HP / Agilent 6177C Current Source, 0-500mA, 0-50V

The HP/Agilent 6177C is a precision DC current source delivering stable, highly regulated output from 0 to 500 mA across a 0 to 50 V compliance range. Operating as both a constant current source and voltage-limited supply, It has exceptional load and line regulation - better than 25 ppm of output plus 5 ppm of range setting - making it ideal for resistivity measurements, semiconductor characterization, electrochemistry, and electromagnetics applications where precise current control is essential.

Technical Specifications

Output current: 0–500 mA continuously variable

Output voltage compliance: 0–50 V

Load regulation: <25 ppm of output + 5 ppm of range switch setting

Line regulation: <25 ppm of output + 5 ppm of range switch setting (104–127 Vac or 208–254 Vac)

Stability (8-hour drift): <100 ppm of output + 25 ppm of range switch setting

Temperature coefficient: <75 ppm/°C of output current + 5 ppm of range switch setting

Output impedance: High

Transient recovery: <800 µs to 1% nominal current

Resolution: 0.03% of range switch setting

AC input: 104–127 Vac or 208–254 Vac (switchable), 48–440 Hz

Input power: 55 W at full load

Key Features

10-turn precision output current control

Three-position range switch for flexible output scaling

Voltage control establishes compliance ceiling in constant current mode

No output capacitor - high output impedance design for sensitive applications

Remote analog programming with <6 ms settling (0–99% or 99%–<1% of rated output)

Resistance programming accuracy: 1% of output + 0.04% of range

Front panel + and − output terminals

Typical Applications Resistivity and material characterization, semiconductor parameter testing, electrochemical cell operation, electromagnetics research, and precision current injection for device validation.

Compatibility & Integration Accepts dual AC input voltage configurations. Remote programming via analog techniques enables integration into automated test systems.