Reference and calibration work needs a fundamentally different kind of instrument from a power amplifier: not power delivery, but precision — a known current or voltage held stable to a specified accuracy, with resolution fine enough to characterise the device under test rather than the source itself. Aigtek's ATS2000C current source and ATS1000V/ATS2000V voltage source series are built for exactly this role.
Why Precision Sources Are a Different Category From Power Supplies
A general-purpose bench power supply is specified by how much current or voltage it can deliver; a precision reference source is specified by how accurately and repeatably it holds a much smaller value. All three Aigtek series here use LCD-based operation panels for straightforward setup, but their real value is in the resolution and accuracy figures beneath that simple interface.
ATS2000C — Current Source
| Model | Output Current | Resolution | Digits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATS-2401C | 1A | 20pA | 5½ |
| ATS-2420C | 3A | 500pA | 5½ |
| ATS-2100CF | ±100mA | 10nA | 5½ |
The ATS-2401C's 20pA resolution at 1A full-scale is the standout figure in this series — a dynamic range spanning 11 orders of magnitude, suited to applications needing both a substantial current output and the ability to resolve extremely fine current changes at lower levels.
ATS1000V and ATS2000V — Voltage Sources
| Model | Output Voltage | Digits | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATS-1100V | 0~13.0000V | 5½ | 100µV |
| ATS-1200V | 0~13.0000V | 6½ | 10µV |
| ATS-2400V | 200.000V | 4½ | 2µV |
| ATS-2401V | 20.0000V | 4½ | 2µV |
| ATS-2420V | 60.000V | 4½ | 2µV |
The ATS1000V series covers low-voltage (up to 13V) reference applications at 5½ or 6½ digit resolution; the ATS2000V series extends the range to 200V while holding a tighter 2µV absolute resolution, at the cost of one fewer effective digit at the highest range setting — a normal trade-off as full-scale range increases for a fixed number of significant digits.
Choosing Between the Ranges
Select based on your device under test's actual operating range, not the highest-resolution option available — a 200V-range source used to calibrate a 5V device wastes most of its resolution on an unused portion of its range. Matching the source's full-scale range to your actual test voltage or current gets you the best practical resolution for the measurement you're making.
Finch Electronic Solutions — Melbourne, Australia
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