rated 20 A per post, 4 gigabytes of internal non-volatile storage, a built-in real-time clock, and power management that allocates mainframe power to the outputs that need it. The same modules run in both bench and low-profile mainframes, allowing test correlation between bench and manufacturing setups.

The modules differ chiefly in output rating and performance class. Basic DC power modules cover 50 W, 100 W, and 300 W outputs up to 150 V and up to 20 A. High-performance autoranging modules span 50 W to 500 W up to 60 V and up to 50 A and add autoranging outputs that deliver maximum power across a range of voltage and current combinations. Precision modules likewise reach 500 W and add precise control and measurement in the milliampere and microampere region with simultaneous voltage and current digitizing. Application-specific source/measure units provide up to 80 W with two- or four-quadrant operation; the application-specific N6783A modules target battery and mobile-communications testing at 18 W to 24 W; and the N6790 electronic loads offer 100 W and 200 W modules with constant voltage, current, resistance, and power modes, up to 60 V and 40 A. Output power ratings range from 18 W to 500 W per module, with DC output voltages spanning 0–5 V up to 0–150 V across the series. Performance features also vary by series: autoranging output is available on the high-performance and precision modules; simultaneous voltage-and-current scope traces and data logging are offered on the precision, SMU, and N6790A modules; and High-Speed Test Extensions (adding LIST sequencing and digitizing) are standard on the precision, SMU, application-specific, and load modules but an option (054) on the basic, high-performance, and 300 W modules.

Each model in the family below links to its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing for pre-owned units. Select the mainframe or module that fits your channel count, output rating, and interface needs, then open that page for its specific specifications and availability. The comparison table that follows summarizes the key ratings for the N6780 Series SMUs.

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.

Product Core & Specifications

The following specifications are for the Keysight N6785A 2-quadrant Source/Measure Unit. This module has multiple output and measurement ranges; values are shown for the highest range unless otherwise noted.

The values above are shown for the highest output and measurement range; this module has multiple ranges. This data sheet lists an abbreviated set of specifications and characteristics — for the full list, see Chapter 5 of the Keysight N6700 Series Power Modules Specifications Guide (Keysight N6700 Modular Power System Family Specifications Guide, part number N6700-90001).

Important: The N6780 Series SMUs are plug-in modules for the N6700 Modular Power System; an N6700 Series mainframe (such as the N6705 DC Power Analyzer) is required for operation and is not included with the module. The DC power and load modules (N6731B–N6792A) are not standalone instruments and require an N6700C, N6701C, N6702C, or N6705C mainframe (or N6710C/N6711C/N6712C build-to-order system), sold separately, to operate.

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 current is derated 1% per °C above 40 °C ambient temperature.

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

Important: The N6705C / N6715C mainframe has four module slots and holds one to four DC power or electronic load modules; modules are ordered separately and at least one module is required for the DC power analyzer to operate. If the sum of the installed modules' power exceeds the mainframe's available output power, use Keysight's power management capability to allocate mainframe power to the outputs where it is needed.

Important: Each module occupies one module slot, except for the N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A, and N6792A, which each occupy two module slots. The N6785A is a double-wide module and occupies two of the mainframe's four module slots.

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 N6705's rear panel.

Important: For proper operation, you must fill any empty module slots with filler panels. When configuring a mainframe with fewer than four filled module slots, you must order a filler panel kit (N6708A); each kit contains three filler panels.

Important: If you will be rack mounting your N6700, you must order the rack mount kit (N6709C). Standard rack mount hardware will not work; standard rack rails or slides are not compatible with the N6700 because of its 1U size and airflow requirements.

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

Important: Option 2UA (200 µA measurement range) is available only on Models N6761A and N6762A.

Important: A 500 W module installed in the 400 W N6700C mainframe cannot be operated at its full rated output power.

Important: When you first turn on the N6702C 1200 W mainframe it senses the available AC line power and will limit output power to 600 W so the high-power mainframe can be plugged into any standard outlet. For the N6702C mainframe, an AC mains rated at 100–180 VAC cannot supply enough current to power the mainframe at its full rated power; internal circuits limit the module power to 600 W maximum at that input. For model N6712C, the maximum output power is limited to 600 W at 100 VAC; to achieve full output power of 1200 W, you must use option 929 and operate at 200 VAC.

Important: The Keysight N6791A and N6792A Electronic Load Modules are not supported on the previous Keysight mainframes N6700B, N6701A, N6702A, N6705A, and N6705B.

Important: Arbitrary waveform generation, scope view, and the related N6705 oscilloscope measurement capabilities apply only when the power modules are installed in a Keysight N6705 DC Power Analyzer.

Important: Keysight N6783A modules cannot be used in series with other N6783A modules or any other N67xx module.

Important: N6784A note: when sinking power, the unit can operate at its maximum rated output power for only a limited amount of time. If the output power exceeds its safe limits (when the internal temperature exceeds its safe limit), the output latches off (annunciated by the OT status bit) and a protect clear is required to resume normal operation.

Important: When ordering a mainframe and modules separately, an appropriate documentation/line cord option must be selected, and each item arrives in a separate box for self-assembly. The N6715C is a build-to-order system shipped fully assembled, and at least one module must be ordered with it.

Recommended pairing: the N6780 Series SMUs install in the N6705 mainframe, and the BV9200B / BV9201B PathWave BenchVue software adds advanced battery drain analysis when used with the N6781A or N6785A. The BV9200B PathWave BenchVue Advanced Power Control and Analysis Software controls up to four mainframes and as many as 16 installed modules from a single PC; the 14585A Control and Analysis Software similarly controls the family's DC power and electronic load modules installed in up to four N6705 mainframes — up to 16 modules — from a single PC.

About this Pre-Owned unit

This pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships and is backed by our pre-owned warranty. To confirm its exact condition, firmware revision, installed options, or included accessories for your application before ordering, contact our Test Architects.

• Warranty included with every pre-owned unit.
• Functional verification included.
• Standard Calibration Upgrade Options: No Calibration Required, NIST Traceable, Z540.1 or ISO 17025 with Data, Z540.3 Guardbanding with Data.
• Note that unnecessary accessories may not be included (contact Test Architect to confirm).

ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment. New units ship factory-sealed, exactly as received from the manufacturer; every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. 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.