B&K Precision · Electronic load
B&K Precision 8601 software
Remote control and data logging for the B&K Precision 8601 electronic load, on Windows, Linux and macOS - with the same panel BenchMesh uses for every electronic load.
Status
Very likely. Support for the B&K Precision 8601 was written from B&K Precision’s programming manual and follows the same engine as the bench-tested instruments, but nobody has confirmed it on a real 8601 yet. If you own one, connecting it once and reporting the result moves it to Community-confirmed.
What you can do from BenchMesh
Electronic load panel 1 channel
Live readings
- IIN
- INPUT
- MODE
- OCP
- OPP
- OVP
- PIN
- REMOTE
- VIN
Settings you can change
- Curr
- Input
- Mode
- Pow
- Remote
- Remote compensation
- Res
- Short
- Volt
Connections
- USB-serial / RS-232
- 9600 baud, 8N1. Plug in the USB cable (or a USB-RS-232 adapter); BenchMesh finds the port.
- USB-TMC
- USB Test & Measurement Class (USB id 2ec7). No vendor driver needed on Linux; on Windows BenchMesh installs Microsoft’s WinUSB driver with one click.
Notes
- Not supported (yet)GPIB not supported.
- To confirm on first contactUSB product id not documented (vendor 2ec7); 9600 baud assumed.
Sources
The definition was written from these documents (definition bk_8600 v0.1.0).
- 8600 Series Programming Manual (8600_Series_Programming_Manual.pdf), pages 6-10, 21, 24, 29, 37, 44-47, 65-66
Have one on your bench?
Connect it, press Detect, try the controls - then tell us how it went. Every confirmation moves a model from “Awaiting” to “Community-confirmed” for everyone.
Questions
- Does BenchMesh work with the B&K Precision 8601?
- Very likely. Support for the B&K Precision 8601 was written from B&K Precision’s programming manual and follows the same engine as the bench-tested instruments, but nobody has confirmed it on a real 8601 yet. If you own one, connecting it once and reporting the result moves it to Community-confirmed.
- How do I connect the 8601 to my PC?
- Over USB-serial / RS-232 or USB-TMC. 9600 baud, 8N1. Plug in the USB cable (or a USB-RS-232 adapter); BenchMesh finds the port. Then press Detect in BenchMesh: it identifies the electronic load by its reply and adds it to the bench.
- What can I control on the 8601?
- Electronic load: set curr, input, mode, pow, remote, remote compensation, res, short; read iin, input, mode, ocp, opp, ovp, pin, remote.
- Can I log 8601 measurements to CSV?
- Yes. Right-click any reading to add it to a recording; every instrument on the bench is sampled on one shared timeline and exported as one CSV.
- Is BenchMesh free?
- Yes. BenchMesh is free and open source, for Windows, Linux and macOS, and works offline.