Siglent Bench DMMs SDM3065X, SDM3055 and SDM3045X

[Martin72]

One protocol, only the values are shown. 

[al777]

Hi folks, quick question (I've searched this great thread and on the Net as well, no luck) - I just got a new SDM3065X (not -SC model) here in Canada from RCC Electronics, firmware shows as "3.02.01.12R1", while the latest from SiglentNA is 3.01.01.12R1
Does anybody know what that means? Did I get some newer hardware revision which requires a separate branch of FW versions?.. The calibration certificate is dated March 18, 2023. HW version shows as 02-02-00-05-00. Any thoughts?

[KungFuJosh]

Did I get some newer hardware revision which requires a separate branch of FW versions?.. The calibration certificate is dated March 18, 2023. HW version shows as 02-02-00-05-00. Any thoughts?

It's definitely very new. My SDM came brand new from Amazon, supplied by SiglentNA, with a 4 year old cal certificate.

[tautech]

Hi folks, quick question (I've searched this great thread and on the Net as well, no luck) - I just got a new SDM3065X (not -SC model) here in Canada from RCC Electronics, firmware shows as "3.02.01.12R1", while the latest from SiglentNA is 3.01.01.12R1
Does anybody know what that means? Did I get some newer hardware revision which requires a separate branch of FW versions?.. The calibration certificate is dated March 18, 2023. HW version shows as 02-02-00-05-00. Any thoughts?

None at all but enjoy.

All FW versions account for all HW versions at this time.
We could possibly be seeing an OS upgrade for these coming soon. 

[al777]

Hi folks, quick question (I've searched this great thread and on the Net as well, no luck) - I just got a new SDM3065X (not -SC model) here in Canada from RCC Electronics, firmware shows as "3.02.01.12R1", while the latest from SiglentNA is 3.01.01.12R1
Does anybody know what that means? Did I get some newer hardware revision which requires a separate branch of FW versions?.. The calibration certificate is dated March 18, 2023. HW version shows as 02-02-00-05-00. Any thoughts?

None at all but enjoy.

All FW versions account for all HW versions at this time.
We could possibly be seeing an OS upgrade for these coming soon. 

Same here - long, busy day at work, beautiful gift waiting for me at home - and I can barely enjoy it, forget about having any thoughts :-). Now, the weekend WILL come, that's when I WILL enjoy the new tool! Oh, that smell of the new equipment! :-)
BTW, the probes are not too bad - maybe they updated them as well? Flexible, silicone, AWG18, with "Siglent" on them - and resistance (round trip, in 2W mode, one tip touching the other) = ~0.05 Ohm. Not bad, I think.

Thanks, tautech! Have a great time of day!

[MathWizard]

What kind of solder do they use on Siglent stuff and modern test equipment in general ? Will BGA solder joints start to fail after so much time, like on video-cards and motherboards ? What sort of lifespan would the joints have if they are modern non-leaded solders ?

[delvo]

@al777 just a shot in the dark. could you test if this bug is fixed?

[tomud]

@al777 just a shot in the dark. could you test if this bug is fixed?

Unfortunately, I don't think so yet. It seems that too little time has passed since the bug was reported to Siglent for them to fix it and make the firmware available for production devices (available DMMs in stock of distributors). Unfortunately, when I reported this bug, Siglent didn't know about it. It was only after the notification that it was possible to repeat it in Siglent NA and report it to the R&D department.

[Wrenches of Death]

What kind of solder do they use on Siglent stuff and modern test equipment in general ? Will BGA solder joints start to fail after so much time, like on video-cards and motherboards ? What sort of lifespan would the joints have if they are modern non-leaded solders ?

Pretty much everything today is made with tree hugger soy boy wannabe solder with no lead in it.

REAL solder contains LEAD and tin, and a little silver if it's for vintage Tektronix gear.

WoD

[KungFuJosh]

REAL solder contains LEAD and tin, and a little silver if it's for vintage Tektronix gear.

Real solder has stem cells and unicorn blood in it.

[Wrenches of Death]

REAL solder contains LEAD and tin, and a little silver if it's for vintage Tektronix gear.

Real solder has stem cells and unicorn blood in it.

And, Testosterone!   

WoD

[al777]

@al777 just a shot in the dark. could you test if this bug is fixed?

Just tested - I can confirm that the same bug exists in 3.02.01.12R1 as well. Not a big deal to me as under-the-screen buttons are working fine.

[Martin72]

Hi,

More and more, I'm leaning towards buying one as well, after buying four SDM3045Xs for work.
However, then a "larger", so either the SDM3055 or even the 3065.
I am really only interested in accuracy and reliability and that is also the question:
How are the two models in this regard with it ?
The SDM3055 costs 560€, the SDM3065 820€...Is the price jump worth it?

[tautech]

The SDM3055 costs 560€, the SDM3065 820€...Is the price jump worth it?

SDM3065X uses the better LM399 reference and has a few more advanced features.....study up on datasheets and the user manual. 

[delvo]

If there is anything specific you want me to test on my SDM3065X feel free to ask. But its the most accurate equippment I have so I dont have anything to compare it to

[Martin72]

Higher accuracy is what interests me, otherwise any problems regarding reliability ?

[delvo]

I didnt run into any issues with it (besides the little software bug mentioned before that you can easily get around). I generally like the UI. Update rate is extremely fast if configured for it. ACV is slow.
The only things I wish would be better is the bar graph. It is so slow its basically useless. And its rediculous into how many menus you have to go to to take a screenshot.

[tautech]

And its rediculous into how many menus you have to go to to take a screenshot.

Yes a few instruments from that era of design are a pain to grab USB screenshots with.....
Maybe it's time for a new feature request to much improve that.

I'll give this some thought and forward a suggestion......something like pressing 2 specific buttons together saves screenshot to USB ?

Better ideas ?

[KungFuJosh]

And its rediculous into how many menus you have to go to to take a screenshot.

Yes a few instruments from that era of design are a pain to grab USB screenshots with.....
Maybe it's time for a new feature request to much improve that.

I'll give this some thought and forward a suggestion......something like pressing 2 specific buttons together saves screenshot to USB ?

Better ideas ?

It should be a single key for a set period of time. On my LCR meter, it's the . button for a few seconds. For these I would suggest holding the Shift key for 3 seconds.

[Mortymore]

Speaking of buttons...

Please don't print DCV (ACV, DCI or ACI) on the buttons instead of VDC as shown in the display, as it should

[2N3055]

Speaking of buttons...

Please don't print DCV (ACV, DCI or ACI) on the buttons instead of VDC as shown in the display, as it should

Why not? It is DC-Volt range and measured value is Volt-DC....
Not saying your wrong, it could be unified,  but both ways is OK. Not really important to be exactly same except for OCD...


I would rather have separate buttons for DCV/DCI and ACV/ACI instead of same buttons with shift.  Rigol DM3068 has nice button layout actually. Much smaller and horrible screen though.

[Mortymore]

... Not really important to be exactly same except for OCD...

I may well have OCD

This writing seems to have been made by Yoda.
Voltage or current is what's being measured. AC or DC is a secondary parameter (sort of speak).

Besides, for some reason that 'A' in the ACV, for a split second, I tend to relate with "Amper", hence, current. 

It bugs me. 

PS: One button should be for Voltage, and the other for Current, not mixing that up. My 2 cents

[2N3055]

... Not really important to be exactly same except for OCD...

I may well have OCD

This writing seems to have been made by Yoda.
Voltage or current is what's being measured. AC or DC is a secondary parameter (sort of speak).

Besides, for some reason that 'A' in the ACV, for a split second, I tend to relate with "Amper", hence, current. 

It bugs me. 

PS: One button should be for Voltage, and the other for Current, not mixing that up. My 2 cents

I'm OK with fact that it bugs you. Your prerogative.
But Siglent just went with industry practice by Keysight and others before them, see image I attached. Probably by using logic that if they changed it then they would be accused of not being the same.. Users are never happy. 

[mawyatt]

However you decide to do this, don't make the Voltage and Current input banana jacks the same 

Best,

[2N3055]

However you decide to do this, don't make the Voltage and Current input banana jacks the same 

Best,

Amen that!!