Good bench meter for logging \ trending? -Looking at SDM3055, used Keithley, etc

[tautech]

All of that said, if the 16 channel card that tautech posted about is not ludicrous on price, I'm pretty sure that will firmly cement me into camp Siglent, IF the meter can log the readings from the card.  I REALLY love the interface on the Siglnet's for day to day use.  I can build a breakout panel to give me a few extra volt inputs and current inputs from the scanner board and I think I'm pretty much set.  Data logging for days!!!!  I'm going to contact my local Siglent distributor tomorrow to see if I can purchase the SC1016 separately instead of factory installed, then I can keep my eye out for a good deal on a used 3055, 3045X or 3065X.  It seems as though for my data acquisition and multimeter needs, this would be the ideal solution, to the point that I would consider springing for a 3065X as I can't see needing anything more than that for a very long time.  A scope can seemingly do what I want, but does it make sense to use a scope for a multimeter? Plus then I also have to convert for the current clamp (trivial, but a process that needs done none the less).

My inquiries say it's not retrofittable as there's some HW to be fitted on the mainboard. 

USA made this post:

Yes, the software also supports the new multi-channel scanner card option (not retrofittable) for the SDM3055 and DM3065X models. The scanner option will not be available on the SDM3045X.

And yet the scanner card IS listed as an option for SDM3045X. 

You do not mind the clicking and wear of the relays on the Siglent scanner card?

Here are the specs:
Max AC Voltage
125V rms or 175V peak, 100kHz,
0.3 A switched, 125VA (resistive load)
Maximum DC Voltage 110V, 1A switched, 30VDC (resistive load)
Contact Life
? 100000 operations?at 1A 30VDC(at 0.5 Hz)
? 100000 operations?at 0.3A 125VDC (at 0.5 Hz)
Contact Resistance 75 m? ?maximum at 6VDC, 1A?
Actuation Time 5ms maximum on/off
Maximum swi t c h i n g
voltage
250 VAC, 220 VDC
Maximum switching power 62.5VA / 30W
Insulation Resistance Minimum 1G ohm ?500VDC?
Connector Type Clamp terminal, #24 AWG wire size

Notice the relays are not of the rating of the standard inbuilt Dual measurement relays and as the card is removable it will be quite possible to replace them as needed.
There's even a contact resistance spec so you can keep an eye on them.

[Brandon_K]

You do not mind the clicking and wear of the relays on the Siglent scanner card?

Admittedly, being unfamiliar with such cards, I was not aware that it would cycle through them as well.  I do wonder if it's able to take simultaneous readings from the scanner card AND the main meter inputs, without cycling between the two.  Hopefully Scott can cover that in the review.  If he hasn't yet shot the review with the scanner card, I may try to contact him and see if he can use my situation (2 current, 2 voltage) as an example test, since it seems like a very real world test.  I may be able to supply him with some cells and a PCM to do pre and post PCM readings.

[Pinkus]

Regarding to the manual of the scanner card, there is an additional contact PCB needed. Maybe this is not included and it needs to be installed inside the housing somewhere, so you then can just slide the scanner card in and out.
See attached screenshot of the manual.
If I look to teardown photos, this contact PCB is not installed by default inside the SDM, thus it looks like some connectors need to be added to the main board for connecting the adapter board for the scanner card.
Beside of this, the scanner card looks like it could be a nice DIY project to build one on your own .... if we would know the 2 chips on the board (probably just two decoder/driver chips for the relays) and the schematics of the connection board.
Maybe later somebody can make high res photos (or scans) of the PCBs and show where these cable connectors has to go to.

[Brandon_K]

All of that said, if the 16 channel card that tautech posted about is not ludicrous on price, I'm pretty sure that will firmly cement me into camp Siglent, IF the meter can log the readings from the card.  I REALLY love the interface on the Siglnet's for day to day use.  I can build a breakout panel to give me a few extra volt inputs and current inputs from the scanner board and I think I'm pretty much set.  Data logging for days!!!!  I'm going to contact my local Siglent distributor tomorrow to see if I can purchase the SC1016 separately instead of factory installed, then I can keep my eye out for a good deal on a used 3055, 3045X or 3065X.  It seems as though for my data acquisition and multimeter needs, this would be the ideal solution, to the point that I would consider springing for a 3065X as I can't see needing anything more than that for a very long time.  A scope can seemingly do what I want, but does it make sense to use a scope for a multimeter? Plus then I also have to convert for the current clamp (trivial, but a process that needs done none the less).

My inquiries say it's not retrofittable as there's some HW to be fitted on the mainboard. 

USA made this post:

Yes, the software also supports the new multi-channel scanner card option (not retrofittable) for the SDM3055 and DM3065X models. The scanner option will not be available on the SDM3045X.

And yet the scanner card IS listed as an option for SDM3045X. 

You do not mind the clicking and wear of the relays on the Siglent scanner card?

Here are the specs:
Max AC Voltage
125V rms or 175V peak, 100kHz,
0.3 A switched, 125VA (resistive load)
Maximum DC Voltage 110V, 1A switched, 30VDC (resistive load)
Contact Life
? 100000 operations?at 1A 30VDC(at 0.5 Hz)
? 100000 operations?at 0.3A 125VDC (at 0.5 Hz)
Contact Resistance 75 m? ?maximum at 6VDC, 1A?
Actuation Time 5ms maximum on/off
Maximum swi t c h i n g
voltage
250 VAC, 220 VDC
Maximum switching power 62.5VA / 30W
Insulation Resistance Minimum 1G ohm ?500VDC?
Connector Type Clamp terminal, #24 AWG wire size

Notice the relays are not of the rating of the standard inbuilt Dual measurement relays and as the card is removable it will be quite possible to replace them as needed.
There's even a contact resistance spec so you can keep an eye on them.

That's good to know, but at the same time disappointing.  For whatever reason, I just assumed the scanner card would be able to do simultaneous.  Of course, by definition, a *scanner* card ... I'm dense!

The relay life is not very good.  1 second readings are out, they would last about a day and a half.  Even at 1 minute per sample, that's just shy of 70 days.  That may be a lifetime for some guys, probably less than 2 years for me.

I'm still interested in it.  I'll have to make some calls and see how much cheaper I can get it than list.

[Vtile]

https://www.picotech.com/products/data-logger

[Pinkus]

USA made this post:

Yes, the software also supports the new multi-channel scanner card option (not retrofittable) for the SDM3055 and DM3065X models. The scanner option will not be available on the SDM3045X.

And yet the scanner card IS listed as an option for SDM3045X. 

Well, my SDM3045x does have a button with the writing "Scanner" on it, though when I press it, I get the error message "Function invalid" (presumably because there is no scanner card present). Also the manual of the SDM3045x talks about the 'Optional Multiple Scan Card' so I bet it will work there too. However, if Siglents says 'not retrofittable', they will not sell it as a single unit...... as I said above: time for a DIY solution