diff --git a/docs/changes/newsfragments/8678.improved_driver b/docs/changes/newsfragments/8678.improved_driver
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..04c48a003eba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changes/newsfragments/8678.improved_driver
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+``CopperMountainM5xxx.averages``, ``AimTTiChannel.curr_range``, ``RigolDG1062Burst.ncycles``,
+``Keithley7510Sense.average_count`` and the ``dwell``, ``pause``, ``curve_number`` and
+``excitation_range_number`` of ``LakeshoreModel372Channel`` now reject non-integer values.
+Previously these were sent to the instrument, or for ``CopperMountainM5xxx.averages`` silently
+truncated. Whole-number floats such as ``2.0`` are still accepted and sent as integers.
+Also removed the incorrect unit of ``AimTTiChannel.curr_range``, which is a range number, fixed
+the label of ``LakeshoreModel372Channel.temperature_coefficient``, and removed incorrect units
+from ``RigolDS1074Z.trigger_mode``, ``waveform_npoints``, ``waveform_yorigin`` and
+``waveform_yref``.
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/AimTTi/_AimTTi_PL_P.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/AimTTi/_AimTTi_PL_P.py
index f30fdbdbb7c7..36b7d55165fc 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/AimTTi/_AimTTi_PL_P.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/AimTTi/_AimTTi_PL_P.py
@@ -80,14 +80,15 @@ def __init__(
         )
         """Parameter curr"""
 
-        self.curr_range: Parameter = self.add_parameter(
+        self.curr_range: Parameter[int, Self] = self.add_parameter(
             "curr_range",
             get_cmd=f"IRANGE{channel}?",
             get_parser=int,
             set_cmd=self._set_current_range,
             label="Current Range",
-            unit="A",
-            vals=vals.Numbers(1, 2),
+            # accept whole-number floats such as 2.0 but send them as int
+            vals=vals.PermissiveInts(1, 2),
+            set_parser=round,
             docstring="Set the current range of the output. "
             "Here, the integer 1 is for the Low range, "
             "and integer 2 is for the High range.",
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/CopperMountain/_M5xxx.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/CopperMountain/_M5xxx.py
index 6cb6b0c966ef..41a496ab307c 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/CopperMountain/_M5xxx.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/CopperMountain/_M5xxx.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     ParamRawDataType,
     create_on_off_val_mapping,
 )
-from qcodes.validators import Bool, Enum, Ints, Numbers
+from qcodes.validators import Bool, Enum, Ints, Numbers, PermissiveInts
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Unpack
@@ -114,17 +114,18 @@ def __init__(
         )
         """Turns the averaging trigger function ON/OFF."""
 
-        self.averages: Parameter = self.add_parameter(
+        self.averages: Parameter[int, Self] = self.add_parameter(
             "averages",
             label="Averages",
             get_cmd="SENS1:AVER:COUN?",
             set_cmd="SENS1:AVER:COUN {}",
             get_parser=int,
-            set_parser=int,
+            set_parser=round,
             unit="",
             docstring="Sets or reads out the averaging factor "
             "when the averaging function is turned on.",
-            vals=Numbers(min_value=1, max_value=999),
+            # accept whole-number floats such as 2.0 but send them as int
+            vals=PermissiveInts(min_value=1, max_value=999),
         )
         """Sets or reads out the averaging factor
         when the averaging function is turned on."""
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Keithley/Keithley_7510.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Keithley/Keithley_7510.py
index 3be951318c60..ab5bbe5d6a29 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Keithley/Keithley_7510.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Keithley/Keithley_7510.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     create_on_off_val_mapping,
     invert_val_mapping,
 )
-from qcodes.validators import Arrays, Enum, Ints, Lists, Numbers
+from qcodes.validators import Arrays, Enum, Ints, Lists, Numbers, PermissiveInts
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Sequence
@@ -589,7 +589,9 @@ def __init__(
             get_cmd=f":SENSe:{self._proper_function}:AVERage:COUNt?",
             set_cmd=f":SENSe:{self._proper_function}:AVERage:COUNt {{}}",
             get_parser=int,
-            vals=Numbers(1, 100),
+            # accept whole-number floats such as 10.0 but send them as int
+            vals=PermissiveInts(1, 100),
+            set_parser=round,
             docstring="Set the number of measurements that are averaged when "
             "filtering is enabled.",
         )
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Lakeshore/Lakeshore_model_372.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Lakeshore/Lakeshore_model_372.py
index b2d29d6b40b4..f975f451eff7 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Lakeshore/Lakeshore_model_372.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/Lakeshore/Lakeshore_model_372.py
@@ -279,7 +279,9 @@ def __init__(
             docstring="Specifies a value for the autoscanning dwell time.",
             unit="s",
             get_parser=int,
-            vals=vals.Numbers(1, 200),
+            # accept whole-number floats such as 10.0 but send them as int
+            vals=vals.PermissiveInts(1, 200),
+            set_parser=round,
             parameter_class=GroupParameter,
         )
         """Specifies a value for the autoscanning dwell time."""
@@ -289,7 +291,8 @@ def __init__(
             docstring="Specifies a value for the change pause time",
             unit="s",
             get_parser=int,
-            vals=vals.Numbers(3, 200),
+            vals=vals.PermissiveInts(3, 200),
+            set_parser=round,
             parameter_class=GroupParameter,
         )
         """Specifies a value for the change pause time"""
@@ -301,7 +304,8 @@ def __init__(
             "curves. Do not change this parameter "
             "unless you know what you are doing.",
             get_parser=int,
-            vals=vals.Numbers(0, 59),
+            vals=vals.PermissiveInts(0, 59),
+            set_parser=round,
             parameter_class=GroupParameter,
         )
         """
@@ -310,7 +314,7 @@ def __init__(
         """
         self.temperature_coefficient: GroupParameter = self.add_parameter(
             "temperature_coefficient",
-            label="Change pause time",
+            label="Temperature coefficient",
             docstring="Sets the temperature coefficient that "
             "will be used for temperature control if "
             "no curve is selected (negative or "
@@ -363,7 +367,8 @@ def __init__(
             "current excitation); refer to the manual "
             "for the table of ranges",
             get_parser=int,
-            vals=vals.Numbers(1, 22),
+            vals=vals.PermissiveInts(1, 22),
+            set_parser=round,
             parameter_class=GroupParameter,
         )
         """
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DG1062.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DG1062.py
index edfce3d5653b..314166499b68 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DG1062.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DG1062.py
@@ -76,7 +76,9 @@ def __init__(
             set_cmd=f":SOUR{channel}:BURS:NCYC {{}}",
             # returned in scientific notation, e.g. 1.000000E+01
             get_parser=lambda s: int(float(s)),
-            vals=vals.Numbers(min_value=1, max_value=500000),
+            # accept whole-number floats such as 10.0 but send them as int
+            vals=vals.PermissiveInts(min_value=1, max_value=500000),
+            set_parser=round,
         )
         """Parameter ncycles"""
 
diff --git a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DS1074Z.py b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DS1074Z.py
index 9403baab7acc..4fa46ad0dd07 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DS1074Z.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/rigol/Rigol_DS1074Z.py
@@ -120,13 +120,15 @@ def __init__(
             "waveform_npoints",
             get_cmd="WAV:POIN?",
             set_cmd="WAV:POIN {}",
-            unit="s",
             get_parser=int,
         )
         """Parameter waveform_npoints"""
 
         self.waveform_yorigin: Parameter[float, Self] = self.add_parameter(
-            "waveform_yorigin", get_cmd="WAVeform:YORigin?", unit="V", get_parser=float
+            # vertical offset in digitizing levels
+            "waveform_yorigin",
+            get_cmd="WAVeform:YORigin?",
+            get_parser=float,
         )
         """Parameter waveform_yorigin"""
 
@@ -139,7 +141,10 @@ def __init__(
         """Parameter waveform_yincrem"""
 
         self.waveform_yref: Parameter[float, Self] = self.add_parameter(
-            "waveform_yref", get_cmd=":WAVeform:YREFerence?", unit="V", get_parser=float
+            # vertical reference position in digitizing levels
+            "waveform_yref",
+            get_cmd=":WAVeform:YREFerence?",
+            get_parser=float,
         )
         """Parameter waveform_yref"""
 
@@ -147,7 +152,6 @@ def __init__(
             "trigger_mode",
             get_cmd=":TRIGger:MODE?",
             set_cmd=":TRIGger:MODE {}",
-            unit="V",
             vals=Enum("edge", "pulse", "video", "pattern"),
             get_parser=str,
         )
diff --git a/tests/drivers/test_aimtti_pl601p.py b/tests/drivers/test_aimtti_pl601p.py
index 6c5582aa6e44..df6bd6026e12 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/test_aimtti_pl601p.py
+++ b/tests/drivers/test_aimtti_pl601p.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 
 from qcodes.instrument_drivers.AimTTi import AimTTiPL601
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Generator
 
+    from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function", name="driver")
 def _make_driver() -> "Generator[AimTTiPL601, None, None]":
@@ -25,3 +28,31 @@ def test_idn(driver: AimTTiPL601) -> None:
         "serial": "514710",
         "vendor": "THURLBY THANDAR",
     } == driver.IDN()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "value", [2, 2.0, np.float64(2)], ids=["int", "float", "numpy_float"]
+)
+def test_curr_range_accepts_whole_numbers(
+    driver: AimTTiPL601, mocker: "MockerFixture", value: float
+) -> None:
+    # the range is 1 (low) or 2 (high); whole-number floats are sent as int
+    channel = driver.ch1
+    # the output is switched off while changing the range; start from off so
+    # that its state does not have to be queried
+    channel.output.cache.set(False)
+    write_raw = mocker.patch.object(driver, "write_raw")
+
+    channel.curr_range(value)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+
+    write_raw.assert_any_call("IRANGE1 2")
+
+
+def test_curr_range_rejects_non_integer(
+    driver: AimTTiPL601, mocker: "MockerFixture"
+) -> None:
+    write_raw = mocker.patch.object(driver, "write_raw")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        driver.ch1.curr_range(1.5)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+    write_raw.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/tests/drivers/test_coppermountain_m5065.py b/tests/drivers/test_coppermountain_m5065.py
index 04b9577216a6..2d8d31091f51 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/test_coppermountain_m5065.py
+++ b/tests/drivers/test_coppermountain_m5065.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 
 from qcodes.instrument_drivers.CopperMountain import CopperMountainM5065
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Generator
 
+    from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+
 
 class DummyM5065:
     def __init__(self, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
@@ -66,6 +69,30 @@ def test_averages_param(vna: CopperMountainM5065) -> None:
     assert vna.averages() == 2
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [3.0, np.float64(3)], ids=["float", "numpy_float"])
+def test_averages_accepts_whole_floats(
+    vna: CopperMountainM5065, mocker: "MockerFixture", value: float
+) -> None:
+    # whole-number floats, e.g. from numpy, are accepted and sent as int
+    write_raw = mocker.spy(vna, "write_raw")
+
+    vna.averages(value)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+
+    write_raw.assert_called_once_with("SENS1:AVER:COUN 3")
+    assert vna.averages() == 3
+
+
+def test_averages_rejects_non_integer(
+    vna: CopperMountainM5065, mocker: "MockerFixture"
+) -> None:
+    # previously 2.5 was silently truncated to 2 by set_parser=int
+    write_raw = mocker.spy(vna, "write_raw")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        vna.averages(2.5)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+    write_raw.assert_not_called()
+
+
 def test_averages_enabled_enables_averages_trigger(
     vna: CopperMountainM5065,
 ) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/drivers/test_keithley_7510.py b/tests/drivers/test_keithley_7510.py
index 14863896fced..06e9d0921ea6 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/test_keithley_7510.py
+++ b/tests/drivers/test_keithley_7510.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import hypothesis.strategies as st
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 from hypothesis import HealthCheck, given, settings
 
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Generator
 
+    from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
 def dmm_7510_driver() -> "Generator[Keithley7510, None, None]":
@@ -82,6 +85,30 @@ def test_average_count_is_int(dmm_7510_driver: Keithley7510) -> None:
     assert average_count == 25
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [25.0, np.float64(25)], ids=["float", "numpy_float"])
+def test_average_count_accepts_whole_floats(
+    dmm_7510_driver: Keithley7510, mocker: "MockerFixture", value: float
+) -> None:
+    # whole-number floats, e.g. from numpy, are accepted and sent as int
+    sense = dmm_7510_driver.sense
+    write_raw = mocker.spy(dmm_7510_driver, "write_raw")
+
+    sense.average_count(value)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+
+    write_raw.assert_called_once_with(":SENSe:voltage:AVERage:COUNt 25")
+    assert sense.average_count() == 25
+
+
+def test_average_count_rejects_non_integer(
+    dmm_7510_driver: Keithley7510, mocker: "MockerFixture"
+) -> None:
+    write_raw = mocker.spy(dmm_7510_driver, "write_raw")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        dmm_7510_driver.sense.average_count(2.5)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+    write_raw.assert_not_called()
+
+
 def test_digitize_acq_rate_is_int(dmm_7510_driver: Keithley7510) -> None:
     acq_rate = dmm_7510_driver.digi_sense.acq_rate()
     assert isinstance(acq_rate, int)
diff --git a/tests/drivers/test_lakeshore_372.py b/tests/drivers/test_lakeshore_372.py
index dca80adbec8c..8a893f29784e 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/test_lakeshore_372.py
+++ b/tests/drivers/test_lakeshore_372.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from contextlib import suppress
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal
 
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 
 from qcodes.instrument import Instrument, InstrumentBase
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Callable, Generator
 
+    from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 VISA_LOGGER = f"{InstrumentBase.__module__}.com.visa"
@@ -296,6 +299,47 @@ def test_setpoint(lakeshore_372: LakeshoreModel372Mock) -> None:
         assert h.setpoint() == setpoint
 
 
+# the simulated channel 1 starts with INSET 1,100,3,0,1 and INTYPE 0,1,0,5,0,1
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("name", "command"),
+    [
+        ("dwell", "INSET 1, 1, 10, 3, 0, 1"),
+        ("pause", "INSET 1, 1, 100, 10, 0, 1"),
+        ("curve_number", "INSET 1, 1, 100, 3, 10, 1"),
+        ("excitation_range_number", "INTYPE 1, 0, 10, 0, 5, 0, 1"),
+    ],
+)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [10.0, np.float64(10)], ids=["float", "numpy_float"])
+def test_channel_integer_settings_accept_whole_floats(
+    lakeshore_372: LakeshoreModel372Mock,
+    mocker: MockerFixture,
+    name: str,
+    command: str,
+    value: float,
+) -> None:
+    # whole-number floats, e.g. from numpy, are accepted and sent as int
+    param = lakeshore_372.channels[0].parameters[name]
+    write_raw = mocker.patch.object(lakeshore_372, "write_raw")
+
+    param(value)
+
+    write_raw.assert_called_once_with(command)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "name", ["dwell", "pause", "curve_number", "excitation_range_number"]
+)
+def test_channel_integer_settings_reject_non_integer(
+    lakeshore_372: LakeshoreModel372Mock, mocker: MockerFixture, name: str
+) -> None:
+    param = lakeshore_372.channels[0].parameters[name]
+    write_raw = mocker.patch.object(lakeshore_372, "write_raw")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        param(10.5)
+    write_raw.assert_not_called()
+
+
 def test_select_range_limits(lakeshore_372: LakeshoreModel372Mock) -> None:
     h = lakeshore_372.sample_heater
     ranges = list(range(1, 9))
diff --git a/tests/drivers/test_rigol_dg1062.py b/tests/drivers/test_rigol_dg1062.py
index 957b8d9d2ef0..1013b1e8026d 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/test_rigol_dg1062.py
+++ b/tests/drivers/test_rigol_dg1062.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 
 from qcodes.instrument_drivers.rigol import RigolDG1062
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Generator
 
+    from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function", name="dg1062")
 def _make_dg1062() -> "Generator[RigolDG1062, None, None]":
@@ -29,6 +32,30 @@ def test_burst_ncycles_is_int(dg1062: RigolDG1062) -> None:
     assert ncycles == 10
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [10.0, np.float64(10)], ids=["float", "numpy_float"])
+def test_burst_ncycles_accepts_whole_floats(
+    dg1062: RigolDG1062, mocker: "MockerFixture", value: float
+) -> None:
+    # whole-number floats, e.g. from numpy, are accepted and sent as int
+    burst = dg1062.ch1.burst
+    write_raw = mocker.spy(dg1062, "write_raw")
+
+    burst.ncycles(value)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+
+    write_raw.assert_called_once_with(":SOUR1:BURS:NCYC 10")
+    assert burst.ncycles() == 10
+
+
+def test_burst_ncycles_rejects_non_integer(
+    dg1062: RigolDG1062, mocker: "MockerFixture"
+) -> None:
+    write_raw = mocker.spy(dg1062, "write_raw")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        dg1062.ch1.burst.ncycles(2.5)  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+    write_raw.assert_not_called()
+
+
 def test_burst_phase_is_float(dg1062: RigolDG1062) -> None:
     burst = dg1062.ch1.burst
     assert burst.phase() == 0.0