Keithley · Multimeter
Keithley DMM6500 software
Remote control and data logging for the Keithley DMM6500 multimeter, on Windows, Linux and macOS - with the same panel BenchMesh uses for every multimeter.
Status
Very likely. Support for the Keithley DMM6500 was written from Keithley’s programming manual and follows the same engine as the bench-tested instruments, but nobody has confirmed it on a real DMM6500 yet. If you own one, connecting it once and reporting the result moves it to Community-confirmed.
Note: Needs the SCPI command set: front panel MENU > System > Settings > Command Set = SCPI (or *LANG SCPI, then reboot). In TSP mode every command fails. 10 A range on the rear terminals only
What you can do from BenchMesh
Multimeter panel 1 channel
Live readings
- MEAS
- MODE
- OVERLOAD
- RANGE
Settings you can change
- Mode
- Range
- Rate
- Temp scale
- Temp sensor
Connections
- USB-TMC
- USB Test & Measurement Class (USB id 05e6:6500). No vendor driver needed on Linux; on Windows BenchMesh installs Microsoft’s WinUSB driver with one click.
- LAN (SCPI socket)
- TCP port 5025. Enter the instrument’s IP address.
Notes
- Not supported (yet)RS-232 and GPIB need KTTI accessory cards (not supported). Must be in SCPI mode, not TSP.
Sources
The definition was written from these documents (definition keithley_dmm6500 v0.1.0).
- DMM6500 Reference Manual DMM6500-901-01 Rev. C (April 2026), pages 12-11 (:READ?), 12-109..12-111 (:RANGe, :RANGe:AUTO, ranges table, overflow 9.9e+37), NPLCycles, 12-129 (TCouple:TYPE), 12-133 (TRANsducer), 12-134 (UNIT), 12-145 (FUNCtion), *IDN? and *LANG (PDF p.1242, 1254-1255)
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 Keithley DMM6500?
- Very likely. Support for the Keithley DMM6500 was written from Keithley’s programming manual and follows the same engine as the bench-tested instruments, but nobody has confirmed it on a real DMM6500 yet. If you own one, connecting it once and reporting the result moves it to Community-confirmed.
- How do I connect the DMM6500 to my PC?
- Over USB-TMC or LAN (SCPI socket). USB Test & Measurement Class (USB id 05e6:6500). No vendor driver needed on Linux; on Windows BenchMesh installs Microsoft’s WinUSB driver with one click. Then press Detect in BenchMesh: it identifies the multimeter by its reply and adds it to the bench.
- What can I control on the DMM6500?
- Multimeter: set mode, range, rate, temp scale, temp sensor; read meas, mode, overload, range.
- Can I log DMM6500 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.