The IEEE-488 GPIB Cable (2 Meters) is a passive parallel bus interconnect designed to establish communication between test instruments and controllers conforming to the IEEE 488.1 standard. This 2 m cable enables deterministic data transfer across automated test, measurement, and instrumentation systems, supporting daisy-chain topologies of up to 15 devices per bus. The 24-pin Centronics connectors feature a piggyback male-to-female design for inline instrument integration without breaking the bus chain.
Technical Specifications
• Standard Compliance: IEEE Std 488.1, IEEE Std 488.2, SCPI
• Cable Length: 2 meters (6.6 feet)
• Connector Type: 24-pin Centronics, male to female, piggyback daisy-chain capable
• Data Transfer Rate: Up to 1 Mbyte/s (standard); HS488 protocol extends capability to 7980 kbyte/s
• Maximum Devices per Bus: 15 instruments
• Maximum Total Bus Length: 20 meters
• Conductor Configuration: 6 twisted pairs at 26 AWG, 10 simple conductors at 26 AWG, 1 additional 26 AWG conductor, plus 24 AWG ground cable
• Shielding: Double shielding (braid and foil) for EMI protection
• Capacitance: Designed for ≤150 pF/m per IEEE specification
• Cable Jacket: PVC
• Color: Gray
– Key Features
• Twisted-pair construction maintains signal integrity and low capacitance across the 2 m run
• Double-shield architecture attenuates electromagnetic interference in dense instrument racks
• Strain-relieved connectors withstand repeated connect/disconnect cycles
• Piggyback connector geometry eliminates need for separate T-connectors or inline adapters
– Typical Applications
• Automated test equipment (ATE) systems requiring parallel-bus instrument control
• Laboratory measurement setups with mixed-vendor GPIB-compliant instruments
• Bench-top calibration and characterization workstations
• Legacy and modern test environments where IEEE-488 remains the standard interface
– Compatibility & Integration
This cable interfaces with any IEEE-488-compliant controller or instrument. Typical controllers include PCI and PCIe GPIB interface cards, as well as USB-to-GPIB adapters. The 2 m length accommodates point-to-point connections within recommended maximum per-device cable specifications while supporting cumulative bus lengths up to 20 m when multiple cables are cascaded.
