Is the DAC calibrated?
No, with one exception: since firmware 4.6.0 the Supernova trims its I3C High-Voltage rail against its own measurement.
Supernova and Pulsar
The Supernova and the Pulsar have no general-purpose analog output. Their DACs set the target voltage rails (VTARG). How close a rail lands to the set voltage depends on the rail:
| Rail | Range | How it is set | Measured error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supernova I3C High-Voltage, firmware 4.6.0 and later | 1.2–3.25 V | Closed loop: set, measure under load, correct | −7 to +2 mV across the range, in repeated sweeps on a revision C Supernova |
| Supernova I3C High-Voltage, firmware 4.5.1 and earlier | 1.2–3.3 V | Open loop, fixed factory constants | 1200 mV set gave 1075–1094 mV; spread ~120 mV between units |
| Supernova I3C Low-Voltage | 0.8–1.2 V | Open loop, fixed constants | +8 to +11 mV, measured on one Supernova |
| Multifunction VTARG (both adapters) | 1.2–3.3 V | Open loop, fixed constants | Supernova +13 to +18 mV, Pulsar −16 to −9 mV, measured on one adapter of each |
“Fixed constants” means the same conversion for every unit, with no per-unit calibration, so other units can land differently. A set on the I3C HV rail takes about 550 ms on firmware 4.6.0 and later.
If the target needs an exact supply, measure VTARG with a multimeter, or power the target from a bench supply and use use_external_voltage().
Nova
The Nova has one DAC output on its signal pins. It is not calibrated. Use it as a near-DC test stimulus, not as a waveform generator.
Related: Is the ADC calibrated?

