Issue: 01

Mercury Support
Oxford Instruments
tel: +44 (0)1865 393311
fax: +44 (0)1865 393333
Technical Note email: helpdesk.nanoscience@oxinst.com
www. mymercurysupport.com

LIST OF SCPI COMMANDS

This document contains a list of SCPI commands currently implemented in

Mercury Systems.

Command Options R/W Description

SYS CAT R Returns a list of existing hardware devices
SYS DISP DIMA OFF:ON R/W Set automatic display brightness
SYS DISP DIMT 0 - 10 R/W Sets the time for the automatic dimming
SYS DISP BRIG 0 - 100 R/W Sets the brightness
SYS MAN HVER R Reads Hardware version of the Box
SYS MAN FVER R Cryosys version
SYS MAN SERL R Serial number of the box
SYS TIME hh:mm:ss R/W Sets the time of the box
SYS DATE yyyy:MM:dd R/W Sets the date of the box
Sets the remote user level (a password may be
SYS USER NONE:GUEST:NORM:ENG R/W
required after the level)
SYS PASS W Sets a new password for the present user level
SYS FLSH R Reads the available memory in the box
SYS CUTOFF OFF:ON R/W Sets the shutdown mode of a Cryojet
Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID TEMP MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID TEMP MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID TEMP MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID TEMP NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
DEV UID TEMP TYPE DUM:PTC:NTC:TCE:DDE R/W Sets the sensor type
DEV UID TEMP EXCT TYPE UNIP:BIP:SOFT R/W Sets the excitation type
DEV UID TEMP EXCT MAG 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the excitation magnitude
DEV UID TEMP CAL OFFS 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the offset of the calibration curve
DEV UID TEMP CAL SCAL 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the scale of the calibration curve
Sets the calibration file to use to calculate the
DEV UID TEMP CAL FILE R/W
temperature
Sets the interpolation method for the calibration
DEV UID TEMP CAL INT NONE:LIN R/W
file
Set the maximum value for temperature
DEV UID TEMP CAL HOTL 0 - 2000 R/W
setpoint (hot limit)
Set the minimum value for temperature
DEV UID TEMP CAL COLDL 0 - 1000 R/W
setpoint (cold limit)
DEV UID TEMP CAL CAL W Calibrates the hardware
DEV UID TEMP LOOP HTR UID R/W Assign Heater device to Temperature
DEV UID TEMP LOOP AUX UID R/W Assign Auxiliary device to Temperature
DEV UID TEMP LOOP P R/W Set the P Value
DEV UID TEMP LOOP I R/W Set the I Value
DEV UID TEMP LOOP D R/W Set the D Value

Page 1 / 6
Issue: 01
Mercury Support
Oxford Instruments
tel: +44 (0)1865 393311
fax: +44 (0)1865 393333
Technical Note email: helpdesk.nanoscience@oxinst.com
www. mymercurysupport.com

Command Options R/W Description

DEV UID TEMP LOOP PIDT OFF:ON R/W Sets automatic PID values (from table)
Sets the file to read from for the automatic PID
DEV UID TEMP LOOP PIDF R/W
Table
Sets the file to read from for the Target Heater
DEV UID TEMP LOOP THTF R/W
Table
DEV UID TEMP LOOP SWFL R/W Sets the file to read from for the Sweep Table
DEV UID TEMP LOOP SWMD OFF:ON R/W Sets the sweep mode
DEV UID TEMP LOOP ENAB OFF:ON R/W Enables(Auto)/disables(Manual) the PID control
DEV UID TEMP LOOP TSET 0 - 2000 R/W Sets the temperature set point
DEV UID TEMP LOOP HSET 0 - 100 R/W Sets the Heater percentage (in Manual)
DEV UID TEMP LOOP FSET 0 - 100 R/W Sets the flow percentage (Manual flow)
DEV UID TEMP LOOP FAUT OFF:ON R/W Enables/Disables flow control
DEV UID TEMP SIG VOLT R Sensor voltage
DEV UID TEMP SIG CURR R Sensor current
DEV UID TEMP SIG TEMP R Measured temperature
DEV UID TEMP SIG POWR R Sensor power dissipation
DEV UID TEMP SIG RES R Measured resistance (PTC/NTC)
DEV UID TEMP SIG SLOP R Temperature to resistance ratio (PTC/NTC)
DEV UID TEMP SIG REF R Thermocouple reference temperature
Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID HTR MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID HTR MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID HTR MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID HTR NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
DEV UID HTR VLIM 0 - 40 R/W Sets the Maximum voltage limit for the heater
DEV UID HTR RES 10 - 2000 R/W Sets the heater resistance
DEV UID HTR PMAX 0 - 80 R Indicates the maximum power of the heater
DEV UID HTR CAL W Calibrates the hardware
DEV UID HTR SIG VOLT R Heater voltage
DEV UID HTR MAN CURR R Heater current
DEV UID HTR MAN POWR R Heater power dissipation
Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID FLW MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID FLW MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID FLW MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID FLW NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
DEV UID FLW VLIM 0 - 40 R/W Sets the Maximum voltage limit for the heater
DEV UID FLW RES 10 -2000 R/W Sets the heater resistance
DEV UID FLW PMAX 0 - 80 R Indicates the maximum power of the heater
DEV UID FLW CAL W Calibrates the hardware
DEV UID FLW FAST OFF:ON R/W Sets the fastcool mode
DEV UID FLW SIG VOLT R Heater voltage
DEV UID FLW SIG CURR R Heater current
DEV UID FLW SIG POWR R Heater power dissipation
DEV UID FLW SIG FLOW R Flow rate

Page 2 / 6
Issue: 01
Mercury Support
Oxford Instruments
tel: +44 (0)1865 393311
fax: +44 (0)1865 393333
Technical Note email: helpdesk.nanoscience@oxinst.com
www. mymercurysupport.com

Command Options R/W Description

Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID AUX MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID AUX MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID AUX MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID AUX NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
DEV UID AUX GFSF R/W Sets the THT scaling factor
DEV UID AUX GMIN 0 - 20 R/W Sets the minimum flow
DEV UID AUX SPD 0-1 R/W Sets the speed of the valve (Slow,Fast)
DEV UID AUX TES 0 - 20 R/W Sets the Temperature error sensitivity
DEV UID AUX TVES 0 - 20 R/W Sets the Voltage error sensitivity
DEV UID AUX GEAR 0-7 R/W Sets the gearing factor for the valve
DEV UID AUX SIG PERC R Valve open percentage
DEV UID AUX SIG STEP R Valve position
DEV UID AUX SIG In OFF:ON R Input state
DEV UID AUX SIG On OFF:ON R/W Output state
Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID LVL MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID LVL MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID LVL MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID LVL NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
Sets the frequency value equivalent to 0%
DEV UID LVL NIT FREQ ZERO R/W
Nitrogen level
Sets the frequency value equivalent to 100%
DEV UID LVL NIT FREQ FULL R/W
Nitrogen level
DEV UID LVL NIT PPS R/W Sets the read interval for the nitrogen level
Sets the resistance value equivalent to 0%
DEV UID LVL HEL RES ZERO R/W
Helium level
Sets the resistance value equivalent to 100%
DEV UID LVL HEL RES FULL R/W
Helium level
DEV UID LVL HEL PULS TIM .3 - 60 R/W Sets the measurement time for the helium level
DEV UID LVL HEL PULS DEL 0 - 60 R/W Sets the measurement delay for the helium level
Sets the excitation magnitude for the helium
DEV UID LVL HEL PULS MAG 0 - 280 R/W
measurement
Sets the preparation time for the helium
DEV UID LVL HEL PREP TIM 0 - 1000000 R/W
measurement
Sets the excitation magnitude for the
DEV UID LVL HEL PREP MAG 0 - 280 R/W
preparation of helium measurement
DEV UID LVL SIG HEL LEV R Helium level
DEV UID LVL SIG HEL RES R Helium sensor resistance
DEV UID LVL SIG NIT COUN R Nitrogen sensor pulse count
DEV UID LVL SIG NIT FREQ R Nitrogen sensor measured frequency
DEV UID LVL SIG NIT LEV R Nitrogen sensor level
Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID PRES MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID PRES MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID PRES MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID PRES NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
Pressure sensor type (currently not
DEV UID PRES TYPE R/W
implemented)
DEV UID PRES CAL OFFS 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the offset of the calibration curve

Page 3 / 6
Issue: 01
Mercury Support
Oxford Instruments
tel: +44 (0)1865 393311
fax: +44 (0)1865 393333
Technical Note email: helpdesk.nanoscience@oxinst.com
www. mymercurysupport.com

Command Options R/W Description

DEV UID PRES CAL SCAL 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the scale of the calibration curve
Sets the calibration file to use to calculate the
DEV UID PRES CAL FILE R/W
temperature
Sets the interpolation method for the calibration
DEV UID PRES CAL INT NONE:LIN R/W
file
Set the maximum value for temperature
DEV UID PRES CAL HIGHL 0 - 1000 R/W
setpoint (hot limit)
Set the minimum value for temperature
DEV UID PRES CAL LOWL 0 - 1000 R/W
setpoint (cold limit)
DEV UID PRES CAL CAL W Calibrates the hardware
DEV UID PRES LOOP HTR UID R/W Assign Heater device to Temperature
DEV UID PRES LOOP AUX UID R/W Assign Auxiliary device to Temperature
DEV UID PRES LOOP P R/W Set the P Value
DEV UID PRES LOOP I R/W Set the I Value
DEV UID PRES LOOP D R/W Set the D Value
DEV UID PRES LOOP PIDT OFF:ON R/W Sets automatic PID values (from table)
Sets the file to read from for the automatic PID
DEV UID PRES LOOP PIDF R/W
Table
Sets the file to read from for the Target Heater
DEV UID PRES LOOP THTF R/W
Table
DEV UID PRES LOOP SWFL R/W Sets the file to read from for the Sweep Table
DEV UID PRES LOOP SWMD OFF:ON R/W Sets the sweep mode
DEV UID PRES LOOP ENAB OFF:ON R/W Enables(Auto)/disables(Manual) the PID control
DEV UID PRES LOOP TSET 0 - 2000 R/W Sets the pressure set point
DEV UID PRES LOOP HSET 0 - 100 R/W Sets the Heater percentage (in Manual)
DEV UID PRES LOOP FSET 0 - 100 R/W Sets the flow percentage (Manual flow)
DEV UID PRES LOOP FAUT OFF:ON R/W Enables/Disables flow control
DEV UID PRES SIG VOLT R Sensor voltage
DEV UID PRES SIG CURR R Sensor current
DEV UID PRES SIG PRES R Measured pressure
DEV UID PRES SIG POWR R Sensor power dissipation
Reads the hardware version of the daughter
DEV UID PSU MAN HVER R
card
DEV UID PSU MAN FVER R Reads the firmware version of the daughter card
DEV UID PSU MAN SERL R Reads the serial number of the daughter card
DEV UID PSU NICK R/W Sets the name of the device
Sets the transient time for ignoring overvoltage
DEV UID PSU VTRT 0 - 60000 R/W
in the magnet
DEV UID PSU BIPL OFF:ON R/W Indicates if the magnet is unipolar or bipolar
DEV UID PSU ATOB 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the current to field ratio
Indicates which PSU handles the magnet switch
DEV UID PSU SWPR UID R/W
heater
DEV UID PSU SHTC 0 - 125 R/W Sets the switch heater current
Set the magnet's maximum voltage when not
DEV UID PSU VLIM 0 - 100 R/W
quenched
DEV UID PSU IND 0 - 1000 R/W Sets the magnet's inductance
DEV UID PSU CLIM 0 - 630 R/W Sets the magnet's maximum current
DEV UID PSU OCNF PARA:SERS:MAT R/W Sets the PSU arrangement for this magnet
Sets the magnet mode (hold, ramp to zero,
DEV UID PSU ACTN HOLD:RTOZ:RTOS:CLMP R/W
ramp to field, clamp)

Page 4 / 6
Issue: 01
Mercury Support
Oxford Instruments
tel: +44 (0)1865 393311
fax: +44 (0)1865 393333
Technical Note email: helpdesk.nanoscience@oxinst.com
www. mymercurysupport.com

Command Options R/W Description

DEV UID PSU SIG CURR R Magnet PSU current
DEV UID PSU SIG PCURR R Persistant current of the magnet
DEV UID PSU SIG VOLT R Magnet voltage
DEV UID PSU SIG RCST R Sets the current rate for ramping
DEV UID PSU SIG RFST R Sets the field rate for ramping
Turns the switch heater on/off without checking
DEV UID PSU SIG SWHN OFF:ON R
for current matching
Turns the switch heater on/off checking for
DEV UID PSU SIG SWHT OFF:ON R
current match
DEV UID PSU SIG FSET R Sets the field set point
DEV UID PSU SIG CSET R Sets the current set point
DEV UID PSU SIG FLD R Magnet PSU Field
DEV UID PSU SIG RFLD R Magnet PSU Field rate
DEV UID PSU SIG PFLD R Persistant field of the magnet
DEV UID PSU SIG RCUR R Magnet PSU current rate

DEV UID HEL LOWT 1 - 10 R/W sets the low temperature sensor threshold
DEV UID HEL MAXS 0 - 200 R/W Sets the maximum sorb temperature
DEV UID HEL MAXP 0 - 200 R/W Sets the maximum pot temperature
DEV UID HEL LMT 0 - 10 R/W sets the low temperature mode threshold
sets the low temperature mode threshold
DEV UID HEL HYST .01 - 1 R/W
hysterisis
DEV UID HEL STAB 0-1 R/w Stability margin
Sets the maximum pot temperature for stability
DEV UID HEL COND TPOT 0 - 20 R/W
measurements
Sets the pot temperature measurement error
DEV UID HEL COND ERR 0 - 10 R/W
for recondensing
DEV UID HEL COND RATE 0-1 R/W Minimum condense temperature rate
DEV UID HEL COND MODE OFF:ON R/W Sets recondense on/off
Sets the pot temperature threshold for
DEV UID HEL COND POTH 0 - 60 R/W
recondensing
DEV UID HEL COND DEAD 0 - 9999 R/W Recondense dead time
Sets the sorb temperature threshold for
DEV UID HEL COND SORBL 0 - 60 R/W
recondensing
DEV UID HEL COND TOUT 0 - 9999 R/W Recondense stability timeout
DEV UID HEL COND RET 0 - 10 R/W Recondense number of retries
DEV UID HEL COND TSORB 0 - 100 R/W Sorb target setpoint
DEV UID HEL TSORB 0 - 100 R/W Sorb final setpoint
DEV UID HEL SP 10 - 9999 R/W Sets the stability measurement range
Sets the flow set point for low temperature
DEV UID HEL GASL 0 - 100 R/W
mode
Sets the flow set point for high temperature
DEV UID HEL GASH 0 - 100 R/W
mode
DEV UID HEL SGI 1 - 10 R/W Sets the gas increment rate for optimization
Sets the flow set point for condense mode
DEV UID HEL GSET 0 - 100 R/W
(currently not implemented)

Page 5 / 6
 Issue: 01
Mercury Support
Oxford Instruments
tel: +44 (0)1865 393311
fax: +44 (0)1865 393333
Technical Note email: helpdesk.nanoscience@oxinst.com
www. mymercurysupport.com

Command Options R/W Description

Shutdown:
Low Temp:
High Temp:
DEV UID HEL SIG STAT Optimise: R Monitors the state of the Heliox
Condensing:
Con_Error:
Stopping
Reads/Writes a file onto the system (file
FILE UID DATA R/W contents must be checksummed and in Hex
format)

Legend:

R – Read Only Command

R/W – Read and Write Command

IPS specific commands

Cryojet specific commands
Heliox specific commands

Examples:

Read only command

READ:SYS:CAT

R/W – Read and Write Command

READ:DEV:MB1.T1:TEMP:NICK – Reads the nickname of MB1.T1

temperature sensor

SET:DEV:MB1.T1:TEMP:NICK:TEMP_1 – Sets the nickname of MB1.T1

temperature sensor to TEMP_1

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