Siglent Bench DMMs SDM3065X, SDM3055 and SDM3045X

[Mahagam]

And here I am again, with the problem of not having relative temperature measurements. I found the Rel submenu under the Math button. And there, as you can see, you can set any voltage offset value, but this again does not work with temperature.

[tonyalbus]

HOT news!
The 🔥NEW🔥 6.5 Digit DMM from Siglent, here on the desk for full review.

[kblue]

It looks cleaner from design perspective, DC, AC etc specs are virtually identical if i look right at SDM4065A_Datasheet_EN01A.pdf and SDM3065X_Datasheet_E03A.pdf . The new model comes with less NAND flash storage (256 MB New Model / 1 GB old model). Bigger, higher resolution touchscreen compared to the old less resolution, no touchy-touchy screen. Also more readings/sec in the new model, right?

So at the first glance, the new Siglent is ticking all the 'a bit new stuff, a bit old stuff mayhaps not upgradeworthy' boxes. Last year i was about to buy the (now old) model 3065X but after reading through this forum i changed my mind and bought the Keysight 6,5 digit one.

Annnyway, waiting for an affordable 7,5 oder 8,5 Siglent

[Johnny B Good]

@tonyalbus

 Since my own SDM3065X has always stabilised within half an hour of being powered up after an overnight shut down, your observation of an extremely protracted 4 hour warm up time with yours rather suggested that it must have a fault (slow running or failed cooling fan?).

 However, after watching your warm up timings test video, I think the problem is quite likely to be blocked fan intake and exhaust ports due to it being tightly hemmed in all round by that rather tightly packed stack of test equipment.

 May I kindly suggest you pull it out of the stack so that it has at least 50mm clearance either side of any obstructive surfaces, preferably clear of other localised heat source, and repeat another warm up test? This may well answer your question over its unusually long , out of specification (30 minutes according to the manual for my meter) warm up time.

 Sorry for that erroneous information. I think I had that figure in mind from the DSO user guides. The SDM3065X user guide is rather remiss in this regard by failing to mention any warm up time requirement.

 The only mention of any warm up time at all is in the data sheet in regard of calibration checks/adjustments where, understandably, they state that rather protracted 90 minute figure to ensure it'll be as stable as possible for such critical checks. Very likely based on the typical 30 minutes warm up time multiplied up by a factor of three to be triply sure its temperature is stable enough for such tests.

[KungFuJosh]

Since my own SDM3065X...
...(30 minutes according to the manual for my meter) warm up time.

My SDM3065X is also stable within 30 minutes, but the datasheet states 90 minutes. My meters are all isolated with ~3cm clearance on either side.

[Johnny B Good]

@KungFuJosh

 Thanks for pointing out my mistaken, off the top of my head, warm up time figure. I've edited my post to correct that error.

 It just strikes me as rather curious, despite going into great detail in the user guide on setting it up to take measurements, that they left out the importance of warm up time.

 I suppose if you treat it as 5 1/2 digit meter, the meter has instant warm up (the LM399 is fully stabilised with 6 seconds to spare on its 16 seconds boot up time).

[KungFuJosh]

It just strikes me as rather curious, despite going into great detail in the user guide on setting it up to take measurements, that they left out the importance of warm up time.

 I suppose if you treat it as 5 1/2 digit meter, the meter has instant warm up (the LM399 is fully stabilised with 6 seconds to spare on its 16 seconds boot up time).

I dunno. I think documentation gets weird with all brands one way or another. For certain info, you always have to look at the datasheet. I agree tho, it would be nice if useful info like that was included in other places it might be relevant.

I think it's cute that the quick start guide includes cleaning tips like "Wipe the external ash of the instrument and test leads by a soft rag." Where is this ash coming from?? 😉

It does make relevant reference to ventilation though:

Keep good ventilation.
Improper ventilation will cause the rise of the instrument’s temperature. Keep good ventilation
and check the vent and fan regularly when using it.

[bdunham7]

I suppose if you treat it as 5 1/2 digit meter, the meter has instant warm up (the LM399 is fully stabilised with 6 seconds to spare on its 16 seconds boot up time).

Instead of "fully stabilized", how long does it take before the meter is within it's published specifications? 

[Martin72]

Now I wanted to control my SDM3065X via computer for the first time....
So I installed NI-VISA 2025, I installed Easy DMM...
And I can't connect to the SDM.
I connected the meter via USB and Easy DMM finds something.
But somehow it won't go any further, it can't connect, or it says it's not the right device or that the address is bound...
What am I doing wrong? I just wanted to connect the meter to the computer, not make a science out of it.

[tautech]

Now I wanted to control my SDM3065X via computer for the first time....
So I installed NI-VISA 2025, I installed Easy DMM...
And I can't connect to the SDM.
I connected the meter via USB and Easy DMM finds something.
But somehow it won't go any further, it can't connect, or it says it's not the right device or that the address is bound...
What am I doing wrong? I just wanted to connect the meter to the computer, not make a science out of it.

Looking at your images...
You have installed the latest version, one few have played with yet EasyDMMX....
In the first image I see 2 copies of SDM3065X.... 

Hopefully I will find time today to update to EasyDMMX and have a play.

[KungFuJosh]

Now I wanted to control my SDM3065X via computer for the first time....
So I installed NI-VISA 2025, I installed Easy DMM...
And I can't connect to the SDM.
I connected the meter via USB and Easy DMM finds something.
But somehow it won't go any further, it can't connect, or it says it's not the right device or that the address is bound...
What am I doing wrong? I just wanted to connect the meter to the computer, not make a science out of it.

Don't you have TestController? It's 1000x better than EasyDMM unless you need the screenshot function.

If you want EasyDMM v1 to work, you need to add your devices, and then change the MODE option to what you want it to do (MEASURE). If Mode isn't selected, it won't work.

If you want EasyDMM-X to work, I think you need to pray to gods from at least 5 different religions, and sacrifice something. 😉

I wonder if there will be a firmware update required for compatibility with EasyDMM-X.

ETA: Yup. Firmware upgrade required:

Device Requirement
This software is an upgraded version of EasyDMM, the 3000X series of host computer software, and is compatible with its main functions. This software also expands its functionality by adding support for the 4000A series.

3000X Series
3045X/3055X/3055X-E, Version 1.02.01.28 and above. 3065X, Version 3.02.01.13 and above
4000A系列
4055A/4065A, Version 0.0.0.13 and above

[tautech]

Ah, good spotting Josh.....SDM3065X FW Version 3.02.01.13 is not available for download yet....

Email sent to Siglent....

[KungFuJosh]

Ah, good spotting Josh.....SDM3065X FW Version 3.02.01.13 is not available for download yet....

Email sent to Siglent....

I'd love a new firmware.

Any idea if they have plans to separate range and limits for continuity testing? That would greatly improve the speed and usefulness.

For example, Keithley and Keysight default at 1kΩ Range and 10Ω limit (both adjustable on Keithley, neither adjustable on Keysight).

Siglent appears to keep both set with the same value under Threshold. Setting that to 1kΩ gives significant speed improvements. Separating those values would make the meter a contender.

[Martin72]

Thanks Josh and Rob,
In the meantime, I followed my gut feeling and installed the old version, and it works right away.
It's great that the explanation is already there when I return to the thread.

[Martin72]

Don't you have TestController? It's 1000x better than EasyDMM unless you need the screenshot function.

I did, but it can't find the meter.
The whole East Tester mess was no problem.

[KungFuJosh]

Don't you have TestController? It's 1000x better than EasyDMM unless you need the screenshot function.

I did, but it can't find the meter.
The whole East Tester mess was no problem.

TestController works great with it. I have mine set to LXI though, since it works better (for me at least) when too many similar devices are connected. If it's just one, it should work fine as socket or LXI.

One dumb trick for TestController, is to remove all the Devices in the Load devices screen. Then close TC. Make sure all of the devices you want to use with TC are then turned on, and not in Remote control yet. Then, when you run TC again, it should discover everything correctly.

You can also manually add things, but I found that to be the laziest way to get it done right. 😉

[Gertjan]

Don't you have TestController? It's 1000x better than EasyDMM unless you need the screenshot function.

I did, but it can't find the meter.

The Testcontroller configuration file for SDM3065X supports ethernet / LXI connection, but does not support USB.....

[Martin72]

Aha...And it works immediately.
@Josh:
What are your settings for logging/chart display?

[KungFuJosh]

Aha...And it works immediately.
@Josh:
What are your settings for logging/chart display?

When comparing multiple meters, for me, it's best to set the min/max range values manually to the range you're testing. Alternatively, you can set one meter as the master, but I don't like that method because it takes away the color coding on the chart.

My current settings are attached, and they show my three 6.5 digit meter ranges matched for VDC. The SDM3055X-E temp range was manually set to monitor temp drift while running those tests.

[Martin72]

And what logging interval time?

[KungFuJosh]

And what logging interval time?

Doesn't matter. How much data do you want? .1, .3, .03, is usually what I choose from. If you're going to do a 10 hour test, even 1s is a ton of data.

[Martin72]

Everything seems to be working, now I just need to figure out how you got the single panel with the values to appear.

[KungFuJosh]

Everything seems to be working, now I just need to figure out how you got the single panel with the values to appear.

Go to Popups -> Grid Panel.

Right-click the grid panel for selecting Advanced Readouts for each device you're tracking.
I also like to select the new option for "On Top" at the bottom so you don't lose the grid panel behind other windows.

Then right click each readout to select the meter you want it to monitor. You can also right click the readouts to customize the colors.

Right click the "Grid layout" on the bottom line to adjust the rows/columns.

After you have that how you like it, you can save it as a menu option to repeat the setup in the future:
Right-click the log window in the Commands tab, and see attached.

Also, check your email if you haven't seen it yet. 😉

[Martin72]

I let it run for an hour, allowing the 5V reference to warm up for 30 minutes beforehand. The initial value was 4.99977 and the final value was 4.99981, a variation of 40µV, which isn't bad.
@Josh:
I read your email, no, it doesn't work.

[KungFuJosh]

I let it run for an hour, allowing the 5V reference to warm up for 30 minutes beforehand. The initial value was 4.99977 and the final value was 4.99981, a variation of 40µV, which isn't bad.
@Josh:
I read your email, no, it doesn't work.

Oops. I forgot to mention you should go to the "Current values" tab and right-click the Current [measurement] cell for the voltage. Select SI or SI with a set number of digits depending on what you want, and the data in the grid box will be more useful.

Check your email again. 😉