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Discussion of precise voltage measurement

Re: [volt-nuts] Optimation, Inc. CS-110 Precision Current Source

Demian Martin

Sun, Aug 21, 2011 7:08 PM

Bob
I have a 1975 Optimation catalog. They were bought by Julie Research around
then. Julie research is now part of Ohm-Labs http://www.ohm-labs.com/ .

The CS110 is an AC current source, .02%, 10Hz to 100 KHz. Probably used with
their AC calibrator as a source. The catalog item may include other boxes.
The CS112 (a DC variation on it) was listed as $2,875 in 1975.

I have the AC110 ac calibrator which works well after 40 years. I have the
manuals for the AC calibrator. I could scan some of the pages if that would
help. The CS110 is probably full of high precision resistors. The AC
calibrator has something like 50 Vishay foil resistors in its attenuator,
showing that they were not afraid to spend money on good parts.
Demian

Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:47:40 -0500
From: Bob Smither smither@c-c-i.com
Subject: [volt-nuts] Optimation, Inc. CS-110 Precision Current Source
Message-ID: 4E4FF33C.4030802@c-c-i.com

Fellow Voltage Aficionados,

I found a CS-110 at a local electronics hobby / fun / junk shop and
could not resist it at $20.00 It appears to be in good condition, but
appears to not work. At least it does not smoke when turned on :-).

Unit is in a nice metal 19" rack enclosure, black front panel with white
lettering.

The markings on the front are:

CS-110 Precision Current Source
Optimation, Inc.

The front panel knobs are labeled:

Current Range (1 - 10 uA; 10 - 100 uA; ...; 100 - 1000 mA;
1 - 10 A; 10 - 100 A)
(8 positions)

Coarse Mult (0 - .1; .1 - .2; ...; .9 - 1.0; 1.0 - 1.1)
(11 positions)

Fine Mult
(10 turn dial with 000 - 999 readout)

Output binding posts (2)
1 uA to 1000 mA

From looking at the circuitry and the binding posts it is clear that
the unit cannot provide the higher current ranges. I am guessing that
the Hi Cur Amp output (see following) must hook to a second box of some
kind.

The back panel has two BNC connectors:

Ref In
Hi Cur Amp

There is also a fuse and an exposed pot labeled Current Adjust. A
capped off hole (under the Ref In BNC) says Quad In.

Google has not been very helpful - I found the optimate.com domain,
apparently associated with Optimation, Inc. but the links are dead.

So my questions:

Anyone know anything about the CS-110?

Anyone know where I could find documentation for the CS-110?

Does it have to have a reference input? What value? Is it AC or DC (or
maybe either)?

Any other insight would be very appreciated!

Thanks!

Bob Smither, PhD Circuit Concepts, Inc.

           The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun.
             -- Buckminster Fuller

Smither@C-C-I.Com http://www.C-C-I.Com 281-331-2744(office) -4616(fax)

Bob I have a 1975 Optimation catalog. They were bought by Julie Research around then. Julie research is now part of Ohm-Labs http://www.ohm-labs.com/ . The CS110 is an AC current source, .02%, 10Hz to 100 KHz. Probably used with their AC calibrator as a source. The catalog item may include other boxes. The CS112 (a DC variation on it) was listed as $2,875 in 1975. I have the AC110 ac calibrator which works well after 40 years. I have the manuals for the AC calibrator. I could scan some of the pages if that would help. The CS110 is probably full of high precision resistors. The AC calibrator has something like 50 Vishay foil resistors in its attenuator, showing that they were not afraid to spend money on good parts. Demian Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:47:40 -0500 From: Bob Smither <smither@c-c-i.com> Subject: [volt-nuts] Optimation, Inc. CS-110 Precision Current Source Message-ID: <4E4FF33C.4030802@c-c-i.com> Fellow Voltage Aficionados, I found a CS-110 at a local electronics hobby / fun / junk shop and could not resist it at $20.00 It appears to be in good condition, but appears to not work. At least it does not smoke when turned on :-). Unit is in a nice metal 19" rack enclosure, black front panel with white lettering. The markings on the front are: CS-110 Precision Current Source Optimation, Inc. The front panel knobs are labeled: Current Range (1 - 10 uA; 10 - 100 uA; ...; 100 - 1000 mA; 1 - 10 A; 10 - 100 A) (8 positions) Coarse Mult (0 - .1; .1 - .2; ...; .9 - 1.0; 1.0 - 1.1) (11 positions) Fine Mult (10 turn dial with 000 - 999 readout) Output binding posts (2) 1 uA to 1000 mA From looking at the circuitry and the binding posts it is clear that the unit cannot provide the higher current ranges. I am guessing that the Hi Cur Amp output (see following) must hook to a second box of some kind. The back panel has two BNC connectors: Ref In Hi Cur Amp There is also a fuse and an exposed pot labeled Current Adjust. A capped off hole (under the Ref In BNC) says Quad In. Google has not been very helpful - I found the optimate.com domain, apparently associated with Optimation, Inc. but the links are dead. So my questions: Anyone know anything about the CS-110? Anyone know where I could find documentation for the CS-110? Does it have to have a reference input? What value? Is it AC or DC (or maybe either)? Any other insight would be very appreciated! Thanks! -- Bob Smither, PhD Circuit Concepts, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun. -- Buckminster Fuller ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smither@C-C-I.Com http://www.C-C-I.Com 281-331-2744(office) -4616(fax)