Returns the instrument identification string.
*IDN?
SCPI COMMAND REFERENCE
The B&K Precision BK-PRECISION-2831E is B&K Precision's multimeter in the 2831E family. Its SCPI remote-control interface exposes 57 commands across 12 subsystems - 44 settable and 13 queries - and every command is documented here with its parameters, accepted values, return format, and a copy-paste PyVISA example for automating test and measurement.
57
Commands
44
Settable
13
Queries
12
Subsystems
SCPI
Verified
2026-07-16
Returns the instrument identification string.
*IDN?
Queries information of the instrument.
Reset the instrument.
Triggers the instrument for measurement.
Enables or disables the front panel display circuitry. When disabled, the instrument operates at a higher speed and the display is frozen; all front panel controls except LOCAL are disabled.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| state | enum | 0 | OFF | 1 | ON | Selects whether the front panel display is disabled or enabled. |
Queries the current state of the front panel display. The display can be enabled or disabled with the corresponding :DISPlay:ENABle command.
Selects the instrument measurement function. Each function remembers its own setup configuration, such as range, speed, filter, and rel.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | enum | VOLTage:AC | VOLTage:DC | RESistance | CURRent:AC | CURRent:DC | FREQuency | PERiod | DIODe | CONTinuity | Selects the measurement function. |
Queries the currently selected measurement function. Each measurement function has its own stored setup configuration, such as range, speed, filter, and rel.
Sets the integration rate in power line cycles for AC voltage measurements. The manual notes the available speeds as Fast = 0.1, Medium = 1, and Slow = 10.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0.1 - 10 | Integration rate in power line cycles. |
:VOLTage:AC:NPLCycles <n>
Queries the power line cycle integration rate for AC voltage measurements.
Configures the AC voltage measurement range to auto-range or disable auto-ranging. The manual lists this command under the AC voltage range path and shows the default as ON.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| state | boolean | - | Enable or disable auto range. |
Selects the upper limit of the AC voltage measurement range. The command is part of the AC voltage range configuration path.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 750 | Upper measurement range value. |
Queries the upper AC voltage measurement range. The range is part of the AC voltage subsystem's range configuration.
Sets the integration rate in power line cycles for DC voltage measurements. The documented values are Fast=0.1, Medium=1, and Slow=10.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0.1 - 10 | Integration rate in power line cycles. |
:VOLTage:DC:NPLCycles <n> Set NPLC for DCV
Queries the power line cycle integration rate for DC voltage measurements.
Enables or disables auto range for DC voltage measurement. The default is ON.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| state | boolean | - | Enable or disable auto range. |
Queries whether DC voltage auto range is enabled.
Selects the upper measurement range for DC voltage measurement. The range is documented as 0 to 1000.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 1000 | Upper range value for DC voltage measurement. |
Queries the upper measurement range for DC voltage. This command is documented as the query form of the DC voltage range setting.
Queries the state of the DC voltage reference. The manual says it returns 0 or 1.
Queries the programmed DC voltage reference value. A reference must be enabled and specified first, otherwise an error may occur.
Specifies the reference value for AC voltage measurements. The command is used to establish a reference value for the specified function; reference can also be set via the coupled :ACQuire command.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | -757.5 - 757.5 | Reference for ACV. |
| qualifieropt | enum | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault | Allows selecting the minimum, maximum, or default reference value instead of a numeric value. |
Specifies the reference value for DC voltage measurements.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | -1010 - 1010 | Reference value for DCV. |
| qualifieropt | enum | DEFault | MINimum | MAXimum | Alternative keyword form for using the default, minimum, or maximum reference value. |
Acquires the measurement input signal and stores it as the reference value for the specified function. It is typically used to zero the display, and is only valid when the instrument is on that measurement function.
Controls whether the AC voltage reference is enabled or disabled. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enables or disables the reference. |
Acquires the present measurement input signal and stores it as the reference value for DCV. It is functional only on the specified measurement function; otherwise an error occurs.
Enables or disables the DCV reference state. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enable or disable reference. |
Queries whether auto range is enabled or disabled. Auto ranging automatically selects the most ideal measurement range, and enabling it is coupled to the manual range command.
Sets the integration rate in power line cycles for AC current measurements.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0.1 - 10 | Integration rate in power line cycles. |
: CURRent:AC:NPLCycles <n> Set NPLC for ACI
Sets the current measurement integration rate in power line cycles. The documented values are 0.1, 1, and 10, corresponding to Fast, Medium, and Slow.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0.1 - 10 | Integration rate in power line cycles. |
: CURRent:DC:NPLCycles <n>
Sets auto ranging for AC current measurements.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | ON | OFF | Enables or disables auto range for ACI. |
Sets the AC current measurement range using the expected reading as an absolute value. It selects the most sensitive range that will accommodate that expected reading.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 20 | Expected reading is AC current (ACI). |
| qualifieropt | enum | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault | Keyword alternative to the numeric range value. |
Sets auto ranging for DC current measurements.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| state | boolean | - | Enables or disables automatic range selection for DCI. |
Sets the DC current measurement upper range for the specified function.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | -20 - 20 | Expected reading used to select the measurement range as an absolute value. |
Specifies the reference value for AC current measurements. It is used to establish the reference for the specified function; when a reference is set with this command, the corresponding query returns the programmed value.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | -20 - 20 | Reference value for ACI. |
Specifies the reference value for DCI relative measurements. The command is coupled to :ACQuire; when reference is set this way, :REFerence? returns the programmed value.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 20 | Reference value for DCI. |
| qualifieropt | enum | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault | Selects the minimum, maximum, or default reference value. |
Acquires the present measurement input signal and stores it as the reference value for current AC. It is typically used to zero the display and is only valid when the instrument is in the specified measurement function.
: CURRent:AC:REFerence:ACQuire
Enables or disables the current AC reference for the specified function. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enables or disables reference. |
Acquires the current measurement input signal and stores it as the reference value for the specified current function. It is typically used to zero the display.
Enables or disables reference for DC current. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enables or disables the reference. |
Sets the NPLC integration rate for resistance measurements. The integration period is based on power line cycles and can be set to fast, medium, or slow values.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0.1 - 10 | Power line cycles per integration. |
Sets auto ranging for resistance measurements. When enabled, the instrument automatically selects the most suitable measurement range and updates the range value shown by :RESistance:RANGe <n>.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| state | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enables or disables auto ranging. |
Sets the measurement range for resistance by specifying the expected reading as an absolute value. The instrument then selects the most appropriate range that accommodates that reading.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 20e6 | Expected reading in ohms used to select the measurement range. |
Specifies the reference value for resistance measurements. The reference is used when reference/relative mode is enabled; the reading becomes input signal minus reference.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 20e6 | Reference value for Ω. |
| qualifieropt | enum | DEFault | MINimum | MAXimum | Sets the reference to the default, minimum, or maximum value for the specified function. |
Enables or disables the reference for resistance measurements. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not include the reference value.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| state | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enable or disable reference. |
Acquires the input signal and stores it as the reference value for resistance measurement, typically to zero the display. It is only valid in the specified measurement function; otherwise an error occurs.
Specifies the reference value for the frequency measurement function. The reference is used for relative measurements when reference is enabled.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 1.0e6 | Reference value for FREQ. |
Sets the voltage threshold range used to specify the expected input level. The instrument then automatically selects the most ideal current or voltage threshold range.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 10 | Specify signal levels in volts (voltage threshold). |
Acquires the measurement input signal and establishes it as the reference value for the selected function. It is typically used to zero the display.
Enables or disables reference for the frequency function. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enable or disable the reference. |
:FREQuency:REFerence:STATe <b> :FREQuency:REFerence:STATe <b> Control reference for FREQ
Specifies the reference value for the PER measurement function. The instrument uses the reference when relative measurement is enabled.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 1 | Reference value for PER. |
Sets the voltage threshold range used to specify the expected input level. The instrument then automatically selects the most ideal current or voltage threshold range.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | real | 0 - 1010 | Specify signal levels in volts (voltage threshold). |
Acquires the present measurement input signal and stores it as the reference value for period measurements. It is typically used to zero the display, and is only functional when the instrument is in the specified measurement function.
Enables or disables the reference for period measurements. When enabled, the displayed reading includes the programmed reference value; when disabled, it does not.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| b | enum | 1 | ON | 0 | OFF | Enable or disable reference. |
Query command used to obtain the last available reading. It does not affect instrument configuration and does not trigger a measurement; it returns the same last reading until a new reading is available.
Selects the trigger event control source. The control source can be set to the instrument default internal trigger, bus trigger, or manual external trigger.
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | enum | IMMediate | BUS | MANual (EXTernal) | Control source to select. |
Queries error messages from the error queue. The response may be "NO ERROR!" if no errors have occurred, or "BUS:BAD COMMAND." for a bad or misspelled command.