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B&K Precision

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B&K Precision BK-PRECISION-5491B

SCPI COMMAND REFERENCE

B&K Precision BK-PRECISION-5491B

B&K Precision BK-PRECISION-5491B

The B&K Precision BK-PRECISION-5491B is B&K Precision's multimeter in the 5491B 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

All commands

*IDNset / query

Returns the instrument identification string.

string - Returns the manufacturer, model, serial number, and firmware revision.
*IDN?
*IDN?query

Queries information of the instrument.

string - Returns the product identification and version in the form <product>,<version><LF^END>.
*RSTset / query

Reset the instrument.

*TRGset / query

Triggers the instrument for measurement.

:DISPlay:ENABleset / query

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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
stateenum0 | OFF | 1 | ONSelects 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.

enum - Returns the state of the display.

:FUNCtionset / query

Selects the instrument measurement function. Each function remembers its own setup configuration, such as range, speed, filter, and rel.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nameenumVOLTage:AC | VOLTage:DC | RESistance | CURRent:AC | CURRent:DC | FREQuency | PERiod | DIODe | CONTinuitySelects 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.

enum - Returns the currently selected measurement function.

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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0.1 - 10Integration rate in power line cycles.
:VOLTage:AC:NPLCycles <n>

Queries the power line cycle integration rate for AC voltage measurements.

real - Returns the present integration rate in power line cycles 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
stateboolean-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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 750Upper measurement range value.

Queries the upper AC voltage measurement range. The range is part of the AC voltage subsystem's range configuration.

real - Returns the present upper range setting for AC voltage measurement.

Sets the integration rate in power line cycles for DC voltage measurements. The documented values are Fast=0.1, Medium=1, and Slow=10.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0.1 - 10Integration rate in power line cycles.
:VOLTage:DC:NPLCycles <n> Set NPLC for DCV

Queries the power line cycle integration rate for DC voltage measurements.

enum - Returns the integration rate as a speed setting.

Enables or disables auto range for DC voltage measurement. The default is ON.

NameTypeValuesDescription
stateboolean-Enable or disable auto range.

Queries whether DC voltage auto range is enabled.

boolean - Returns the auto-range state for DC voltage, where 0 = OFF and 1 = ON.

Selects the upper measurement range for DC voltage measurement. The range is documented as 0 to 1000.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 1000Upper 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.

real - Returns the current upper range value for DC voltage measurement.

Queries the state of the DC voltage reference. The manual says it returns 0 or 1.

integer - Returns the state of the DC voltage reference.

Queries the programmed DC voltage reference value. A reference must be enabled and specified first, otherwise an error may occur.

real - The programmed DC voltage reference value.

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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal-757.5 - 757.5Reference for ACV.
qualifieroptenumMINimum | MAXimum | DEFaultAllows selecting the minimum, maximum, or default reference value instead of a numeric value.

Specifies the reference value for DC voltage measurements.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal-1010 - 1010Reference value for DCV.
qualifieroptenumDEFault | MINimum | MAXimumAlternative 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnables 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnable or disable reference.

:AUTO?query

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.

enum - Returns the auto range state as ON or OFF.

Sets the integration rate in power line cycles for AC current measurements.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0.1 - 10Integration 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0.1 - 10Integration rate in power line cycles.
: CURRent:DC:NPLCycles <n>

Sets auto ranging for AC current measurements.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benumON | OFFEnables 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 20Expected reading is AC current (ACI).
qualifieroptenumMINimum | MAXimum | DEFaultKeyword alternative to the numeric range value.

Sets auto ranging for DC current measurements.

NameTypeValuesDescription
stateboolean-Enables or disables automatic range selection for DCI.

Sets the DC current measurement upper range for the specified function.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal-20 - 20Expected 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal-20 - 20Reference 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 20Reference value for DCI.
qualifieroptenumMINimum | MAXimum | DEFaultSelects 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnables 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnables 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0.1 - 10Power 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>.

NameTypeValuesDescription
stateenum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnables 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 20e6Expected 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 20e6Reference value for Ω.
qualifieroptenumDEFault | MINimum | MAXimumSets 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
stateenum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnable 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 1.0e6Reference 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 10Specify 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnable 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 1Reference 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nreal0 - 1010Specify 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.

NameTypeValuesDescription
benum1 | ON | 0 | OFFEnable or disable reference.

:FETCh?query

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.

returns - Returns the last available reading.

:TRIGger:SOURceset / query

Selects the trigger event control source. The control source can be set to the instrument default internal trigger, bus trigger, or manual external trigger.

NameTypeValuesDescription
nameenumIMMediate | 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.

enum - Returns an error message from the error queue.