AltoNovus Ltd specializes in ultra-low power designs and energy optimization. They produce affordable electronic instruments for engineers, including NanoRanger, an auto-ranging ammeter, and ΩhmRanger-LCV, a low compliance voltage ohmmeter. The company also...
AltoNovus Ltd specializes in ultra-low power designs and energy optimization. They produce affordable electronic instruments for engineers, including NanoRanger, an auto-ranging ammeter, and ΩhmRanger-LCV, a low compliance voltage ohmmeter. The company also develops in-house design tools and offers sensor-based management information systems for businesses.
AltoNovus Ltd makes the Ranger family of low-cost bench instruments for measuring very small currents and very high resistances at low stimulus. The NanoRanger NR-01 is an auto-ranging DC nanoammeter covering 1 nA to 800 mA, and the ΩhmRanger-LCV is a low-compliance-voltage ohmmeter that measures from 10 Ω to above 100 MΩ without applying more than about 380 mV to the device under test.
The NanoRanger NR-01 is wired in series with the supply to the circuit under test, and it switches automatically between nine ranges across 8.5 decades. Burden voltage stays below 50 mV on every range, so the meter barely disturbs a low-power circuit. A 12-bit ADC is oversampled to a 16-bit result, and each reading is averaged to remove most 50 Hz and 60 Hz mains noise.
The ΩhmRanger-LCV measures resistance while limiting the stimulus voltage across the device under test to a selectable 380 mV (default) or 205 mV, approximately. A standard multimeter can apply several volts on its resistance ranges, which can damage voltage-sensitive devices. The ΩhmRanger-LCV gives accurate readings from above 100 MΩ down to 10 Ω, and its display shows the stimulus voltage and a signal-to-noise indication for each reading.
| Model | Measures | Range | Key figures | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NanoRanger NR-01 | DC current | 1 nA to 800 mA, 9 ranges | Resolution down to 10 pA; burden voltage below 50 mV | 2 x AA, over 150 hours |
| ΩhmRanger-LCV | Resistance | 10 Ω to over 100 MΩ | Stimulus about 380 mV or 205 mV; reading every 400 ms | 2 x AA, around 150 hours |
Neither instrument needs proprietary software. Both accept SCPI-format commands over their isolated USB port, so a serial terminal such as RealTerm (tested by AltoNovus with the NanoRanger) can log readings to a file on the host PC.
The NanoRanger NR-01 measures from 1 nA to 800 mA across nine auto-selected ranges, with resolution down to 10 pA.
Yes. Burden voltage is below 50 mV on all ranges, and the averaging mode reports average current and total charge over a period you choose, so a wake, transmit and sleep cycle can be captured as one figure.
The ΩhmRanger-LCV limits stimulus to about 380 mV (or 205 mV), so voltage-sensitive devices are not overdriven during a resistance measurement.
No. Both run from two AA cells. The USB port is isolated and carries data only, which avoids injecting noise into low-level measurements.
Connect the isolated USB port and send SCPI-format commands from a serial terminal. AltoNovus has tested RealTerm with the NanoRanger.
For the NanoRanger, test leads, a USB cable and batteries are part of the TuffTest package, which also adds a rugged waterproof case. For the ΩhmRanger-LCV, AltoNovus states that batteries, probes and carry cases are not supplied. Check the product page for what is included with your order.
Source: AltoNovus Ltd product documentation and NR-01 instruction manual. Need help choosing a model? Ask our engineers.
