SCPI

Category

Instruments

Kind

source

Capabilities

StreamsAssetsCommandsOperationsEntities

Runs on

Linux x64Linux ARM64macOS Apple siliconmacOS IntelWindows x64

Read and control bench instruments that speak SCPI, over the network or a serial port: power supplies, multimeters, electronic loads, oscilloscopes and more. Add one input per instrument. Supported models are listed under Supports.

#What you get

• Live measurements — for a power supply, each channel's measured voltage, current and output state.
• Setpoints — set voltage, set the current limit, and turn the output on or off from Trellis via ch.write(path, value). Each command is read back, so you see commanded vs. measured.
• Auto-detect — leave Model on auto and the connector identifies the instrument. The channel list shows once connected.
• Scope traces — each oscilloscope channel's whole trace arrives as one reading on one channel, such as /scope/scope1/ch1/waveform, and draws as its own trace tile. Peak-to-peak arrives as a plain value on /scope/scope1/ch1/vpp.
• One instrument per input, named by its Device name (e.g. psu1). Channels read /psu/psu1/….

#Setup

1. Put the instrument on the network and note its host and port. Power supplies often use port 5025. Or plug it in over serial and note the port.
2. In Inputs, add SCPI Instruments and fill in:
   • Device name — a short label, e.g. psu1
   • Connection (host:port or serial device) — 192.168.1.50:5025, or /dev/ttyUSB0. For serial, set Serial baud rate, Serial parity and Command terminator to match the instrument's menu.
   • Model — auto, or a specific model such as rigol_dp800
   • Poll rate (Hz) — how often to read, e.g. 10
3. Press Test connection. It asks the instrument who it is (*IDN?) and shows the make, model and serial that answered.
4. Start the input. In the Channels table, give each channel a name and unit, such as ch1/volt → bus voltage, V.
5. Measured channels appear on Live. Setpoints (voltage_sp, current_limit, output_sp) are available in Trellis.

#Keysight 34980A

Scanned voltage channels stream with the instrument's own timestamps. Relays and digital lines are commands. Fill in Scan channels, Relay channels and Digital inputs/outputs with the instrument's slot-channel numbers: 1001, one bit as 5101/3, a wider port as 6101:16.

#Alicat and ESPEC

Alicat flow and pressure controllers and the ESPEC GL chamber are not SCPI and cannot be auto-detected.

• Pick their Model: alicat_mc, alicat_liquid, alicat_pressure or espec_gl.
• Alicat serial settings (19200 baud, CR-terminated) are set for you.
• Unit address is the single-letter address set on the device (default A).

#Notes

• Setpoints are checked against the instrument's limits before they are sent. Every command is recorded.

#Supports

• Rigol DP800 series (DP811/DP813/DP821/DP831/DP832)
• Keysight/Agilent 34401A multimeter
• Keysight 34461A Truevolt multimeter
• Keithley 2750 Multimeter/Switch System (front-panel DMM)
• Keysight 34980A Multifunction Switch/Measure Unit
• Matrix WPS300S series (RS-232)
• Siglent SPD3303 series
• B&K Precision 9115
• Keysight E36100 series (E36102A/03A/04A/05A)
• TDK-Lambda Genesys series
• Keysight N5700 series (Genesys SCPI interface)
• B&K Precision 914x series (9140/9141)
• Keithley 2400 SourceMeter (measure side; source side planned)
• B&K Precision 85xxB electronic loads (8500B/8502B/8510B)
• Keysight InfiniiVision 1200 X-series oscilloscopes (DSOX1202/1204, EDUX1052)
• Siglent SDS1000X-E oscilloscopes
• Tektronix 2-Series MSO oscilloscopes (MSO22/MSO24)
• Rigol DG1000Z waveform generators (DG1022Z/DG1032Z/DG1062Z)
• Alicat MC-series mass-flow controllers (RS-232, model=alicat_mc)
• Alicat liquid-flow controllers (model=alicat_liquid)
• Alicat pressure controllers (model=alicat_pressure)
• ESPEC GL-series chamber controllers (model=espec_gl)

#Connection fields

Every field the Add input form shows for this connector.

Updated November 6, 2026