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KELVIN CONNECTIONS
I. INTRODUCTION

Kelvin connections. What are they and when do you

need them?

A Kelvin connection is used whenever you need a

precise voltage (either applied or measured) between two
points that are conducting high current. It provides
compensation for resistance between your supply and your
device under test (DUT) for accurate measurements.
Typically, you’ll need a Kelvin connection for any resistance
measurements that are under 1 ohm, or have current
demands over 100mA.
II. KELVIN CONNECTIONS EXPLAINED

Figure 1 shows a schematic of two VI sources (one connected to the input of a switch and
the other to the output). Rc1 is the contact resistance between the force line of VI1 and
the part’s IN pin. RF2 is the contact resistance between the force line of VI2 and the part’s
OUT pin. The unmarked resistor between the VI’s force line and sense line is a resistor
internal to the system (other test machines may have a diode connecting the force and
sense lines). The voltages at VI1 and VI2 are measured at their sense line. In this case
their sense lines are behind RF1 and RF2. As an example, a product has a switch on-
resistance value of 200m at 100mA, RF1= RF2=100m, VI1=5V/100mA clamp and
VI2=0V/200mA clamp. VI1 would measure I* RF2 + I*200m + I* RF1 = 40mV. VI2 would
measure 0V. Therefore the incorrect calculated on-resistance would be 40mV/100mA =
400m.
NON-KELVIN RESISTANCE TEST
VI1=5V/100mA VI2=0V/200mA
i i
VI1F RF1 RF2 VI2F

R
IN OUT

DUT
VI1S VI2S

VI1=5V/100mA i=100 mA VI2=0V/200mA

VI1F RF1 R RF2 VI2F

100m 200m 100m

VI1S VI2S

V1 – V2 RT = 400m  V1 = IRT R = V1 – V2 / I
R= I I = 100mA = 100mA x 400m  = 40 mV / 100mA
V2 = 0 V = 40 mV = 400m 
KELVIN RESISTANCE TEST

VI1=5V/100mA VI2=0V/200mA
i i
VI1F RF1 RF2 VI2F

R
IN OUT

RS
DUT RS
VI1S VI2S
1 2
 VI1 V1 – V2
R= I
VI1F = 5V/100mA

V1 = IR + IRF2
RF1 = 100m = I x (R + RF2)
= 100mA x (100m x 200m)
= 30 mV
VI1S RS i
1

V2 = IRF2
= I x RF2
R = 200m
= 100mA x 100m
= 10 mV

VI2 RS i
S 2

RF2 = V1 – V2
R= I
100m
30mV – 10 mV
= 100mA

VI1F = 0V/200mA = 200m

VI2
As with any feedback system, bad things can happen when the circuit goes open loop. What would happen if
our sense line (feedback) were completely disconnected from the force line? The sense voltage would be
floating and is mostly unpredictable. But the force voltage is still trying to regulate the voltage at the
sense line even though they’re not connected. That means the force voltage could go to an extreme value
as it tries to regulate an open loop circuit. And that means whatever’s connect to the force line, say your DUT,
is going to go to those extremes. Which means your DUT is probably going to be damaged.

Backup
Feedback
Resistor Contact
Resistance

VI Source
δ THE END δ