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New entry-level R&S NGE100 Power Supply Series

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skench:
Thanks Rich,

Firmware updated to 1.51 and all appears to be working.

-Stephen

Gearbuilder:
I have three units with 1.52 and they do have issues:

This is a great little supply but the digital IO option absolutely does not work! It has the following problems:

1) The IO lines latch up frequently and the digital IO needs to be manually disabled and then re-enabled.
2) The IO lines are very sensitive to RF and interference from nearby ESD events. Adding filters and shielding does not seem to help.
3) The IO lines draw current when they are disabled. They draw 44 ma when driven by 5 V.
4) The IO inputs cannot be enabled while they are being driven from another logic source. The input must be low when enabling an input. Otherwise the input latches up and draws current to a voltage part way between 0 and 5 V. This means that the drivers must be physically disconnected every time an input line is enabled.
5) The individual digital IO lines are always disabled when the unit is turned on. Enabling them is a long and involved (75-step) procedure. Issue 4 makes this even more problematic.
6) Recalling the digital IO settings turns the each of the digital IO lines off. Again, enabling them is a long and involved procedure. Issue 4 makes this even more problematic.
7) The digital IO fails even when no wires are attached. Connecting pin 1 (configured as an output) to pin 2 (configured as an input) will result in an interface that fails after a few minutes of operation.

The Ethernet, WiFi, and Digital IO options are now bundled together in a promotional package for about $995 through the end of 2019. Just beware of the fact that the Digital IO is completely non functional! It may still be a good deal, but I was expecting to be able to use the digital IO.

 

thm_w:

--- Quote from: Gearbuilder on July 19, 2019, 07:57:49 pm ---2) The IO lines are very sensitive to RF and interference from nearby ESD events. Adding filters and shielding does not seem to help.
3) The IO lines draw current when they are disabled. They draw 44 ma when driven by 5 V.

--- End quote ---

So just one input is drawing 44mA, not three as you've shown tied together in the photo right?

Thats wild if it is drawing that much but somehow is still sensitive as an input.. Can't imagine what circuit would be there. I didn't see any specs in the manual other than "don't exceed 5.25V".


The Rigol is a bunch of resistors and transistors but I haven't actually tried using it yet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eevblog/9607780666
A good input I would expect to have an opto-isolated I/O but that probably adds too much to the cost.

Gearbuilder:

--- Quote from: thm_w on July 19, 2019, 09:28:47 pm ---
So just one input is drawing 44mA, not three as you've shown tied together in the photo right?

Thats wild if it is drawing that much but somehow is still sensitive as an input.. Can't imagine what circuit would be there. I didn't see any specs in the manual other than "don't exceed 5.25V".

The Rigol is a bunch of resistors and transistors but I haven't actually tried using it yet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eevblog/9607780666
A good input I would expect to have an opto-isolated I/O but that probably adds too much to the cost.

--- End quote ---
Yes, each IO line draws 44 mA when disabled (if you attempt to drive it to 5 V).

I didn't have a photo of digital IO 1 driving digital IO 2. In the photo I was attempting to drive DIO2 and DIO3 from DIO1. The purpose was to trigger channels 2 and 3 when channel 1 turned on.

The biggest problem is that the inputs randomly start drawing current several minutes after being enabled. This can only be corrected by disabling the inputs, allowing them to drop to ground, and then re-enabling the inputs. If the inputs are actively driven high or are pulled up with a resistor, the inputs will not reset (they remain latched up, drawing current from an intermediate voltage level between 2 and 3 volts).

It is amazing that this interface doesn't work given the fact that you have to pay $150 to turn it on. You then have to enter a long license code that unlocks the feature. R&S spent more time figuring out how to license the feature than they ever spent on making sure that it works. Unbelievable! If I didn't have three units, I would think that I had a bad unit.

 I feel like I am the first person that ever tried to use this interface.  :-BROKE

exe:

--- Quote from: Gearbuilder link=topic=86058.msg2563614#msg2563614 ---Yes, each IO line draws 44 mA when disabled (if you attempt to drive it to 5 V).

--- End quote ---

Sounds like they actively pull it down or something about ESD/protective diodes and internal rails. Did you try to drive from lower voltage? Like, from 3.3V?

I'd also suggest contact R&S.

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