Refer to the following sections for information about setting up an LCR instrument in InstrumentStudio.

Calibrating an LCR Device

Self-calibrate an LCR device to ensure accurate measurements.

The accuracy of a device will naturally drift over time. Self-calibration ensures more accurate measurements by compensating for board level temperature variations and device degradation, as well as ensuring that the device operates within ranges defined in your test specifications.
  1. In the LCR device instrument pane, open the instrument header menu ().
  2. Click Device Slot » Calibration.
  3. For InstrumentStudio 2025 Q2 and earlier, click Self-calibrate in MAX to proceed to self-calibration in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX). Later versions of InstrumentStudio perform self-calibration without MAX.
See When to Calibrate an LCR Device for information on how often to calibrate your LCR device.

When to Calibrate an LCR Device

Performing regular LCR device calibration ensures better accuracy in your test measurements.

Performing new LCR device self-calibration is recommended if any of the following occur.
  • You are installing the module in a chassis for the first time.
  • You install, uninstall, or move another module in the same chassis as your LCR device.
  • The ambient temperature in your test environment has changed significantly.
  • The onboard temperature of the LCR device has drifted significantly (±5 °C) since the last self-calibration.
  • 24 hours have elapsed since the previous self-calibration.

Performing Compensation on an LCR Device

Typically, you connect an LCR device to a device under test with switches, fixtures, or cables. These devices introduce undesired errors into the measurement. Prevent measurement errors from switches, fixtures, or cables by applying compensation before taking measurements.

To apply compensation to your LCR device, perform the following steps:
Note For detailed driver documentation on performing LCR device compensation, refer to Compensation of LCR Measurements with NI-DCPower.
  1. Calibrate the LCR device.
  2. Determine the type of cable compensation you want to perform. Click the option link for detailed instructions on performing the selected compensation.
    OptionRecommended When
    Standard cable compensation You use a standard NI cable that is represented with a Cable Length profile in the Instrument Settings dialog () and a simple test setup. That is, the test setup excludes complex circuitry, such as switches that might affect LCR measurements.
    Custom cable compensation You use non-NI cabling and a complex test setup. That is, the test setup includes complex circuitry, such as switches that might affect LCR measurements.
    Note NI recommends applying cable compensation for low-level LCR measurements where the effects of cabling might be significant relative to the quantity you are measuring.
    Note NI recommends first applying short LCR compensation when using custom non-NI cabling to ensure accurate measurements.
  3. To determine the type of LCR compensation you want to perform, use the following criteria. Click the option link for detailed instructions on performing the selected compensation.
    OptionRecommended When
    Open LCR compensation Stray admittance in your test setup influences LCR measurements.
    Note Such stray admittance is present in most test setups.
    Short LCR compensation The impedance of your DUT is low (<100 Ω). The residual impedance of cabling and fixtures might be a significant percentage of your DUT impedance.
    Load LCR compensation The reference load value is similar to your DUT. Your test setup also includes complex circuitry, such as switches that might affect LCR measurements.
    Note Open and short LCR compensations are prerequisites to performing load LCR compensation.
NI recommends performing cable and LCR device compensation after making changes to your test system setup or performing new LCR device calibration. Refer to When to Generate New Data for Custom Cable Compensation or LCR Compensation for more information on when to perform new compensations.

Applying Standard Cable Compensation

  1. Click Instrument Settings () in your LCR device instrument panel.
  2. Select your cable length from the Cable type drop-down.

Performing Custom Cable Compensation

Disconnect the device under test (DUT) from the LCR device at the connection point on the DUT. Leave the custom cables connected to the LCR device.
Note The connection point may be a switch, fixture, or any other circuit used to connect LCR device cabling to the DUT. When performing custom cable compensation, only the custom cables should be connected to the LCR device.
  1. Click Custom Compensation () in the instrument panel.
  2. Click Renew.
  3. Click Compensate.
  4. Click OK.

Verify that your device is configured for custom cables by opening Instrument Settings () and selecting "Custom " from the Cable type dropdown.

Verify compensation is applied. Click Custom Compensation () and check that Apply compensation is enabled.

Note For detailed driver documentation on performing LCR device compensation, refer to Compensation of LCR Measurements with NI-DCPower.

Performing LCR Load Compensation

Connect a reference load to the fixture that will contain your DUT.
Figure 3. Load Configuration Diagram.
Refer to the diagram below when setting up a load configuration for LCR load compensation

  1. HI CUR
  2. HI POT
  3. LO POT
  4. LO CUR
  5. Connection between outer conductors
  1. Click Load Compensation () in the instrument panel to open the compensation dialog.
  2. Click Renew.
  3. Optional: Enter spots to compensate for.
  4. Click Compensate.
  5. Click OK.
To verify compensation is applied, click Load Compensation () and check that Apply compensation is enabled.
Note For detailed driver documentation on performing LCR device compensation, refer to Compensation of LCR Measurements with NI-DCPower.

Performing Open LCR Compensation

Disconnect the device under test (DUT) from the LCR instrument at the connection point on the DUT. Leave the cabling connected to the LCR device, and any other test system components such as switches and DUT fixtures.
Figure 4. Open Configuration Diagram.
Refer to the diagram below when setting up an open configuration for LCR open compensation

  1. HI CUR
  2. HI POT
  3. LO POT
  4. LO CUR
  5. Connection between outer conductors
  1. Click Open Compensation () in the instrument panel to open the compensation dialog.
  2. Click Renew.
  3. Optional: Enter additional frequencies to compensate for.
  4. Click Compensate.
  5. Click OK.
To verify compensation is applied, click Open Compensation () and check that Apply compensation is enabled.
Note For detailed driver documentation on performing LCR device compensation, refer to Compensation of LCR Measurements with NI-DCPower.

Performing Short LCR Compensation

Disconnect the device under test (DUT) from the LCR device at the connection point on the DUT. Leave cabling, switches, and DUT fixtures connected to the LCR device.
Figure 5. Short Configuration Diagram.
Refer to the diagram below when setting up a short configuration LCR short compensation

  1. HI CUR
  2. HI POT
  3. LO POT
  4. LO CUR
  5. Connection between outer conductors
  1. Click Short Compensation () in the instrument panel to open the compensation dialog.
  2. Click Renew.
  3. Optional: Enter additional frequencies to compensate for.
  4. Click Compensate.
    Note You must perform short LCR compensation when using custom non-NI cabling. Complete custom cable compensation before performing short LCR compensation.
  5. Click OK.
To verify compensation is applied, click Short Compensation () and check that Apply compensation is enabled.
Note For detailed driver documentation on performing LCR device compensation, refer to Compensation of LCR Measurements with NI-DCPower.

When to Generate New Data for Custom Cable Compensation or LCR Compensation

Performing new custom cable and LCR device compensation ensures better accuracy in test measurements after making changes to your test system setup.

Generate new custom cable compensation data or LCR compensation data if any of the following occur.

  • You perform a new external calibration
  • You perform a new self-calibration
  • You add complex circuit elements, such as a switch, between the end of the cable and the fixture containing your DUT
  • You change the length of the cabling in your test setup
  • You change the physical orientation of the cabling in your test setup
  • You begin testing a DUT that is different (on the basis of part number) from the DUT for which you originally generated compensation data;
    Note For load LCR compensation, choose a new reference load appropriate for the new DUT.