Keysight White Papers: Make better DMM measurements, choosing a benchtop power supply

Back in the day, I used to be a writer and editor for Test&Measurement World, an electronics engineering trade journal. Well, I’m still a test and measurement nerd, and  I enjoy reading white papers like these from Keysight, which is the current name for the test instruments division of what used to be Hewlett Packard.

Here are three that I’ve come across lately:

• DMM Tips to Eliminate Errors and Maximize Accuracy
  When making measurements with a digital multimeter (DMM), common errors such as signal interference, external noise, and internal current leakage will cause measurement errors. Understanding the root cause of these errors will help you eliminate and achieve the greatest accuracy possible using a DMM. This white paper covers several sources of system cabling and DC voltage measurement errors and the solutions to get the accuracy you need. Learn how to tackle the following measurement challenges while using a DMM to measure DC: common mode rejection, noise caused by injected current, loading errors due to input resistance, loading errors because of input bias current.
• Make Better AC RMS Measurements with Your Digital Multimeter
  If you use a digital multimeter (DMM) for AC voltage measurements, it is important to know what type of reading your meter is giving you so that you can properly interpret the results. Is your meter is giving you peak value, average value, root-mean-square (RMS) value, or something else? If the answer is “something else,” you may be in trouble, and the trouble usually happens with AC rms measurements. This application note will help you understand the different techniques DMMs use to measure rms values, how the signal affects the quality of your measurements, and how to avoid common measurement mistakes.
• How to Choose a Benchtop Power Supply
  When deciding which bench power supply you need, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the many options available. When selecting a general-purpose bench power supply, you should consider multiple factors and understand the important features. For a basic power supply, you can select one based on your voltage and current requirements. For specialized requirements with source and measurement features, selecting from a set of power supplies to meet your needs is straightforward. Identifying the application you need helps you narrow down your options.