PyVISA wrappers for some of my lab instruments: Rigol DL3021, Agilent DSO-X 3024

Note: I use a USB connection to all of those instruments and use pyvisa-py as a backend driver on Linux. Getting the connection to work is the sole responsibility of PyVISA

Note: This project does not aim to be complete for any instrument, but I just add whatever function I want to try out, or need to use for some project. If you need to use other functions please submit a pull request or an issue if you have no idea of how to implement it. Refer to the programming manual of your instrument for details on the commands available.

On Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt -y install python3-dev python3-pip python3-usb
sudo pip3 install pyvisa pyvisa-py

Now you can clone LabInstruments:

git clone https://github.com/ulikoehler/LabInstruments.git

You also need to find the PyVISA ID of your instrument:

python3 LabInstruments/IdentifyInstruments.py

If you've setup your hardware & PyVISA installation correctly (see Installation above for PyVISA & ensure that your instrument is plugged in and turned on), you will see information like

Trying to open resource:  USB0::6833::3601::DL3A204100212::0::INSTR
        It's a RIGOL TECHNOLOGIES DL3021 with serial DL3A204100212

The PyVISA ID in this example is USB0::6833::3601::DL3A204100212::0::INSTR.

If it's telling you No PyVISA resources found, try to re-run it as root using sudo! If that works and you are using an instrument connected via USB or via USB adapter, refer to How to fix ALL USB permission issues on Linux once and for all.

This example connects to a Rigol DL3021 and configures it correctly.

Be sure to insert your specific PyVISA ID in the example!

Place this script in the directory where the LabInstruments directory is located.

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import pyvisa
from LabInstruments.DL3000 import DL3000

rm = pyvisa.ResourceManager()
inst = DL3021(rm.open_resource('USB0::6833::3601::DL3A204100212::0::INSTR'))
# Reset to factory settings (always do this to ensure a 100% consistent state)
inst.reset()

inst.set_mode("CURRENT") # CC
inst.set_cc_current(0.850) #A
inst.enable() # Switch ON
# Read voltage
print("{} V".format(inst.voltage()))
inst.disable() # Switch OFF

I recommend you add LabInstruments to your project as a git submodule:

git submodule init
git submodule add https://github.com/ulikoehler/LabInstruments.git LabInstruments

PyVISA doesn't find your device? Refer to How to fix PyVISA not finding any USB instruments

Got a Found a device whose serial number cannot be read. The partial VISA resource name is ... error? Refer to How to fix PyVISA ‘Found a device whose serial number cannot be read. The partial VISA resource name is: USB0::[…]::[…]::???::0::INSTR’