Velleman HPS140i miniature DSO - a thing of beauty or ugly duckling ?

[saturation]

Its OK to bump threads since electronics doesn't change, always good to get updates.  I have the HPS40 which  is the older model.

See p.1 of this thread for a manual.
The trigger indicator is a small "S" beside the waveform.
I've not had trouble with autoranging on the HPS40.
Yes, you cannot save startup settings except when configured from the setup menu.

[grepas]

The trigger indicator is a small "S" beside the waveform.

On the HPS140, that one just seems to indicate the trigger level, not whether the thing has been trigged or not.

[hiddensoul]

I was doing some work with a friend who designs controllers. We were fitting a custom micro controller to a sawmill to replace all the old 4000 logic. All of the inputs and outputs from the new controller were done via optos for inputs and relays interfacing to the contactors for complete isolation from the old hardware. The lockout contactor was wired to an opto to prevent the carriage from moving sideways in to the band saw during a cut but the micro kept going from a lock to a safe state even when the contactor was pulled in by input from the operator. We chucked the Velleman across the opto and behold the power rail (12VDC) supplying the old hardware was only half wave rectified. The contactor was holding closed okay but it was freaking out the micro board input. A cap across the opto input and a bleed resistor fixed it. The scope found the problem in 30 seconds and paid for itself in labour savings right there, so was the perfect tool for the job...

[Fraser]

Nice report.

I have found the little 140i to be great for quick checks for situations just as you describe.

She's a compact and useful little tool, if not a sophisticated DSO. I ended up with four of the units, all but one were bought on the secondary market very cheaply. None had received the firmware update that improves the triggering above 1MHz.

[Hydrawerk]

I found a schematic of HPS140i.

[Fraser]

@Hydrawerk,

Great find. Thank you 

Aurora

[R_G_B_]

If only we could hack the firmware so that you could add single shot and other features this would make this handheld scope more useful.

Anu chance of this happening?

[R_G_B_]

And the function Generator:

http://www.velleman.eu/images/tmp/HPG1%20technical%20doc%20V1.pdf

[Fraser]

Velleman were very protective of their firmware last time I asked them about it.They also said they would not be releasing the schematics at that time as they "were not ready to do so with such a new design" (at the time I asked).  I had to send my units back to Velleman for their firmware upgrade and have another four heading that way soon. It would have been so much easier to reprogram the MCU myself with the new code but I do not know whether calibration is then needed.

This is the first truly technical information on the HPS140 I have seen to come out of Velleman.

Aurora

[R_G_B_]

Maybe they are planning on releasing another scope.

The last two portable scopes HPS10 and HPS40 had schematics released not sure if they released the schematic some time after these two products went to market or at the same time.

As for the firmware now theres a schematic maybe someone can reverse engineer it and add features.
The main MCU is a microchip DSPIC.  Is the firmware encrypted?

 

[Leafy]

Ok I realize I'm bumping a thread from half a decade but this is probably the only concentration of HPS140 owners I'll find.

Can anyone with this thing measure the barrel connector on the charger so I can figure out what I need to buy to charge mine? This information seems like a huge secret.

[Fraser]

The unit comes with a USB based boost converter that increases the USB 5V to 9V. So you need a 9V d.c. power supply.

I will dig out my unit today and see what current and polarity it requires.

Fraser

[Leafy]

Thanks, I believe I saw somewhere that the polarity is swapped from a normal barrel plug charger, at worst I can open up the unit and figure that out.

[Fraser]

Power adapter is 9V 200mA centre positive on a 3mm OD barrel plug.

Polarity confirmed as centre positive by multimeter test.

Fraser

[Leafy]

Do you have the ID?

*Edit, looks like it better be 1.1mm or I'm shimming it anyways. Thanks a bunch.

For anyone else in this predicament.
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CUI-Devices/PP3-019?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtnOp%252BbbqA0023axwHuElQy2c5IhC1LWJ56KLiPljRvhA%3D%3D
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Phihong/PSM03A-090-R?qs=sGAEpiMZZMt5w6YCUaBPUYs%2Fw9Qhz%2FAu7NQ0q6hj7XA%3D

total will shipping was under $10

[Fraser]

Sadly I do not have the ID.

A 3mm OD normally has a 1.1mm ID though. Yer digital calliper confirms exactly 3mm OD on the barrel.

Fraser