Siglent SDL1000X/SDL1000X-E Electronic Load

[tv84]

SDL1000X Official Siglent Links:
US website
Europe website
China website

Any news about this? Prices?

[BillB]

Very interesting.  I can't tell from the webpage if there are going to be two variants or four?  I also can't tell the difference between the X and X-E model(s).  The table at the bottom of the page has identical specs for both.  ***UPDATE*** The User's manual indicates the X-E is a 1mA/1mV resolution and the X is a .1mA/.1mV - like the SPD3303X/X-E. 

Given how much later this is appearing than their other X-E devices, it's odd that the screen UI is different and not in a good way.  It looks like a step backward in the graphics department. 

Even the keypad and arrow key buttons look slightly different from any buttons on the rest of the product line.

I still wouldn't mind running one through its paces, though!  Maybe even turn an X-E into an X?   

[BillB]

Yeah, the datasheet chart seems to imply that too, but it seems like an odd set of features to use as differentiators especially considering that there are dedicated buttons for those two modes.  The pictures of the X-E are too small to make out any of the text.         

Looks like the keypad buttons are from the SSG, though, so I take back my statement about them being different from the rest of the line. 

I'm eager to see if/when they might come to the States. 

[colorado.rob]

Any updates on a release date for this?

[simone.pignatti]

Today is the launch date of a new series by Siglent, SDL1000X DC Electronic Load.
Four models available:
SDL1020X-E 150V 30A 200W 1mV/1mA
SDL1020X 150V 30A 200W 0.1mV/0.1mA
SDL1030X-E 150V 30A 300W 1mV/1mA
SDL1030X 150V 30A 300W 0.1mV/0.1mA

SDL1020X/X-E now available
SDL1030X/X-E available in June 2019

Price from Euro 439 to 989 + VAT

data sheet here
https://www.batterfly.com/PDF/Siglent/SDL1000X_DataSheet_DS0801X-E01B.pdf

user manual here
https://www.batterfly.com/PDF/Siglent/SDL1000X_UserManual_UM0801X-E01A.pdf

Siglent SDL1000X/X-E series Features and Benefits:
- SDL1020X/X-E (Single channel ): DC 150 V/30 A, total power up to 200 W
- SDL1030X/X-E (Single channel ): DC 150 V/30 A, total power up to 300 W
- 4 static modes / dynamic modes: CC/CV/CR/CP
- CC Dynamic mode: Continuous, pulsed, toggled
- CC Dynamic mode: 25 kHz, CP Dynamic mode: 12.5 kHz, CV Dynamic mode: 0.5 Hz
- Measuring speed of voltage and current: up to 500 kHz
- Adjustable current rise time range: 0.001 A/us~2.5 A/us
- Min. readback resolution: 0.1 mV, 0.1 mA
- Short-circuit, Battery test, CR-LED mode, and factory test functions
- 4-wire SENSE compensation mode function
- List function supports editing as many as 100 steps
- Program function supports 50 groups of steps
- OCP, OVP, OPP, OTP and LRV protection
- External analog control
- Voltage, Current monitoring via 0-10 V
- 3.5 inch TFT-LCD display, capable of displaying multiple parameters and states simultaneously
- Built-in RS232/USB/LAN communication interface, USB-GPIB module (optional)
- Waveform trend chart and ease-to-use file storage and call functions
- Includes PC software: Supports SCPI, LabView driver

[tautech]

Any updates on a release date for this?

Today apparently. 

Heard nuthing about this however it's now on the Shenzhen website:
https://int.siglent.com/products-overview/sdl1000x/

And announced on EEVblog here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xx-e-dc-electronic-load/
Threads now merged.

[tautech]

SDL1020X-E 150V 30A 200W 1mV/1mA         $ 499
SDL1020X 150V 30A 200W 0.1mV/0.1mA      $ 689
SDL1030X-E 150V 30A 300W 1mV/1mA         $ 871
SDL1030X 150V 30A 300W 0.1mV/0.1mA      $ 1134

There is no stock to ship just yet. 
Reserved a couple of units.

[BillB]

$499 and over 16" long!  That's going to be difficult to hide. 

[colorado.rob]

Can the X-E be upgraded to X later?  I don't think I need 0.1mA accuracy right now.

[simone.pignatti]

it is not listed as option in the data sheet and price list. I don't think there are HW differences.

[bicycleguy]

Yaa! They fixed the crazy keypad numbering.  Of course that's going to make it even more confusing using the SDG's

[Timpert]

Is a programming manual available? I can't find it on the Siglent website, and the info is not in the user manual.

[tv84]

Yaa! They fixed the crazy keypad numbering.  Of course that's going to make it even more confusing using the SDG's

 

Never noticed that!! It's northern and southern hemispheres models!

[Gian2975]

Hi,
do you have any idea if there are hardware differences from the SDL1020X model to the SDL1030X model or is it just software?

[tv84]

Hi,
do you have any idea if there are hardware differences from the SDL1020X model to the SDL1030X model or is it just software?

Don't know if there are differences. We have to wait.

You must reach 5 posts or you won't be able to receive more msgs!

[tautech]

Hi,
do you have any idea if there are hardware differences from the SDL1020X model to the SDL1030X model or is it just software?

Yes same physical size and weight might suggest they are identical however the datasheet lists 2 different specs for the 200 and 300W models. 
Getting one of each of the 200W models but not the $$ 300W jobbies......well not just yet.

[Gian2975]

Ok thanks to all, you are always very kind!
We are waiting for a comparison to be made of the models.

[BillB]

I'm contemplating picking up one of the SDL1020X-E units to replace my hardly ever used ITech 8511+ 

[Gian2975]

Hi everyone,

today I received the SDL1020-XE electronic load.
I performed several tests and the load responds well, it heats up to normal.
It is very beautiful and well cared for.

Now I have this doubt, if it could be modified like the model 1030 I would keep it, otherwise I would like to make it to take an ARRAY 3721A.

I'm amateur radio and test and repair power supply of 20-30A.

With this in fact I am at the limit, but if I could change it to 300W it would be ideal.

I'm really undecided whether to keep this or buy ARRAY.

Unfortunately I can't find reliable sources that the siglent can be changed to 300W.

What do you think ?
Would the ARRAY 3721A be a good alternative?

The fact is that siglent satisfies me for other functions that ARRAY does not have.

Any advice is appreciated

Sorry for my bad english

Thank you

[Gian2975]

I have a few days to decide whether to return this or keep it.

[colorado.rob]

Why did you not buy the SDL1030X-E?  It is still less expensive than the Array.  I test amateur radio equipment as well, but my testing is for low power stuff -- batteries and battery chargers.  Siglent had a presence at Hamvention last weekend.  If they would have had the 1020X-E available there I might have purchased one.  If I needed to test radio power supplies I would likely pick up the 1030X-E.

I have to say that I will only buy test equipment with LXI support, so I would not buy the Array.  When I do get my electronic load I will need to buy a new Ethernet switch for the lab.  The 8-port switch is full.

I think you are going to find that you can likely hack the 1020X-E to 1020X, but not 1020X-E to 1030X-E.  I do not know this.  At this point I know of no one that has tried to hack it.

Are you willing to open the case and see whether everything is populated?

[Gian2975]

I had thought of buying the 1030x-e but unfortunately it wasn't available until the end of next month.
I needed to calibrate two 5A power supplies and everything went well.

These days I think about it, if I decide to keep it we could consider making a comparison

[amham]

I own several Siglent instruments and have been pleased with the quality vs. price and performance.  I decided to purchase the Siglent SDL1020X-E  DC load and placed my order with Saelig.  I inquired as to the ship date and have been told they are on HOLD due to a "hardware issue"  .  I called Siglent America and was told there is a fix for a voltage problem with a chip, no further explanation other than it was minor and was to be repaired at Siglent America and then shipped to distributors.  No further info available.  Anyone know anything?     

[amham]

I own several Siglent instruments and have been pleased with the quality vs. price and performance.  I decided to purchase the Siglent SDL1020X-E  DC load and placed my order with Saelig.  I inquired as to the ship date and have been told they are on HOLD due to a "hardware issue"  .  I called Siglent America and was told there is a fix for a voltage problem with a chip, no further explanation other than it was minor and was to be repaired at Siglent America and then shipped to distributors.  No further info available.  Anyone know anything?     

[tautech]

I own several Siglent instruments and have been pleased with the quality vs. price and performance.  I decided to purchase the Siglent SDL1020X-E  DC load and placed my order with Saelig.  I inquired as to the ship date and have been told they are on HOLD due to a "hardware issue"  .  I called Siglent America and was told there is a fix for a voltage problem with a chip, no further explanation other than it was minor and was to be repaired at Siglent America and then shipped to distributors.  No further info available.  Anyone know anything?   

Yep but not much.

They'll be rolling off the production line next week.
I've got a stock order waiting on SDL being available and I got this info just yesterday.
Mine are coming seafreight so it will be a few weeks before I get to play with one.
I'll shoot one to Defpom so he can do a video about them.

[amham]

Thanks tautech for the update.  My Siglent SA, PS, Multimeter, FG and scope are great for the price.  I'm a retired cal lab tech (2nd career) and ham who built his "dream" bench now that I have the time.  I've cal'd and repaired many high end instruments and find that Siglent does the job well at an affordable price.

[tautech]

Having a play with a new SDL1020X-E just arrived.
These are a quite long unit but just the same width as Siglent's DMM's and AWG's so stacking is no issue.
Each side has air inlets and there's a single rear fan discharge port with the fan positioned some 200mm forward in front of a long internally finned heatsink. Fan from the little you can see of it appears to be a 60mm unit.

Basic CC use is intuitive and the UI seems fairly extensive which has you studying the manual if like me it's the first load you've used. 
However you soon make some sense of it all and start adventuring into the UI.

A very basic load test that didn't start the smart fan from a few minutes testing however if you ramp up the load the fan gets into gear and provides some good room heating. 
The PSU and load display readouts tracked reasonably close together.
I didn't use the 4W connection as the leads were not long and reasonably heavy.



Defpom can do a teardown when I lend him a SDL1020X when it arrives.

[BillB]

Will be interested in seeing that tear-down, perhaps it will shed light as to why they made it so long. 

[amham]

Well, I contacted Siglent America seeking additional info as to why the recall and what USA release date but never received an answer.  I once again reviewed the specs comparing the similar Rigol DL3021 and the Siglent SDL1020X-E and decided to purchase the Rigol.  The specs were similar but several features swayed me.  The front panel S connectors, higher 40A sync current, heftier device weight, easy access battery test app, larger display area.  The EEV teardown also showed hefty construction regardless of the few minor lay-out complaints Jones had.  It's been working well (a little louder fan noise on standby than I'd like and it's even longer). 

[tautech]

Will be interested in seeing that tear-down, perhaps it will shed light as to why they made it so long. 

As said the internal heatsink tunnel is some 200mm long and the fan is front mounted directly onto it.
Grab a rule and measure one of your SDM's and it becomes obvious why it needs to be so long while still retaining the same height and width of other Siglent bench equipment plus........in front of the fan is what appears to be some big copper load wires, probably some 3mm dia for which the fan pulls an air stream through and pushes that down the heatsink tunnel where I guess the active power devices are fastened to. From what you can see of the heatsink through the vents it's a big hunk of alloy in proportion to the rest of the instrument....maybe 75mm².

These X-E's I have are for customers whereas Defpom can whip the lid off the X model I have coming.

[Timpert]

I have trouble getting my head around the pricing of these loads. They seem to be competing with the Maynuo M9811 (200W) and M9812 (300W) in terms of specs and features, but adding a color display, slicker enclosure, proper connectivity (including LAN and SCPI) and a better pedigree.

The baseline model is the SDL1020X-E. It is functionally equivalent to all the other models in the series, and at EUR 459 without VAT it is very attractively priced. Perhaps it is the most attractively priced e-load on the market today.

The next in line is the SDL1020X at EUR 599. What do you get for 160 Euros more? Better accuracy and resolution for CC current setting and voltage readback. Accuracy for CV voltage setting and current readback is the same for the X-E and X models. That looks like a half-assed upgrade to me, and they charge too much for it.

But it gets worse: the SDL1030X-E is the 300W version of the baseline model, with otherwise identical specs to the SDL1020X-E. And they charge a whopping EUR 759 for it! That is 65% extra cash for 50% extra power, which I see as far beyond reasonable given the limited amount of extra effort from Siglent required for this upgrade.

And then there is the top model SDL1030X, which at 989 Euros must bring in no less than 230 euros more for better accuracy and resolution for CC current setting and voltage readback. Again, accuracy for CV voltage setting and current readback is the same for the X-E and X models. That's 70 Euros more for the exact same half-assed upgrade as between the SDL1020X-E and the SDL1020-X.

Compare that with the Maynuo loads, the M9811 costs EUR 445 and the M9812 costs EUR 510, so only 15% more. This is in line with the amount of extra hardware in the 300W version, and in terms of what you get for your money, both models are about the same. Not so with the Siglent: the base model easily is the best value for money when compared to comparable offers from other manufacturers. But the value for money goes down the drain quite quickly when you look at the models higher up in the series. And that is a bit of a shame: they probably could upsell much easier if the price steps were more in line with the actual performance upgrades. Siglent would get more money from the same customer, while at the same time the customer doesn't feel ripped of when considering the higher spec models.

I know this will probably not change anything, but I just want to express my aggravation about this kind of practice. It doesn't make me consider a model higher in the line, it makes me want to walk away without buying anything. I know Rigol's practices are even worse in this respect, and that is one of the reasons why I quickly stopped considering their line of e-loads.
 

[tautech]

..............
Compare that with the Maynuo loads, the M9811 costs EUR 445 and the M9812 costs EUR 510, so only 15% more. This is in line with the amount of extra hardware in the 300W version, and in terms of what you get for your money, both models are about the same. Not so with the Siglent: the base model easily is the best value for money when compared to comparable offers from other manufacturers. But the value for money goes down the drain quite quickly when you look at the models higher up in the series. And that is a bit of a shame: they probably could upsell much easier if the price steps were more in line with the actual performance upgrades. Siglent would get more money from the same customer, while at the same time the customer doesn't feel ripped of when considering the higher spec models.

I hear ya but don't you agree the entry level 200W X-E is at a price point where some that might only afford a SH E-load are now tempted by this offering.
As for 200 vs 300W hardware, well the jury's out on this and we're gunna have to wait until there's some teardowns before we know of any real differences.

Had a minute to have further familiarization plays today this time with a 1 Hz pulse output from SDG1032X into a 100mA load.
Grabbed a csv (attached....remove txt) too from the Record Data feature.....attached for those that want graph it for a look....it's just a few seconds worth.
However it seems the screen captures only save as a bmp   
Dunno why Siglent did that so I've uploaded a png converted from within Paint.

[Timpert]

I hear ya but don't you agree the entry level 200W X-E is at a price point where some that might only afford a SH E-load are now tempted by this offering.

The 200W X-E is an absolute bargain, because you get much more from Siglent than from Maynuo at essentially the same price. In fact, you get so much more that I'd still consider it to be a bargain if it were 100 euros more expensive.

When I look at the more expensive models without comparing prices within the range, I find that the individual models are still competitively priced and better equipped than the competition. For example, many suppliers have either no LAN interface or offer it only as an (expensive) option. In 2019. From Siglent, all models have LAN and proper SCPI support through it. Hats off for that.

Here's the funny part. If I were to take the price of the 300W X-E model as an anchor point (which, compared to the competition, appears to be at a good price point) and scale the other model's prices so that the price differences become more in line with the differences in actual performance, the 200W X-E model would become more expensive, and the 300W X model only a tad cheaper. And I'd understand such a pricing scheme. So really, my only gripe here is that the price steps correlate so poorly with the increased performance.

However it seems the screen captures only save as a bmp   

I think that is because a BMP file is easiest to generate and read, and due to the low resolution, the file size is not excessive.

 

[BillB]

I hear ya but don't you agree the entry level 200W X-E is at a price point where some that might only afford a SH E-load are now tempted by this offering...
...Dunno why Siglent did that so I've uploaded a png converted from within Paint.

Given the extra capabilities the SDL1020X-E has such as the nicer UI, USB and Ethernet connectivity, and the slightly higher power capacity over the M9811 / IT8511 models I think the extra cost is worth it and agree that the SDL1020X-E is the bargain of the Siglent model line-up.  I'm suspecting that the there might be a potential X-E to X conversion available that will make it even more attractive to the hobby group. 

The bump to 300W does seem quite steep, but I am withholding judgement until I see a tear-down of the two for comparison.

However, I couldn't seem to find any PC software (EasyLoad?) for the SDLs.  As bad as it is, ITech does have some PC software for remote control and data collection.  It might not be too important, but Siglent should probably offer something.

Speaking of software, I hope that Siglent will standardize on PNG for image files creation.  Some of their instruments/software generate BMPs, others PNG, and some PNGs with BMP extensions (I have caused this forum to crash on a few posts where I attached these mislabeled files!)
 

   

[Timpert]

The importance of control software depends on how you wish to use the instrument. Personally, I don't care about vendor supplied remote control software for use with a single instrument. In general, the software sucks, and most of the time it doesn't extend the functionality of a single device apart from maybe easier data entry and collection. Remote control becomes tremendously more powerful if you can control multiple instruments from the same program, or implement application specific functionality in your own program. I like to do that with Python, so I need a programming manual. I was quite happy to see that Siglent published one, and based upon a first look, it appears complete to me. The fact that it uses SCPI (instead of Modbus, which the BK/Itech/Maynuo family seems to use) is another big plus.

[BillB]

I agree about not needing the supplied SW when dealing with more complex test automation, but sometimes it's nice to do a quick data collection session or quick screen grab using the vendor supplied utility.  That being said, most of Siglent's PC software has been a little rough, but I will say that it is better than some I've seen.  They've done an impressive job with the webserver capability in their scopes; it would be great if they carried that feature through to their other products then they could drop PC apps altogether.

I will add that the ITech 8500 loads also support SCPI now. 

[Timpert]

I will add that the ITech 8500 loads also support SCPI now.

Indeed, and their BK equivalents do also. Seems that only the basic models use modbus.

I just ordered an SDL1020X-E, which I will put through its paces over the next weeks. I will post a summary of my findings in this forum.

[eeviking]

How does the Siglent's compare to the KORAD KEL-103 as an entry level DC load?
Farnell is selling the rebranded TENMA 72-13210 (300W) for 192£ + tax. That's half the price of the 200W Siglent.

[BillB]

How does the Siglent's compare to the KORAD KEL-103 as an entry level DC load?
Farnell is selling the rebranded TENMA 72-13210 (300W) for 192£ + tax. That's half the price of the 200W Siglent.

There is a little discussion of that unit here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/do-you-know-the-korad-kel-103-programmable-dc-electronic-load/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/review-of-the-korad-kel103-programmable-load/msg2276907/#msg2276907

The Korads seem popular and decently made for the money.  I'm not familiar myself, but I haven't seen much discussion about remote programming other than some difficulty in sourcing the USB drivers for it.  Other than the display and USB mass storage, it seems like they are similar in capability.

I just ordered an SDL1020X-E, which I will put through its paces over the next weeks. I will post a summary of my findings in this forum.

Looking forward to seeing your review.

[BillB]

Grab a rule and measure one of your SDM's and it becomes obvious why it needs to be so long while still retaining the same height and width of other Siglent bench equipment plus........in front of the fan is what appears to be some big copper load wires, probably some 3mm dia for which the fan pulls an air stream through and pushes that down the heatsink tunnel where I guess the active power devices are fastened to. From what you can see of the heatsink through the vents it's a big hunk of alloy in proportion to the rest of the instrument....maybe 75mm².

Understood.  Though, the IT8511+ has the same H + W of my Siglent stuff, yet only comes in at 13.5" in depth.   

In my microlab, I have a 12" deep equipment shelf and the IT8511+ already hangs over, but it's acceptable.  I would have already pulled the trigger on the SDL1020X-E but not for my struggle in figuring out how to make it fit.   

[aheid]

Doh, almost ordered the SDL1020X-E until I read your comment about the size of the thing. Only have about 25 cm deep shelf

Bummer, was looking forward to getting an electronic load.

[tautech]

Doh, almost ordered the SDL1020X-E until I read your comment about the size of the thing. Only have about 25 cm deep shelf

Bummer, was looking forward to getting an electronic load.

Yes they are long, some 390mm however as their weight is mostly to the rear they will balance well on a 250mm shelf.
You might need a right angle IEC plug though to keep them back as far as possible.

However, I couldn't seem to find any PC software (EasyLoad?) for the SDLs.  As bad as it is, ITech does have some PC software for remote control and data collection.  It might not be too important, but Siglent should probably offer something.

Yep, questions sent about this to the factory.

Speaking of software, I hope that Siglent will standardize on PNG for image files creation.  Some of their instruments/software generate BMPs, others PNG, and some PNGs with BMP extensions (I have caused this forum to crash on a few posts where I attached these mislabeled files!)

This too.

[aheid]

Ah, so there is hope. Will have to make a mockup and see. Thanks!

[flash2b]

.

[tautech]

Ah, so there is hope. Will have to make a mockup and see. Thanks!

One of my shelves is just 260mm and I have a longer strip of 10mm plywood that I place on top of the shelf for longer instruments. Just one screw at the rear could make it more robust and stable but it depends on where the most weight is in the instrument. For SDL its weight is mostly rearward.
I think something similar could work for you.

[tautech]

Replies from the factory......

However, I couldn't seem to find any PC software (EasyLoad?) for the SDLs.  As bad as it is, ITech does have some PC software for remote control and data collection.  It might not be too important, but Siglent should probably offer something.

Yep, questions sent about this to the factory.

Easy* for SDL is coming..........soon.

Speaking of software, I hope that Siglent will standardize on PNG for image files creation.  Some of their instruments/software generate BMPs, others PNG, and some PNGs with BMP extensions (I have caused this forum to crash on a few posts where I attached these mislabeled files!)

This too.

Added to the 'to do' list.

[aheid]

One of my shelves is just 260mm and I have a longer strip of 10mm plywood that I place on top of the shelf for longer instruments.

Yeah, the mockup would be mostly for checking ergonomics

[flash2b]

Finally my SDL1020X arrived, which was ordered on 1 May 2019.





Where can I download the Windows software for this load (EasyLoad ?) ?

[tautech]

Where can I download the Windows software for this load (EasyLoad ?) ?

Not yet available, sorry......soon.....some days yet.

For you in Europe keep an eye out for it here:
https://www.siglenteu.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/dc-electronic-load/#sdl1000x-series

USA
https://www.siglentamerica.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/dc-electronic-load/

Factory site:
https://int.siglent.com/products-software/sdl1000x/

[BillB]

One of my shelves is just 260mm and I have a longer strip of 10mm plywood that I place on top of the shelf for longer instruments.

Yeah, the mockup would be mostly for checking ergonomics

I think this is what I was leaning toward as well.  Time to get some right angle IEC plugs...

Finally my SDL1020X arrived, which was ordered on 1 May 2019.

Nice.  Let us know how you like it.

[Timpert]

My SDL1020X-E arrived last Thursday. I bought it from Eleshop (http://www.eleshop.nl), and they promised me I could test it for a while, and return it if I didn't like it. So far I tested the DC performance. The burning question is of course: although it's an X-E, does it actually meet X spec? The X model has better specifications on the accuracy of current setpoint in CC mode, and on voltage readback. The specs I refer to are from the March 2019 datasheet, the interesting bits are:

• CC setpoint: (0.1% of value + 0.1% of range) for the X-E versus (0.05% of value + 0.05% of range) for the X
• Voltage readback: (0.05% of value + 0.02% of range) for the X-E versus (0.025 % of value + 0.025% of range) for the X

Apart from this, the X provides one more digit in the readout of voltage (low range only), and in the readout of current (both low and high range), but I am 99.9% certain that this is only a matter of software and not due to a hardware limitation.

Voltage readback was easy to check. My bench DMM has better DC voltage accuracy spec than the X, so a direct comparison should be sufficient. I can put down a long winded measurement report, but I'll just give you the executive summary. With voltage readback, the largest error I found in low range was 1/6 of the allowable error for the X. In high range, the maximum error was 1/3 of the allowed error (for the X) up to 120 Volts, at 150 Volts it was still 1/2. The measurement at 150 Volts was done with the DMM in 1000V range, so there is a good chance that actual error is smaller than the error I found. Conclusion: the voltage readback accuracy on my unit meets X spec. Yay!

CC setpoint was also easy to check. Although my bench DMM does not provide the required current range and accuracy, the current readback spec on the load itself allows testing.  The accuracy spec on current readback is (0.05% of value + 0.05% of range) for both X and X-E models. So if I set a current, and get the exact same value back on readback, I can be sure that the setpoint accuracy is within readback spec. For the X, setpoint and readback spec are identical. That makes sense, because the current setting and current readback share many components (shunt, PGA and whatnot), so actually many error sources are also shared. This means that a current readback that is bang-on the current setpoint proves that the instrument meets X spec, but only a deviation between setpoint and readback value larger than (0.05% of value + 0.05% of range) proves that it does not. The area in between is a grey area. But again, here comes the management summary: in both low and high current ranges, the current readback value and the current setpoint were identical. In low range I tested between 10 mA and 5 A, in high range I tested between 1 A and 30 A. So current setpoint accuracy on my unit meets X spec. Double yay!

I also tested the impedance of the short circuit, which represents the lower limit of usability of the load. For this test, I measured the voltage on the clamps of the load with my DMM using separate leads (i.e. a proper Kelvin connection). From 5 A to 30 A, I found the load presented a practically constant short circuit resistance of 26 milli-Ohms. The spec works out to 30 milli-Ohms, so that's good too.

I ordered some low-value resistors and other hardware so I can test dynamic behavior.  I'll keep you updated on my findings.

To wrap things up: my unit appears to meet X specifications in terms of current setpoint and voltage readback, although it is an X-E. 

I really wonder what Siglent wants with the X. The accuracy spec for voltage readback is (0.025 % of value + 0.025% of range). With a readout resolution of 0.1 mV for the 36 V range, this becomes (0.025 % of value + 90 digits). For the current ranges (0.05% of value + 0.05% of range) at a resulotion of 0.1 mA becomes (0.05% of value +25 digits) for the low range and (0.05% of value +150 digits) for the high range. With the findings above, does this really mean that they charge you around 160 Euros (excluding VAT), just for the privilege of looking at one or two random digits?     

[Timpert]

Siglent states in the datasheet that current and voltage input should not be less than 10% of the full scale. It would be quite unreasonable to test the load at really low currents of 1 to 100 mA and base a verdict on the outcome. So let's do it.

I stepped the setpoint in CC mode from 1mA to 100mA in 1-2-5 steps, and measured the current through the load with my DMM in 100 mA range. Input voltage was 10 V. The resulting current followed consistently, with a maximum error of 0.56 mA below the setpoint. The error remained negative (actual current between 0.34 and 0.64 mA lower than set). This is way better than specified.

I also set the current to zero, with the input on, and measured the resulting current when increasing the voltage to the maximum of 150 V. The load behaved essentially like a resistor with a value of 196 kOhms.

So all in all, DC performance looks quite good. Nowhere did the load go out of spec, and also at lower currents (100 mA or so, also see next post) it seems quite usable. The resistors have arrived, so it's time to to fire up the oscilloscope.   

[Timpert]

I set up the load to draw a 1 ms pulse of 30 A, at max dI/dt of 2.5 A/us. I have 4-wire shunts of 1, 10 and 100 milli-ohms, so I first used the 1 milli-ohms one. But the setup gave quite a bit of EMI in the measurement leads, which could be seen as ringing on the edges. Twisting the sense wires and leading them away from the setup would reduce ringing considerably, but it would not eliminate it. Replacing the shunt with the 10 milli-ohms one dramatically increased the signal-to-ringing ratio, and inserting the 100 milli-ohms one again gave a better signal. A current change of 30 A at 2.5A/us is quite a cookie to deal with...

Anyhow, Siglent specifies the slew rate between 10% and 90% of the set current, so I think that the load actually does this and is quite well behaved. The bit of ringing that can still be seen is acceptable for most purposes, and probably only partially (if at all) caused by the load itself.

I reduced dI/dt to 0.5 A/us, resulting in the third and fourth pictures attached.

During testing, supply voltage was a tad over 13 Volts, so at the current peaks, the dissipation in the load was 300 W (taking the drop across the 100 milli-ohms shunt into account). It didn't crap out, so it seems that the overpower protection has a bit of delay built into it to allow higher peak loads.



   

[Timpert]

I used a 10 Ohms current shunt for the next measurement. First I just set the current to a constant 15 mA. This gave the first scope picture. Although the average current is quite nicely at 15 mA, there is a 7 mA P-P ripple current on top. It looks like 50 Hz rectifier interference to me, as the conduction peaks and reverse recovery spikes are plainly visible. To be sure that it wasn't coming from somewhere else, I repeated the test with a battery as power supply, with the same results. A dynamic test between 10 and 20 mA with a pulse width of 1 ms looks like the second scope picture. I then increased the pulse width to pi milliseconds, to make the mains period a non-integer multiple of the test signal period. See picture 3. I then set the scope to 128 times average, to get rid of the interference and only see the load's own contribution. See pictures 4 and 5. As you can see, the instrument itself shows good settling behavior at these low currents.

This all looks rather dramatic, and it is indeed a bit of a bummer to see that the low range performance of the instrument is limited by what looks like a power supply issue. Capacitive coupling by the EMI filtering in the SMPS perhaps? Without the interference, low end performance would have been excellent, but now it is merely OK...

This needs to be put into perspective. A 200W electronic load is not the appropriate tool for (dynamic) testing of very small power supplies, just like a bone saw is not the appropriate tool for a nose job. A transistor, a few resistors and a signal generator do a far better job when dynamically testing such small things. I feel that I've explored the lower limits of usability, and here they are. The load is thus not ideal for testing the supply on your latest micropower thingamabob, and also not for capacity testing of small button cells. With anything over 100 mA or so, it is fine. But didn't we know that already just by looking at the specs?   


 

[BillB]

Nice review, Timpert!  It sounds like it's worth picking one of these up.     

[bitseeker]

Yes, nicely done review. Thanks, Timpert.

[Timpert]

I'm not done yet... In this episode: CV testing. CV mode is simple enough on paper: the load will draw the current required to keep its output at the set voltage. The load itself is still a current sink, but a feedback loop is wrapped around it to stabilize the voltage. There is potential for trouble here, because the impedance of the device under test now becomes part of the loop transfer function, influencing stability. In other words: with some doodads, the load will not be stable. The stability range is thus a design choice, and the designer can never make it unconditionally stable. So the test below is just a check to see if the designers at Siglent chose wisely...

So first I just set my lab PSU to a reasonable current limit, and set some constant voltages. All was well. I then connected a 4 Ohms power resistor in series with the load, and set the load to 10 Volts (supply voltage was 20 Volts). The voltage across the load can be seen in the first scope picture. It was not what I expected...

Upon checking what could be wrong, I noticed the current range being set to 30 A while only 2.5 A were going to flow in the stable situation. When I set the range to 5 A, I got the second attached picture. Much better! So apparently, the current range also influences the loop gain in CV mode. I switched back to 30 A range, and connected a 4700 uF capacitor in parallel with the load. Now the load was also stable, despite working low in its range (third pic). I tried several setpoints, and the load remained stable.

I have a power inductor (20 mH/12A), but that thing already has a body count in terms of fried electronics. With the above in mind, I didn't want to grant it the pleasure of another kill, so I didn't test stability with an inductive DUT. I think I already know how that would smell.

I also did some dynamic mode testing in CV mode, switching between 5V and 10V. Here, the load only allows steps of 1 second and longer, perhaps to allow for settling. From the scope pictures, the 1 second limit seems to be on the conservative side. DUT was the 4 Ohms series resistor, supplied with 20 Volts, low current range. It works as expected.

So the question is: did the engineers at Siglent choose wisely? I think they did. Most power converters will have an output capacitor, so stability with a capacitive DUT is a must in my opinion. The CV mode must be used with more caution than the CC mode. 

[tautech]

I have a power inductor (20 mH/12A), but that thing already has a body count in terms of fried electronics. With the above in mind, I didn't want to grant it the pleasure of another kill, so I didn't test stability with an inductive DUT. I think I already know how that would smell.

Thanks very much Tim for filling is some gaps of our knowledge and the wise use choices. 

A chat with one of the beta testers confirms some of your earlier findings that are already being addressed at the factory.
Please carry on. 

[Timpert]

Please carry on.

Ok, you asked for it. CR mode testing in this post. Here, I was primarily interested in how quickly the load would react to a voltage change. I could make the load one half of a resistive voltage divider, and it would settle in all current and voltage ranges. So I used a resistor of 16 Ohms, and made a voltage divider with the load also set to 16 Ohms. The load was the bottom resistor. I used the 0.1 Ohms shunt to measure the current through the load. The whole thing was fed with just under 70 Volts, the divider was biased with a good 2 A. Through a capacitor, I injected AC voltage from an audio amplifier to the midpoint of the divider. In this configuration, the amplifier sees a load that it can easily handle, while the load will have a tough job in dealing with the voltage changes.

First test: 50 Hz sine. See picture 1. Pink trace is the AC component of the load voltage (2V/div) while the blue trace is the current (100 mA/div). I think this looks excellent. The slight phase shift between current and voltage is unavoidable because the instrument sets the current based on a previously done voltage measurement, so it will always be a bit behind.

Second test: 400 Hz sine. See picture 2. The current has clearly dropped a bit, and you can actually see the steps in which the load adjusts the current in order to follow the voltage. This happens at about 12 kHz. Although the sine is looking a bit rough due to the discrete time current adjustment, the load is still behaving quite well.

Third test: 400 Hz sawtooth. See picture 3. It still works, although a wiggle at the reversal of dV/dt is visible. I presume this is due to a small capacitor connected at the output or due to some EMI filtering. I like how the load recovers quickly, and it remains stable.

Fourth test: 400 Hz square wave. See picture 4. This will be a tough cookie for it, and the influence of the coupling capacitor is visible on the pink trace. With this kind of signal, I find every outcome where the load remains stable to be good. There is a particularly nasty ring after each edge, caused by parasitic inductance and capacitance, so the load has every reason to go nuts. But it doesn't. It recovers quickly after each edge, and cheerfully starts adjusting current.

That inspired my to make a bode plot (picture 5). A resistive divider with 0.1 (the shunt) and 16 Ohms (the load) gives a response of -44.1 dB. The -3 dB point appears to lie somewhere around 300 Hz. So I think it is safe to conclude that CR mode is usable up to 300 Hz, and shows rather graceful degradation of its performance above that. The phase jump you can see at the end of the measurement (the plot goes to 1000 Hz) is probably due to the scope no longer being able to measure the delay between input and output properly.

So all in all, CR mode appears to work pretty well.   

[Timpert]

I could go on testing forever, but that would go a bit far for "just" a review. So I stop here. Some closing remarks.

Build quality is good, it feels rather solid. Threads of the power terminals are m6. The fan control is worth mentioning: upon power up, the fan is silent. The fan starts running when the internal heatsink heats up. It also starts running immediately when the input current exceeds 6 A, and then it proportionally ramps up with current. So the shunt is kept cool, even when the total dissipation is low. Nice touch!

The user interface has some rough edges. Having to press enter after each change of a numerical field is awkward, because (especially when editing a list or a program) it feels more natural to enter a number and then use the arrows to navigate to the next field. If you don't press enter after typing a value, the value you just typed is lost. Especially entering the IP address has a rather unnatural flow in it: entering 192.168.1.4 didn't work using the dot on the keypad. So it had to be <192><enter><arrow><168><enter><arrow> and so on. But I guess that future firmware releases will also address UI ergonomics.

After all this testing, I decided to keep the load. I hope it is possible to make CV mode stability a little less critical through firmware, and that the UI ergonomics are improved. But apart from that, I'm quite happy with it as it is now.   

[StillTrying]

I keep wasting time looking at this thread because of its bad subject changes.

[Timpert]

I had a play around with constant power mode, and I found something that IMHO should not happen:

So when the current gets too high the load switches off. This could cause some nasty surprises. It would be better when the load would simply remain at its max current and start beeping to signal that the power cannot be maintained.

I found that in most cases when a limit is exceeded, the load is dumped. I'd rather see it that the load tries to stay ON as much as possible, and beepwarns when the setpoint cannot be maintained  due to exceeding some range. This is my suggestion for a firmware update.

[Timpert]

I found a bug in the remote interface.

When I issue the *RST command, the device doesn't only reset the measurement system, it seems to perform a complete factory reset. That includes the TCP/IP settings, which are reverted to use DHCP (I use static IP addresses for my instruments).

A workaround would be to set my router to always give it the right IP address, but VISA doesn't like it when the connection is forcibly closed by the instrument after the *RST command. So right now, *RST cannot be used without breaking program flow.

I am using Pyvisa 1.9.1 and pyvisa-py 0.3.1. Instrument FW version is 1.1.1.19.

[bitseeker]

Yeah, that's a bit too much reset when the instrument's remote control configuration gets wiped out. No more automation.

[alexvg]

I've taken some pictures of my device before changing the output connectors to high current 4mm banana.

[tautech]

Thanks for the pics alexvg. 
Can I ask if it's the 200 or 300W model ?

[nctnico]

@Timpert: what did you use as a source to create the voltage waveforms?

[alexvg]

I've bought the model "SDL1020X-E 150V 30A 200W".

[tautech]

I've bought the model "SDL1020X-E 150V 30A 200W".

Ah, OK.
I wonder if the 300W model has the 4th shunt resistor. 

[Timpert]

I wonder if the 300W model has the 4th shunt resistor.

I'd be quite surprised about that, because the current ranges are identical for all models, and the short circuit resistance spec is the same too at 30 mOhm. Does anyone have a 300W model? The shunts are easily visible when you look through the air inlet in the right side of the instrument, so you can count them without breaking the seal.

@ntnico: I'll draw a schematic somewhere this week. I guess you mean the voltages from the CR test I did?

[nctnico]

Yes. I see now that you used an audio amplifier.

[plep]

Guess this is the "hardware issue"/delay

[flash2b]

I've taken some pictures of my device before changing the output connectors to high current 4mm banana.

I have ordered these as replacement for the original screw cap:




The red one has an 4mm banana female socket. I mainly use the load for small currents, so this is easier for me.

[tautech]

I've taken some pictures of my device before changing the output connectors to high current 4mm banana.

I have ordered these as replacement for the original screw cap:




The red one has an 4mm banana female socket. I mainly use the load for small currents, so this is easier for me.

Nice, what do the look like on the underside ?
Can you still insert a lead with these nuts wound full onto the stud ?

And a link to your source please.
TIA

[aheid]

And a link to your source please.

Yes please! Not elegant that spades or raw cable are the only options for connecting a source.

[flash2b]

I ordered them here: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32778229464.html

You can still insert a 4mm banana plug when they are screwed in completely, but the plug will go in about 80-90%. The original base of the red cap is slightly shorter as the one from the SDL1020, so in order to use them as a binding post a washer needs to be put in between the red cap and the stud. The underside of the red cap is similar as the original one, so Yes there is metal underneath for good contact assuming the washer is used.

[nctnico]

But these are just like the standard binding posts you can buy from Hirschmann (rated up to 35A depending on the model).

[flash2b]

Both Hirschmann and Staubli do not sell M6 binding posts that have a 4mm banana socket inside de plastic cap. The binding posts that Siglent has used are good quality, but for my purpose (low current) the replacement caps are much more handy. I will still use the original caps if I use the load with high current since that has better contact.

[tv84]

Apart from a 0x70 bytes encrypted header, the FW of the SDL is basically a concatenated group of 3 STM32 programs (unencrypted/unobfuscated).

Parsing attached.

[TheDefpom]

I am interested if there is a way to upgrade the X-E version to the X version, I couldn't see anything in the menus of the unit I reviewed as far as licence upgrades though :-(

[tautech]

Defpom teardown and review:

[BillB]

I ordered them here: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32778229464.html

You can still insert a 4mm banana plug when they are screwed in completely, but the plug will go in about 80-90%. The original base of the red cap is slightly shorter as the one from the SDL1020, so in order to use them as a binding post a washer needs to be put in between the red cap and the stud. The underside of the red cap is similar as the original one, so Yes there is metal underneath for good contact assuming the washer is used.

I ordered from eBay for a bit cheaper:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pcs-M6-60mm-40A-Copper-Binding-Posts-for-Power-terminal-4mm-Banana-plug-Probes/142000039431?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649


I just got them and they work well.  I used the spare washers that come with it to keep on the post so I can still use as a standard screw-down binding post.  I'm going to pick up a few extra sets for some other loads.  Thanks for the great idea, flash2b!   
 

[ArthurDent]

There is a possible problem using banana plugs for high current. Most people are going to use the banana leads they have accumulated over time and most of those leads have fairly low current ratings. If they are the cheaper Chinese leads, the ratings may also be grossly exaggerated. I believe Dave did a review of leads and found some of the cheap leads he ordered were actually open as received. Also the compressible springs on some didn’t even break through the oxide layer on the cheap plating so the resistance between the spring and the pin was quite high. You can easily spin these springs when they aren’t plugged in and visualize how much contact area there is between the spring and the pin IF it is making good contact.

I have assembled some leads using high count stranded test wire that will handle higher currents and on the banana plugs have soldered one end of the spring to the center pin to be sure there is good contact. If you look at the photo below of the soldered plug, you will see that I made sure there is a gap left at one end of the spring so when it is compressed, and lengthens, it doesn’t bind. I have used banana leads like this for testing with higher current supplies and electronic loads, but only for short tests. For continuous testing I use #12 or #10 stranded wire and compression lugs and the posts and I wouldn’t trust any banana plug no matter what the claimed rating is. At one place I worked we used what amounted to huge banana plugs rated for 200A so I know there are ways of doing it safely.

Below is a photo of a jack from a B&K Precision 32V/20A bench supply. I got it really cheap because someone had used the hole in the end of the binding post for a banana jack and the high resistance and generated heat melted the post’s plastic mounting hardware. Fortunately the damage was localized to the post so I could repair the unit by buying some of the M6 binding post others have shown. I found these to be of good quality and they do have the 4 mm hole in the end for a banana plug. You can see the dimensions of the binding posts in the photo below. For $7.95 they seem to be a good deal. That being said, I’ll still stick to heavy wire with lugs for any long term testing.     

[BillB]

Just picked up an SDL1020X-E at a price I couldn't pass up.  Quite a bit of capability at this price point.

[ARM]

Hello everybody, is there any news regarding the Easy Load Windows app?
Alternatively do you know an app running on Windows that supports the LXI protocol?
I would like to avoid installing Ubuntu on Win10 just to remote ctrl the load.
Thank you!

[BillB]

It depends on what level of control.  You can actually use EasyScopeX to connect to it to send commands (or a command file) interactively (crude but it works).  PyVISA is available to program in python.

[ARM]

I have just received an official reply from Siglent, stating that they are in the final release testing of the SW, it should be released by the end of October. 

[flash2b]

New firmware on: https://siglentna.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/dc-electronic-load/#sdl1000x-series

Both files are identical so it seems that it is copied twice. Release notes have nothing interesting to tell about the changes. I did not update yet, since I am @ my work.

[tv84]

New firmware on: https://siglentna.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/dc-electronic-load/#sdl1000x-series

Both files are identical so it seems that it is copied twice. Release notes have nothing interesting to tell about the changes. I did not update yet, since I am @ my work.

 

I had already commented this FW in July...

[janekivi]

It is from April

SDL1000X_X-E_1.1.1.19R1.ADS timestamp is 15.04.2019 (2019/4/15)

And pdf:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revision History
Date                  Version              Revision
2019/4/16        1.1.1.19R1         The first software version.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

But software section is empty for now.

[flash2b]

I got excited from the date on the Website just to find out that my SDL already had the same firmware...... 

[flash2b]

Any news on Windows Software aka "EasyLoad" ?

Als the Siglent site, https://www.siglenteu.com/dc-electronic-load/sdl1000x/ mentions "Includes PC software: Supports SCPI, LabView driver" but I am unable to locate these.

[tautech]

Nothing yet 
I keep looking for when it's available too and a couple of times/week.

I'll shoot them mail and see how it's coming along.

[BillB]

On the one hand, I appreciate Siglent bringing the load to market but am a little disappointed that there isn't any control software yet.  On the other hand, many of the PC software applications that accompany test equipment aren't that good (not just Siglent's but many manufacturers don't put much effort into them).  So, I hope they do take their time and release a good quality application.  Actually, the webservers in the scopes are nice - it would be great if all the equipment had that kind of capability.
 

[JxR]

Actually, the webservers in the scopes are nice - it would be great if all the equipment had that kind of capability.

Absolutely agree.  I would really like this to become the standard on newer equipment.  Its disappointing that only a few manufacturers are doing this, and most seem to limit this feature to only their scopes.

[tautech]

Actually, the webservers in the scopes are nice - it would be great if all the equipment had that kind of capability.

Absolutely agree.  I would really like this to become the standard on newer equipment.  Its disappointing that only a few manufacturers are doing this, and most seem to limit this feature to only their scopes.

Not only scopes, Siglent SVA1000X and SSA3000X Plus models also both have inbuilt webservers.

The more complex models with a heap of features need a fast processor which better lends itself to webserver use and low latency.
Recently hendorog and I were given access to a SVA1015X from here in NZ to Ohio where we could remotely control the UI. A bit of latency from the other side of the world but nonetheless controlling an instrument from that distance was pretty cool. 

[mrprecision]

What is your opinion to the Siglent SDL1020X-E vs. Rigol DL3021 topic?
I used until now only Siglent and no Rigol devices. For the electronic load I am not sure what to buy. Has someone arguments? Besides the technical I find the GUI for the Rigol load nice. Also I like the sense Inputs on the front.

[BillB]

What is your opinion to the Siglent SDL1020X-E vs. Rigol DL3021 topic?
I used until now only Siglent and no Rigol devices. For the electronic load I am not sure what to buy. Has someone arguments? Besides the technical I find the GUI for the Rigol load nice. Also I like the sense Inputs on the front.

There are several threads that discuss the DL3021, and a few for the SDL1000X (it's newer, not as many people have it).  Do you have specific requirements?

[mrprecision]

I have already read the threads to both devices. But an anyone tell me the main differences of both devices.

[mrprecision]

I bought now a Rigol DL3021 also if I am a Siglent friend, because:

• Its possible to hack the DL3021 to get a DL3021A
• DL3021A has at least the specs of the Siglent SDL1000X-E
• DL3021A has sense inputs at the front with banana plugs
• DL3021A has a bigger screen and a better GUI
• DL3021A has a Windows Software to control the device

[OoVoO]

Hi all!

I received a device with firmware 1.1.1.21, the SDL1000X cd drive was included in the kit; there, the program EasySDL v0.7 give a link to if I need it because I did not find it on the sites. The program is apparently preliminary, since there are many errors with localization into Russian  .

https://yadi.sk/d/wULP7TxLBhh2Rw

[BillB]

Interesting.  No mention of it on the NA or international English websites either.   

[tautech]

Interesting.  No mention of it on the NA or international English websites either.   

And it's got later FW than what's on websites....  ...I'll go fishing for them both. 

I received a device with firmware 1.1.1.21, the SDL1000X cd drive was included in the kit; there, the program EasySDL v0.7 give a link to if I need it because I did not find it on the sites. The program is apparently preliminary, since there are many errors with localization into Russian  .

https://yadi.sk/d/wULP7TxLBhh2Rw

Download is a 18.6 MB disc image with manuals, datasheet, quickguide and 12 MB EasySDL package and install guide.
It scans clean with Avira and Spybot.
Thanks for uploading it for us. 

[tautech]

A scan through the thread didn't find a mention of the SCPI command set for these yet as from last June it has been available although it wasn't on the CD ISO OoVoO linked. 

https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/user/SDL1000X/SDL1000X_Programming_Guide_V1.0.pdf

[flash2b]

Hope the new firmware pops-up soon 1.19 is only we can download at the moment. Would be nice to see what is changed in 1.21.

@Tautech could you check for us ?

Data's in the ISO are from 30-5-2019, so Siglent wanted to let us wait for almost a year to show EasySDL.

[JxR]

I have been trying to locate something used in the 300W range, but the prices + shipping for most of the stuff I was interested in were not much cheaper than what I just paid.

So I just bought the SDL1020X-E, with free shipping, no tax, and 10% off.  I purchased from some company called CircuitSpecialist:https://www.circuitspecialists.com/.  I've heard them mentioned in YouTube videos, but have never dealt with them before.  Hopefully it will be a smooth experience.  Anyways, they are having a "Cinco de Mayo" sale were everything is 10% off with code: MAY2020.

Looking forward to trying it out, and happy to finally see some proof they are at working on the software they promised.

[tautech]

I purchased from some company called CircuitSpecialist:https://www.circuitspecialists.com/.  I've heard them mentioned in YouTube videos, but have never dealt with them before.  Hopefully it will be a smooth experience.  Anyways, they are having a "Cinco de Mayo" sale were everything is 10% off with code: MAY2020.

Authorised NA partner:
https://siglentna.com/how-to-buy/

I have inquires to head office for the latest FW and SW EasyDSL to be added to websites ASAP and hopefully when my contact returns from leave on Monday the wheels to make it happen will get put in motion....after all we've waited long enough just as flash2b said.

[BillB]

So I just bought the SDL1020X-E, with free shipping, no tax, and 10% off.  I purchased from some company called CircuitSpecialist:https://www.circuitspecialists.com/.  I've heard them mentioned in YouTube videos, but have never dealt with them before.  Hopefully it will be a smooth experience.  Anyways, they are having a "Cinco de Mayo" sale were everything is 10% off with code: MAY2020.

I've purchased many items from Circuit Specialists without a problem. 

[tautech]

New release firmware for SDL1000X loads.

EDIT
PLEASE READ THE NEXT FEW POSTS before firmware installation.

Version V1.1.1.21
515 KB

https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_1.1.1.21_EN.zip
https://www.siglenteu.com/download/9421/

Release notes
1. Add the socket function, the port is 5025
2. Add ‘Short’ button enable function
3. Fix several bugs


LabVIEW driver
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/Upper_computer/Siglent_SDL_Series_Labview.zip

[tubularnut]

Hmmm!?

It went through a 'slave' upgrade process then failed on a Host upgrade .... now what do I do?

[tautech]

Hmmm!?

It went through a 'slave' upgrade process then failed on a Host upgrade .... now what do I do?

(Attachment Link)

Gimme a few minutes and I'll update one I have here..................

[tubularnut]

Well I bit the bullet and power cycled, system came back, but still on 19R1.

Tried again, with same failure.

[tubularnut]

Hmmm!?

It went through a 'slave' upgrade process then failed on a Host upgrade .... now what do I do?

(Attachment Link)

Gimme a few minutes and I'll update one I have here..................

Retried with another (re-formatted and older) flash drive, with only the firmware file on there, and it worked  Now at .21

[tautech]

Hmmm!?

It went through a 'slave' upgrade process then failed on a Host upgrade .... now what do I do?

(Attachment Link)

Gimme a few minutes and I'll update one I have here..................

Retried with another (re-formatted and older) flash drive, with only the firmware file on there, and it worked  Now at .21

My observations:
The upgrade .ADS file is best in the root of the USB drive as with the 1.19 release firmware, folder navigation is problematic and I had 2 freezes ! 
Best if you use a USB stick with an activity LED so to keep an eye on progress.
The system keeps checking the USB stick contents even though you have navigated to the correct ADS upgrade file.
Unless a ADS upgrade file is navigated to, the OK button remains greyed out.....but still the USB activity light remains active.   
After OKing the firmware install, nothing at all happens for some seconds  but finally the update starts and only lasts a short time until the OS then starts the overwrite which takes just a short while too.
For both the upload and install/overwrite progress bars are displayed.
The SDL then self reboots and inspection of the System info reports the 1.21 version. 

We hope 3. Fix several bugs has addressed these firmware update issues.

Update log:
Select update (press OK) .......20s delay before any further activity. >
Upload update 45s >
Overwrite existing FW 20s >
Self reboot.
Total elapsed time ~1.5 minutes.

[tubularnut]

Thanks Tautech,

Confirms my findings to a degree, though I had the file in the root folder on the first disk, there were around 20 other files on there.

The disk it worked on, did have an activity LED, so it was re-assuring to watch, and it was the only file, so no mistaking which one it was

[tautech]

Thanks Tautech,

Confirms my findings to a degree, though I had the file in the root folder on the first disk, there were around 20 other files on there.

The disk it worked on, did have an activity LED, so it was re-assuring to watch, and it was the only file, so no mistaking which one it was

Just in the root normally does the trick but the first drive I used, a USB3.1 16GB was not liked. An older USB2 8GB worked fine.
Added a warning edit to the new FW post made earlier.

Off to see if file navigation and USB stick acceptance is improved.........

[Elasia]

I have one that just has to work for work... think i'll be skipping this one till more guinea pigs hit it

[BillB]

 guinea pig checking in. 

Installed .ads in root of empty 2GB FAT32 USB flash.
Performed upgrade
I turned around and it was over before I checked back.
Successful report at 1.21.

 

Interesting that the release notes dates 1.21 at 5/9/2020 while the file itself is dated 11/29/2019.

[flash2b]

I also updated my SDL1020X using a 2G FAT32 stick with just the ADS in the root. It responded same as Tautech described, slightly quicker. I now have it on 1.21 

[tautech]

Hope the new firmware pops-up soon 1.19 is only we can download at the moment. Would be nice to see what is changed in 1.21.

@Tautech could you check for us ?

Data's in the ISO are from 30-5-2019, so Siglent wanted to let us wait for almost a year to show EasySDL.

Latest word is EasySDL is back with R&D for fixes even though it's been shipped installed on CD's that accompany the product.
However we do how have V7 that OoVoO kindly uploaded for us that we can have a play with and report any obvious fixes required.

[JxR]

Just FYI: New unit came in on firmware 1.19 and no disk/software in the box.  No issues upgrading to 1.21.

[Elasia]

I can confirm the 300W model is exactly the same hardware wise as the 200W

I just ordered a 200W and will be converting it to a 300W as my next project

Further I might later look at seeing what safety factor they are using on the main load resistors and upgrade the fan / increase the wattage beyond 300W but that will most likely be a winter project

[tubularnut]

I can confirm the 300W model is exactly the same hardware wise as the 200W

I just ordered a 200W and will be converting it to a 300W as my next project

Damn! I've already got the 300W 

[TheDefpom]

I applied the 1.1.1.21 firmware update today, went without a hitch, I turned my back for a minute and it was done.

[Elasia]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

New bench layout, had to raise my upper shelf to fit it into a triple stack

[TheDefpom]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

I will be interested in hearing about changing from 200W to 300W, what is involved in that?

[Elasia]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

I will be interested in hearing about changing from 200W to 300W, what is involved in that?

I'm thinking it is most likely similar to converting a SPD3303X-E to a SPD3303X, same main board in both the 200W and 300W versions, even the missing 4th load resistor

[tv84]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

Enjoy!

Code: [Select]

File Header Size: 00000070
00000000 - File Header Checksum: FFFFFA79 [00000004-0000006F] (with only the File Header decrypted)  CKSM OK
00000004 - File Size: 000B6388
0000000C - Product_ID: 700
00000026 - Vendor/Brand: SIGLENT
0000003A - USB Host Controller: ISP1763
---------- Block 1 ------------- STM32 32-bit ARM Cortex -----------
00000070 - Type: 00000002
00000074 - Offset: 0000007C  [0000007C-0000CB03]
00000078 - Size: 0000CA88
0000007C - Vector Table:        (Little Endian - Flash(ROM): 0x08000000 - SRAM: 0x20000000)
0000007C ---        Initial SP value: 20005778
00000080 ---                   Reset: 08000198  (Thumb mode)
00000084 ---                     NMI: 08008F60  (Thumb mode)
00000088 ---              Hard fault: 08003EC0  (Thumb mode)
0000008C --- Memory management fault: 08008F5C  (Thumb mode)
00000090 ---               Bus fault: 08000DA0  (Thumb mode)
00000094 ---             Usage fault: 08009AC0  (Thumb mode)
00000098 ---                   Rsvd1: 00000000
0000009C ---                   Rsvd2: 00000000
000000A0 ---                   Rsvd3: 00000000
000000A4 ---                   Rsvd4: 00000000
000000A8 ---                  SVCall: 0800916E  (Thumb mode)
000000AC ---          Rsvd for Debug: 0800172E  (Thumb mode)
000000B0 ---                   Rsvd5: 00000000
000000B4 ---                  PendSV: 08008F9C  (Thumb mode)
000000B8 ---                 Systick: 08009268  (Thumb mode)
000000BC --- IRQ0 to IRQ80  [000000BC-000001FF]
00000200 --- Start of Reset function code (???) -  should use Loading address=0x08000014 + File offset=0x0000007C in IDA Pro
---------- Block 2 ------------- STM32 32-bit ARM Cortex -----------
0000CB04 - Type: 3E012701
0000CB08 - Offset: 0000CB10  [0000CB10-000B6387]
0000CB0C - Size: 000A9878
0000CB10 - Vector Table:        (Little Endian - Flash(ROM): 0x08000000 - SRAM: 0x20000000)
0000CB10 ---        Initial SP value: 2002CF38
0000CB14 ---                   Reset: 08040450  (Thumb mode)
0000CB18 ---                     NMI: 0804C510  (Thumb mode)
0000CB1C ---              Hard fault: 0804B5B0  (Thumb mode)
0000CB20 --- Memory management fault: 0804C50C  (Thumb mode)
0000CB24 ---               Bus fault: 08044924  (Thumb mode)
0000CB28 ---             Usage fault: 08052F28  (Thumb mode)
0000CB2C ---                   Rsvd1: 00000000
0000CB30 ---                   Rsvd2: 00000000
0000CB34 ---                   Rsvd3: 00000000
0000CB38 ---                   Rsvd4: 00000000
0000CB3C ---                  SVCall: 08040360  (Thumb mode)
0000CB40 ---          Rsvd for Debug: 08044B94  (Thumb mode)
0000CB44 ---                   Rsvd5: 00000000
0000CB48 ---                  PendSV: 080403B4  (Thumb mode)
0000CB4C ---                 Systick: 0804E188  (Thumb mode)
0000CB50 --- IRQ0 to IRQ90  [0000CB50-0000CCBB]
0000CCBC --- Start of Reset function code (???) -  should use Loading address=0x080402A4 + File offset=0x0000CB10 in IDA Pro
  File Processed OK


[Elasia]

<3

[JxR]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

Enjoy!

Well, it isn't what I was hoping it was...because yes I'm crazy enough to put in on a flash drive and see what happens (which was nothing but an error).  So, what is this?

[tv84]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

Enjoy!

Well, it isn't what I was hoping it was...because yes I'm crazy enough to put in on a flash drive and see what happens (which was nothing but an error).  So, what is this?

It's something for Elasia try and see if you get what you were hoping for.

[techneut]

I was thinking about buying a Korad KEL103 load, 300W very cheap 379 Euro but with a horrible UI.
Now that I see that tv84 and Elasia are working theire magic I will wait because the Siglent looks good but at 900 Euro it's out of my price range.

[Elasia]

I was thinking about buying a Korad KEL103 load, 300W very cheap 379 Euro but with a horrible UI.
Now that I see that tv84 and Elasia are working theire magic I will wait because the Siglent looks good but at 900 Euro it's out of my price range.

It will be abit on this one as this is more normal embedded firmware, not till late summer till I start tinkering, although my 24Vx25A power supplies just arrived and have 10 awg due next week so if I need a distraction its there

[OoVoO]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

Enjoy!

We are waiting for the result 

[Elasia]

I looked at this today and found out my stlink device.. is dead.. so much for that lol

[TheDefpom]

I looked at this today and found out my stlink device.. is dead.. so much for that lol

Damn, thats not good.

I have been trying to do a very light loading of a 3.6V lithium cell for the past couple of days (to determine how much juice is left in a memory backup battery I pulled from a Datron 1062 (I replaced it with a new cell), as a result I discovered a small improvement I would like for the loads GUI, that is for it to include decimal values of the battery discharge mAh accumulation, if it is less than 1mAh it does not consider the value (or display it) so if you stop the load and restart it the accumulated (<0) amount is not considered and it starts from 0 again without the prompt to continue the previous test.

Maybe Siglent can add a decimal place or 2 to the accumulated mAh reading so when doing this very low current/low capacity tests it allows you see/keep the results.

Realistically this is right on the limit of what it can measure anyway, draining a cell at 2mA-4mA is a a tough ask when it comes to accuracy anyway as it only has a 1mA resolution, and this probably isn't a common usage case either.

[Elasia]

You would be better served making a dedicated circuit using a shunt resistor to measure voltage drop over and a known load.. and use a high count dmm

And yeah.. only used that one a few times too.. bastards lol, i'll have a new one in a week or so

[JxR]

Recently I've been working on creating python drivers for most of my instruments.  This is the forth I've done so far, and is ~90-95% complete(no bug free promises).  Since I made these for myself I don't expect to provide any more documentation than I already have.  Also, I'm fairly new to python so please keep that in mind. I welcome constructive feedback.

Anyways, if you would like a python way to drive your SDL1000X series from a console, or for use in a more complex script:

https://github.com/JxR-TestMeasure/siglent_sdl1000x

[JxR]

Just adding an example script using the Siglent1020X-E (and Agilent366XX) python library I posted above:
Measure: 200us 1.5A pulse

Code: [Select]

from siglent_sdl1000x import Device as Siglent1000X
from agilent_66321B import Device as Agilent36621B
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

ps = Agilent36621B()
load = Siglent1000X()

# Configure load
# Configure pulse
# a: 50mA, 20ms (low level)
# b: 1.5A, 0.2ms (high level)
load.cc.dyn.set_a_and_b(0.05, 1.5, 0.02, 0.0002)
load.cc.dyn.pulse_mode('CONT')
load.cc.dyn.current_range(5)
load.cc.dyn.voltage_range(36)
load.cc.dyn.set_slew_both(0.5)

# Configure the power supply
ps.ch1.voltage(3.3)
ps.ch1.current(2)
ps.ch1.current_range(3)
# Configure the power supply sampling
ps.log.sample_offset(-10)
ps.log.sample_points(4096)
ps.log.integration_time(0.0000156)
# Configure the power supply trigger
ps.log.trig.source('INT')
ps.log.trig.sense('CURR')
ps.log.trig.current_slope('POS')
ps.log.trig.current_level(0.2)

# Commence measurement
ps.ch1.on()
load.cc.dyn.on()
ps.log.start_meas_sample()

# Turn instruments off
load.cc.off()
ps.ch1.off()

# Plot results
plt.plot(ps.log.log_data['seconds'][0:-1], ps.log.log_data['current'][0:-1])
plt.ylim(0, 1.7)
plt.xlim(0, 0.0005)
plt.xlabel(r'time [s]')
plt.ylabel(r'current [A]')
plt.title('Siglent SDL1020X Dynamic CC Pulse Test')
plt.grid()
plt.show()
plt.figure(figsize=(12, 10))

Result:

[tautech]

Defpom checks the rated capacity of newly acquired rechargeable 9V batteries.........

[alpelectronics]

Hi. Is there any update for hacking 200W version to 300W. Im currently planning to get one 200W version.

[Elasia]

Hi. Is there any update for hacking 200W version to 300W. Im currently planning to get one 200W version.

Life happened, still sitting on the shelf

[tautech]

 
EasyDL software is now available online.
Requires  firmware version of SDL1000X/X-E is '1.1.1.21'

Version 8.5
19 MB
https://siglentna.com/download/18916/
https://www.siglenteu.com/download/9943/

Requires the NIVISA Runtime package for USB and LAN drivers. RTFM.   

Not yet had a chance to test it.....

[marmelade]

So whats the verdict with these loads?

Do they work as advertised or is there anything odd like with the dynamic (miss-) behaviour of the Rigol?

As far as I am arware of, there are no software hacks known to the public - or are there?

[jasonbrent]

My new 200W Load unit just arrived, no time to reprogram it into a 300W but will be looking to do that in the coming weeks

Enjoy!

Code: [Select]


00000200 --- Start of Reset function code (???) -  should use Loading address=0x08000014 + File offset=0x0000007C in IDA Pro
snip...
0000CCBC --- Start of Reset function code (???) -  should use Loading address=0x080402A4 + File offset=0x0000CB10 in IDA Pro
  File Processed OK


Ordered a 200W unit a few moments ago.... perhaps I'll have time to futz with this in the near future.

In the interim, @tv84 -- what did you use to generate the output here? specifically the load/offset guesses for IDA?

-j

[tv84]

In the interim, @tv84 -- what did you use to generate the output here? specifically the load/offset guesses for IDA?

From memory, I think it was educated guessing with a bit of trial and error.

[atimos]

I looked at the firmware for a bit and the device type and power limit can be conveniently set via SCPI:

Code: [Select]

SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID 1
SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG 300

Gives me 4 digits of resolution and a power limit of 300 watts on my SDL1020X-E.

Note that the model string you see in the UI will not be changed by these operations. It is stored separately in the flash and has only cosmetic value for *IDN? and the GUI as far as I can tell and does not affect the functionality at all (there is one place where it is used as a fallback if the numeric product id is unset/0xff, but even if this code path triggered for your unit before doing the above, it won't anymore after the ID has actually been set by the SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID command. I guess this is just a workaround for a past blooper in their manufacturing process. See the attached screenshot for the relevant part of the firmware if you're curious). Still, if you want to change it, you can modify that string as well using another command: SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG SDL1030X (note that this a wholly different command from the one in the above snippet: There is no :ID suffix!)

If you want to experiment with this, I suggest you dump the relevant parts of the config flash so you can revert to the original settings using

Code: [Select]

FLAsh:READ? addr

which reads a single byte from addr. Both addr and the returned value are decimal and addr can range from 0 to 65535. The power limit is stored as a little endian value at offsets 0xee-0xef/238-239 (0x00c8 = 200W for me originally). The sub-model id is stored at 0x124/292 and was 2 for me originally. Note that there seem to be other values than 1 and 2 for that identifier that are handled differently in the firmware; this might be related to other OEM versions, as there is other functionality (such as setting the manufacturer string or changing the boot logo) that seems geared towards whitelabeling these boxes.

I haven't actually measured the performance of the load with these settings, as I'm not entirely certain that the hardware is really fully equivalent between the different versions and I don't want to break this device just yet. If somebody else has voided their warranty anyway and is willing to give this a try, I'd be happy to hear about that. For what it's worth, my Hardware Version is 03-03-020.

EDIT 2021-01-01: Made the wording about the model string more explicit, as it has caused some confusion.

[TheDefpom]

I looked at the firmware for a bit and the device type and power limit can be conveniently set via SCPI:

Code: [Select]

SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID 1
SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG 300

Gives me 4 digits of resolution and a power limit of 300 watts on my SDL1020X-E. Note that the model string will not be changed by this by default (it's stored explicitly in the flash as well and can be changed with SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG).
... my Hardware Version is 03-03-020.

Well I couldn't resist... my 1020X-E is now a 300W unit, with 4 digits of resolution....

The only trouble is now it has forgotten its model name (doesn't show on the info screen, or when getting an IDN?), my unit is hardware version 02-02-020

Originally it returned this: (SN obscured obviously)

Read Operation
Return Count: 56 bytes
Siglent\sTechnologies,SDL1020X-E,SDL1Xxxxxxxxxx,1.1.1.21\n


It now returns this:

Read Operation
Return Count: 47 bytes
Siglent\sTechnologies,\s,SDL1Xxxxxxxxxx,1.1.1.21\n

I haven't figured out how to correct this yet, I have tried sending the "SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG" in various ways, including specifying the model explicitly "SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID SDL1030X" etc. without luck, I'm not at all experienced with SCPI so I'm not even sure if I am doing the command correctly.

[TheDefpom]

Ahh, never mind, I solved it, I sent this to the unit: SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG SDL1030X

It now has the model number listed again, phew.

*IDN? now returns this:
Read Operation
Return Count: 54 bytes
Siglent\sTechnologies,SDL1030X,SDL1Xxxxxxxxxx,1.1.1.21\n

I glanced through the firmware and found the SCPI command list in there, that gave me a clearer picture of what I was supposed to be sending.

There is a nice section starting at 2AF38.

[gussy]

Thanks for the info atimos and Defpom! I have a SDL1020X-E on the way which will hopefully get a similar treatment.

[atimos]

It now has the model number listed again, phew.

Sorry about the scare, I probably shouldn't have mentioned the command to do that at all. I've rewritten the relevant section of the post to hopefully make this more clear to future readers.

Did you manage to give the extended ranges a try yet?

[TheDefpom]

I haven’t tested the 300W capability yet, but I can set the power limit at least.

 I will have to dig out my big 5V 100A power supply and load it up.

The re-worded instruction is much clearer.

And most of all, thanks for sharing the information!

I am tempted to do a video showing it.

[dkggpeters]

Worked like a charm.  Thanks guys.  Hardest part was figuring out SCPI since I had never used it before.

[aroundlsu]

Took me a while to figure out SCPI on Mac OS X. But installed a free trial of Labview, ran NI MAX, and connected the SDL1000 to my Mac via USB. Then I was able to run the SCPI commands and unlocked the 300W setting and 4 digit setting. Thanks everyone!

[besauk]

Just curious as to the voltage reading stability of your unit after the mod to 4 decimal places.  I have a 1020X and even with a rock solid voltage source, there is pretty consistent +/- 5 LSD bouncing around of the reading - effectively negating any benefit of the 4th decimal place.  How is the reading stability of your unit?  Current reading bounces around a bit too, perhaps a little less maybe +/- 2 or 3 LSD.  I would expect that to vary a little more just based on the load doing its job.  My main disappointment with this level of noise in the readings is that I can't easily make accurate internal resistance measurements of batteries without an added external device.

[natman69]

Hi,

any update on the real capability of this instrument at 300W?

[tautech]

Missing from documentation is the isolation spec for SDL1000X/X-E models.
All models now have a new front panel with this clearly displayed.

[oz2cpu]

Hi there,
my 1020X is with the correct firmware
I can telnet to it via its IP and port 5025 (using putty)
but the commands i found in this thread to upgrade it, have no effect
the *IDN? remain the original, and the readout on the system info remain the original..
please help ?

[oz2cpu]

I am refering to post #147
PROBLEM IS SOLVED

it turned out, I needed to do it a few times, and also reboot a few times, then suttently it report back correct upgraded type number
AND it also let me load it 300W
like shown here,
The is no feed back in the SCPI screen, i did the exactly same thing, copy and pasted,
so i could not have spelled wrong,
anyways i am happy, but a little bit worried if I need to use the scpi modes one day, seems like it is not too much alive or responding like my other siglent devices,
this one dont even say hi, when connected, i need to type *IDN? to get an answer,
none of the 4 upgrade commends returned anything.
I also did the trick mentionened in #149, but again, my unit did not repport the correct type number, then a few tried and reboots later,
it seems to work.

thanks to you all again, for sharing this, and supporting it.

[tv84]

No smoke yet?   

Good job to all.

[nez]

I'm looking at a few different entry-level electronic loads, and I was wondering about the measuring speed mentioned in the list of features for the SDL1000X-E series.

"Measuring speed of voltage and current: up to 500 kHz"

Is there somewhere I can find out what exactly this means in practice?

For example:
Is this the straight up sampling rate, and how does it work with logging and waveform trend chart (or connected PC software)?
How many samples (or how much time) can be captured?
Is the rate configurable, or automatically determined somehow depending on settings?


I didn't notice anything regarding this in the datasheet or user manual, but maybe I overlooked it. I also spent a bit of time searching for videos, but didn't see anything touching on this topic.

[tautech]

Yes it is a bit confusing however there are more clues to the performance of these loads in the programming guide and the EasySDL software.
Trend charts can be set to a max of 24 hours and readings recorded only as fast as every second and there's no apparent max file size however using just the instrument a 999s limit is imposed with a 1 us resolution.

I need to become more familiar with these and a few minutes bashing around in EasySDL finds a power of features that seem pretty simple to use however as we are out of stock for the next while can't do any tests.

Have a bash around in the 20 MB EasySDL package however if you do end up getting one of these loads do remember to install NIVISA for the connectivity drivers before attempting to connect the load otherwise your PC OS will install the incorrect ones for sure.
EasySDL SW:
https://int.siglent.com/download/softwares/?CateIdss=12

[tautech]

New firmware for SDL1000X/X-E models:

Version： V1.1.1.21R2
498 KB
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_V1.1.1.21R2_EN.zip

Release notes
1. Fix bug: DHCP turn to be ON state after send *RST command.
2. Some units will crash after run for some time.

[rowifi]

LXI Connectivity

Hey Guys.. I'm thinking of getting one of these but I've never connected anything to ethernet or remote controlled, but would like to do this the the electronic load. So I read about SCPI ( Command set ) VISA ( some api ) and LXI..   
I see LXI specified in other manufacturers models ( Keysight e.g. ) but nowhere can I see LXI mentioned in the Siglent data sheet. Although they do show a video promoting the use of LXI, it doesn't specifically mention these electronic loads.

Do I need LXI? What are the pros and cons? Or, has it got it but not mentioned?

[tv84]

[rowifi]

Interesting.. I read into that, that the Siglent must have LXI by virtue that it has Ether net connectivity and is not a LeCroy device?

[tautech]

LXI Connectivity

Hey Guys.. I'm thinking of getting one of these but I've never connected anything to ethernet or remote controlled, but would like to do this the the electronic load. So I read about SCPI ( Command set ) VISA ( some api ) and LXI..   
I see LXI specified in other manufacturers models ( Keysight e.g. ) but nowhere can I see LXI mentioned in the Siglent data sheet. Although they do show a video promoting the use of LXI, it doesn't specifically mention these electronic loads.

Do I need LXI? What are the pros and cons? Or, has it got it but not mentioned?

Interesting.. I read into that, that the Siglent must have LXI by virtue that it has Ether net connectivity and is not a LeCroy device?

LXI/LAN connectivity can be considered as the same for your needs however if your PC OS is Linux then you might consider member lundmar's excellent LXI Tools application but as yet it's not listed to work with SDL1000X so you may need to work with him to get it up and running:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/open-source-lxi-tools-and-liblxi-v1-0-released-for-gnulinux/

Otherwise remote control is done with either LabVIEW or the Windows EasySDL SW package. (Requires NIVISA Runtime drivers)
I recommend you investigate EasySDL as it is a powerful package.

Yes it is a bit confusing however there are more clues to the performance of these loads in the programming guide and the EasySDL software.
Trend charts can be set to a max of 24 hours and readings recorded only as fast as every second and there's no apparent max file size however using just the instrument a 999s limit is imposed with a 1 us resolution.

I need to become more familiar with these and a few minutes bashing around in EasySDL finds a power of features that seem pretty simple to use however as we are out of stock for the next while can't do any tests.

Have a bash around in the 20 MB EasySDL package however if you do end up getting one of these loads do remember to install NIVISA for the connectivity drivers before attempting to connect the load otherwise your PC OS will install the incorrect ones for sure.
EasySDL SW:
https://int.siglent.com/download/softwares/?CateIdss=12

[szszoke]

If you want to get EasySDL up and running on Linux, you my guide might help.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-easywavex-on-linux-with-wine/

Please write a comment on the post if you were able to get other Siglent apps up and running.

[Timpert]

New firmware for SDL1000X/X-E models:

Version： V1.1.1.21R2
498 KB
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_V1.1.1.21R2_EN.zip

Release notes
1. Fix bug: DHCP turn to be ON state after send *RST command.
2. Some units will crash after run for some time.

I ran into this bug almost two years ago, so I was quite curious about the fix. It turns out there is still a bit of an issue. I can telnet to port 5025 and manually issue the *RST command, and the instrument resets while retaining its IP settings. Yay! But when issuing the *RST command using pyvisa/pyvisa-py, pyvisa craps out. All my other instruments perform a reset just fine using this method, so there is still something not quite right here.

I am currently using five of these loads in a remote controlled setup, so I would love to see this sorted. If I can help I gladly will. 

[tautech]

New firmware for SDL1000X/X-E models:

Version： V1.1.1.21R2
498 KB
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_V1.1.1.21R2_EN.zip

Release notes
1. Fix bug: DHCP turn to be ON state after send *RST command.
2. Some units will crash after run for some time.

I ran into this bug almost two years ago, so I was quite curious about the fix. It turns out there is still a bit of an issue. I can telnet to port 5025 and manually issue the *RST command, and the instrument resets while retaining its IP settings. Yay! But when issuing the *RST command using pyvisa/pyvisa-py, pyvisa craps out. All my other instruments perform a reset just fine using this method, so there is still something not quite right here.

I am currently using five of these loads in a remote controlled setup, so I would love to see this sorted. If I can help I gladly will.

Please PM me some examples of your code/commands to send to Siglent.

[Timpert]

** EDIT ** Things are not always what they appear to be at first, please also read my next post. There is no bug, resetting the instrument works just fine.

This is a very simple piece of Python 3 code to reproduce the error. Pyvisa is the latest version (1.11.3) at the time of writing.

Code: [Select]

import pyvisa as visa
visa_rm = visa.ResourceManager('@py')

eload_ip = '192.168.1.5'
sdl = visa_rm.open_resource('TCPIP::'+eload_ip+'::INSTR')After running this in the console,

Code: [Select]

sdl.query('*IDN?') produces the well-known SDL1000x ID string, and no errors. The instrument can be operated remotely without issue. But after trying

Code: [Select]

sdl.write('*RST') the following error is produced after a brief wait:

Code: [Select]

VisaIOError: VI_ERROR_IO (-1073807298): Could not perform operation because of I/O error.From that point onwards, it is no longer possible to access the instrument until the sdl object is re-created. My guess is that Pyvisa times out waiting for a VXI-11 handshake that never comes, and the instrument is only accessible again after reconnecting.

Next, I tried the following:

Code: [Select]

import pyvisa as visa
visa_rm = visa.ResourceManager('@py')

eload_ip = '192.168.1.5::5025'
sdl = visa_rm.open_resource('TCPIP::'+eload_ip+'::SOCKET')
sdl.write_termination = '\x0A'
sdl.read_termination = '\x0A'This sets up a socket connection instead of a VXI-11 connection to port 5025. The instrument accepts this. With a socket connection I can say

Code: [Select]

sdl.write('*RST')to the instrument, watch it reset itself and continue operating it from a known state. Yay! So with a socket connection, *RST works as it should, but with a VXI connection it doesn't. The bug is thus only half fixed. Luckily, the workaround of using a socket connection is easy. 

[Timpert]

Okay, update, *RST does work with with VXI connection, resetting the instrument it is just slow. I had the visa resource timeout set to one second, but the instrument needs 7 seconds to perform the *RST and become responsive again. So before issuing the *RST command, I set the timeout to 10 seconds and now it also works with a VXI-11 connection. But there is a difference in behavior between VXI and socket connection in Python, which caused me to erroneously believe that the VXI implementation of *RST was still buggy.

When using a socket connection, the "write" function of pyvisa does not block program flow. It just fires whatever into the instrument buffer and carries on because there is no RPC call/handshake thing going on. Any follow-up commands are immediately issued and stored in the instrument buffer, but execution by the instrument may be delayed. So when the visa resource timeout is set to 1 second, this snippet generates a timeout:

Code: [Select]

sdl.write('*RST')
sdl.write(':SOUR:FUNC VOLT')
sdl.write(':SOUR:VOLT:LEV:IMM 10')
print(sdl.query('*IDN?')) With a socket connection it times out on the last line. However, the instrument does enter constant voltage mode at 10 V after 7 seconds following reset. The program just doesn't block at the write operations and only times out at the query because the instrument doesn't respond to queries within seven seconds after reset. With a VXI connection, the snippet times out on the first line because it now does block on the write operations and only continues when a write operation is complete, which after a reset takes 7 seconds. So generally, VXI is safer because program flow only continues when the instrument has carried out the command and is ready to carry out the next one. But it is also slower due to the blocking write operations and RPC calls that the instrument must carry out.

Short version of this story: set the visa resource timeout to 10 seconds and enjoy a good reset.

[tautech]

Good stuff Tim, thanks very much. 
Tech support thanked me which I then pass to you and your later posts have been brought to their attention.
Rob.

[Timpert]

Okay, great! Yeah, I guess that the response time of 7 seconds is a "trap for young players" that got me. I hope that my experience can help other people to avoid this pitfall.

[tautech]

Okay, great! Yeah, I guess that the response time of 7 seconds is a "trap for young players" that got me. I hope that my experience can help other people to avoid this pitfall.

It is my hope 7s can be much reduced !
Siglent will look at their coding and hopefully make some improvements.

[tv84]

In the EEPROM dump of a SDL1020X-E it's visible a siglent.jpg at offset 0x8084 (attached is the extracted raw file) besides the S/N, model, settings, etc... I guess people should be able to flash their logo with this command:

SYSTem:DEVICE:JPEGUG

Following the .JPG, right at offset 0xA6F3, there are these 7 fields:

05 00 00 00
F7 26 00 00
0A 00 00 00
53 44 4C 31 30 32 30 58 2D 45 - "SDL1020X-E"   ( Model )    SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG

06 00 00 00
0D 27 00 00
07 00 00 00
53 69 67 6C 65 6E 74 - "Siglent"    ( Manufacturer)     SYSTem:DEVICE:MANUFTRUG

07 00 00 00
20 27 00 00
01 00 00 00
31 - "1"    ( Language )          SYSTem:DEVICE:LANGUAGEUG

08 00 00 00
2D 27 00 00
06 00 00 00
30 78 31 36 32 31 - "0x1621"    ( USB PID )      SYSTem:DEVICE:PIDUG

09 00 00 00
3F 27 00 00
06 00 00 00
30 78 46 34 45 43 - "0xF4EC"       ( USB VID = "Atten Electronics / Siglent Technologies" )     SYSTem:DEVICE:VIDUG

0A 00 00 00
51 27 00 00
01 00 00 00
32 - "2"     (Model ID)        SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID

15 00 00 00
5E 27 00 00
03 00 00 00
32 30 30 - "200"    ( Max. Power )         SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG

Legend:
Red - field # + field offset
Blue - contents size
Black - field contents

-----------------------------------------------------------

There are 6 different Model IDs:  (the green is the only one that i think is correct. Can anyone test others?)
1 - SDL1020X (4 digits)
2 - SDL1020X-E  (3 digits)
3 - (3 digits)
4 - SDL1030X (4 digits)
5 - SDL1030X-E  (3 digits)
6 - (3 digits)

[Alectricity]

Hi,

i would like to buy an electronic load and try to consider between the SDL-1021X-E and Rigol DL3121. it is important for me, that i can control the load (easily) via linux bash. currently i use lxi-tools (https://lxi-tools.github.io/). The Rigol states to support the LXI protocol. i assume, that the rigol can be controled via lxi-tools therefore.
does anyone here know, if the Siglent SDL1000X series can be controled by lxi-tools? i had a look into the programing manual (https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/user/SDL1000X/SDL1000X_Programming_Guide_V1.0.pdf) and see there SCPI commands. but i don't see any statement about lxi protocol support.

anyone know, if the SDL1021X-E can be used with lxi bash command?

thanks!
Alectricity

[tautech]

Hi,

i would like to buy an electronic load and try to consider between the SDL-1021X-E and Rigol DL3121. it is important for me, that i can control the load (easily) via linux bash. currently i use lxi-tools (https://lxi-tools.github.io/). The Rigol states to support the LXI protocol. i assume, that the rigol can be controled via lxi-tools therefore.
does anyone here know, if the Siglent SDL1000X series can be controled by lxi-tools? i had a look into the programing manual (https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/user/SDL1000X/SDL1000X_Programming_Guide_V1.0.pdf) and see there SCPI commands. but i don't see any statement about lxi protocol support.

anyone know, if the SDL1021X-E can be used with lxi bash command?

thanks!
Alectricity

VXI-11 only is the official word from Siglent.

[DeepLink]

SDL1020X-E bug

FW: 1.1.1.21R2
HW: 03-03-020

While logging to USB drive during battery discharge it crashes, display freezes and I have to recycle power
Battery discharge function is fine without logging

The USB drive is an 8GB FAT32, freshly formattet

Will try some other drives / other functions

Have other users seen this before?

BTW - the data logging is only one parameter, and the logging interval is locked to the display update rate in the trend display
Would have been nice to select a minimun of two parameters and been able to set the logging interval

/Hans

[Rydda]

@DeepLink
I have been logging battery discharge to a 16G Kingston DataTraveller 111 without problems.

SDL 1030XE
FW 1.1.1.21
HW 03-03-020 

[sjm]

Yeah... After some fooling around, I was able to write some nice software for the dc load with Rust:

https://github.com/sjm42/my-hacklab-rs/blob/master/src/bin/load_test.rs

I am hooking a 5W transformer to bridge rectifier + capacitor and then programmatically find which is the load current where output voltage is close enough to 80% of the initial voltage with 10mA load current, aka "almost idle".

The 5W figure was revealed by the test, and it makes sense when looking at the random xformer of roughly child fist size.

The algorithm goes like:

• measure initial voltage with 10mA load
• start with 10mA step
• increase current in steps until voltage drops below 80% of original, using 1.5x larger step each time so that it won't take forever.
• now, inside a loop: step load current towards threshold voltage and calculate number of steps:
• - if more than 1 step was needed to cross the voltage threshold, cut the step size in half.
• stop when the step is less than 10mA, it is close enough now.

Sample output:

https://p.siu.ro/t/urgi5o

When running the test I was observing voltage steps and ripples on a 'scope hooked up.
This was a fun experiment. You can get creative with stuff like this. 

-sjm

[zburmeister]

Hi All, first of sorry for the repeat post but I am new here and wasn't aware of this thread. Anyways...

I have been working with the Siglent SDL 1020X-E Electronic Load for a bit and so far so good.  However, I have not been able to get the analog monitor outputs for current and voltage to work on the rear of the unit.  I have connected both outputs to an oscilloscope yet there is no activity on the lines.  I have also looked extensively through the unit's settings but have not found a configuration to enable/disable the ports.  Perhaps it's a firmware issue, perhaps it's a bad device.  Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!

Here is a link to the user manual.  Items 9 and 10 on page 17 are the two ports I am referring to above. http://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2019/04/SDL1000X_UserManual_UM0801X-E01A.pdf

[doppelgrau]

It's a bit hidden: Utility -> Config -> EXTC -> I_M_ON AND V_M_ON

[zburmeister]

Thanks! I'll give it a shot when I get to work on Monday.  I appreciate your help

[tautech]

It's a bit hidden: Utility -> Config -> EXTC -> I_M_ON AND V_M_ON

Manual:
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/user/SDL1000X/SDL1000X_UserManual_UM0801X-E01A.pdf
Chapter 3 System Utility Function P69 > Set EXTC (External Interface) P81

[Omniata]

Just to add, did this on a SDL1020X-E today and it's worked, unlocked to SDL1030X 

[Bad_Driver]

Elektor Store offers the SDL 1020X-E with 15% off these days. (found on the german web page
while looking for the best offer)

I have the strong gut feeling that I need it …..

…and I bought it.

[RAWebb]

So I've finally given in and ordered an SDL1020X-E from Tequipment.net. Intrigued by the up-thread discussion on altering the functional load capacity and resolution by changing the onboard parameters.

Am I correct that the consensus is that the nameplated 200W and 300W instruments have the same hardware, so dissipating that extra power won't let the magic smoke out?

I did successfully apply the FLIR E4 hack some years back (Thanks, eevblog!) so willing to go where no manufacturer really wants me to go. Don't want to set the bench on fire, though ... would scare the Blessed Cat!

[Omniata]

I believe @Elasia confirmed on page 6/post 3: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/125/

[oz2cpu]

THANKS again TV84 :-)
my latest baby is now also working

[trp806mo]

Here my two cents after buying last week a new SDL-1020X-E not hacked (last firmware 1.1.1.21R2 / HW 03-03-020) as even with the youtube’s reviews it’s very hard to have real figures on the behavior on this model.

Round A: I monitoring
Green : Current probe E3N (BW 100KHz)  -- connexion between the DC load and the power supply
Blue : Imon of DC load
Red : Voltage diff probe DP1007 on my power supply (Am TTI PL155)

Configuration 1 : DYN 100ms 4.9A/50 ms 0.1A// rise :0.010 // Fall 0.020  // Average 2^6

The I monitoring is not the direct waveform of the output current but a digitalization depending of the averaging (menu config)

Configuration 2 : DYN 100ms 4.9A/50 ms 0.1A// rise :0.010 // Fall 0.020  // Average 2^8

The averaging changes a lot the shape of the waveform so that it's oly a trend ("as specified in the user manual")

[trp806mo]

Round B : V monitoring

Blue : V monitor
Red : V on the power supply with voltage probe

Configuration : DYN 100ms 4.9A/50 ms 0.1A// rise :0.010 // Fall 0.020  // Average 2^8
I configure my current limitation at the limits in order to generate some low falling/rising timing on the output voltage on the power supply


The same result as for I monitor : We don’t have the direct analog shape but a poor digitalization of the output depending of the configuration of the averaging and with a lot of delay  same as for the current useless or only in DC but in this case, you can take a DMM …).

[trp806mo]

Round 3 : I Rmt (which handles directly the output ) :
Red : real voltage on power supply
Green : real current with probe
Blue : voltage for managing the Current trough Vrmt

Configuration 1 : 110Hz // 5A // 36V  // Average 2^8 // square input

The Vrmt is digitalized and is not a direct analog voltage reference for the regulation

Configuration 2 : 110Hz // 5A // 36V  // Average 2^8 // sinus input

I “estimate” the BW at around 10 Hz. The averaging configuration doesn’t change the BW
[ Specified attachment is not available ]

[trp806mo]

Round 4 : Rising/ Falling management

Red : real voltage on power supply in AC
Green : real current with probe

Configuration 1 : DYN  // 5A range// 4.9A during 4 ms at 0.5A/µS   //0.1A during 4 ms at 0.5 A/µS  // // Average 2^6

Rising rate: 0.35 A/µs Falling rate 0.22 A/µS, lower than the setpoints and it’s not coming from the power supply

Configuration 2 : DYN  // 30A range// 4.5A during 4 ms at 2.5A/µS   //0.1A during 4 ms at 2.5 A/µS  // // Average 2^6

Rising rate: 0.61 A/µs Falling rate 0.34 A/µS , still lower than the set points but higher than the 5A range configuration
In this configuration the right management of the rate begins around 0.5A/µs for the rising rate (0.360 for 0.4 setpoint) and for the falling rate there is a lot of difference between the setpoint and the real falling rate but you can match the desired value if it’s below of 0.34A/µs in my case by tweaking the setpoint and checking the reality with a scope.

Configuration 3 : CC / set point 5 A / 2 different rate

By pushing the ON/OFF button in  the CC mode, the SDL manages the rate (no bug)

Remarks :
There are two ranges (0.001-0.1) and (0.1-2.5) and you can’t mix them. The range 0.001-0.1 is much more precise: for 0.099A/µs for both rate I have 0.109 and 0.118 which is correct.




For a very low rate we can notice the threshold of the beginning of the regulation (around 0.6A)

[trp806mo]

Round 5 : Overshoot in CC

Red  battery voltage in AC
Green : Current with probe

Configuration 1 : DYN  // 30A range// 12A during 4 ms at 2.5A/µS   //0A during 4 ms at 2.5 A/µS  // Average 2^6 on a LiIon battery

No overshoot. I can’t go higher than 12A (for 16V) as my SDL is not hacked

Configuration 2 : DYN  // 30A range// 1A during 4 ms at 2.5A/µS   //0A during 4 ms at 2.5 A/µS  // Average 2^6 on a LiIon battery

Overshoot of 270 mA for a set point of 1 A.

Configuration 3 : DYN  // 30A range// 0.3A during 4 ms at 2.5A/µS   //0A during 4 ms at 2.5 A/µS  // Average 2^6 on a LiIon battery

In fact, this overshoot is always present but can be hidden in the ripple noise of the regulation. For 0.3A of set point, its value is around 140 mA

Remark :
The overshoot disappears if the lowest setpoint is not 0 but higher than 10 mA for 0.3A or higher than 20mA for 1A for example:


Or (nor) if we modify the rise/falling rate : hereunder 0.01A/µs for 0.3A :

[trp806mo]

Round 6 : Noise/ripple

Green : current probe in AC
Red : voltage probe on the DC load not the battery

DMM is K2000 for only 4KHz of BW while we have 22Khz of noise ripple

Configuration 1 : CC  30A range  /12.5A set point / RIS/FAL : 2.5A/µs / averaging 2^8

Ipp : 390mA  Irms =125 mA

Configuration 2 : CC  30A range /12.5A  set point / RIS/FAL : 0.01A/µs

Now we have 110 Ipp for 22.6 mA rms still for 12.5A. We always notice 22.6Khz of noise ripple frequency

Configuration 3 : CC  30A range /9.9A set point / RIS/FAL : 0.004A/µs

We are in the noise of the probe. With a DMM (Fluke 45 calibrated) we have around 4mA rms of noise ripple

Configuration 4 : CC  30A range / 1A set point  / RIS/FAL : 2.5A/µs
Real : 0.999 A for  16 mArms  of ripple noise on Keithley 2000

Configuration 5 : CC  30A range /1A  set point / RIS/FAL : 0.004 A/µs
Real 0.999 for 2.3 mArms  of ripple noise on Keithley 2000

Configuration 6 : CC  5A range /1A  set point / RIS/FAL : 0.004 A/µs
Real 0.999A Curiously, the ripple noise is higher on the 5A range and the value is around 4.7 mA rms

Configuration 7 : CC  30A range /0.4A  set point / RIS/FAL : 0.004 A/µs
Real : 0.399A for 2.1mA rms of noise ripple On the 5A range the noise is slightly higher at 2.5mA

Configuration 8 : CC  5A range /0.05A  set point / RIS/FAL : 0.004 A/µs
Real : 49.X mA (X not stable ) for 1.9mA of noise

Configuration 9 : CC  5A range / 3A  set point / RIS/FAL : 2.5 A/µs
Real: 2.998 A for 3.001A on SDL with 18mA of noise ripple (limitation du to DMM) hereunder real waveforms on a resistor of around 1 Ohm in yellow and my curent probe in green  :





The noise depends on the range (5/30) , the rise rate, the fall rate and the output current. It can rise to 4/5% of the setpoint  (a Keithley DC load doesn't exceed 5 mArms on the full range)

[trp806mo]

Round 7 : Accuracy of setpoint in CC mode
configuration 30A range / 150V range/ rising/falling at 0.004A/µs / sense not activated

With the above ripple noise, I have no interest to measure the precision, accuracy, linearity and co, so I’m using a DMM (BW of 4KHz in AC [K2000] for 22Khz of noise-ripple) and give you some figures :
For 12A -> read 11.989A on SDL and 11.975 on DMM
For 5A > read 4.995 on SDL and 4.995 on DMM
For 0.2A -> read 0.197 on SDL and 0.198 on DMM

[trp806mo]

Round 8 : Accuracy of set point of V in CV mode

Configuration : /30A range / 36V range/2^14 / sense activated:
No ripple noise , the noise on the graph hereunder is coming from my Picoscope + DP1007
 


For a set point of 30V : I read 30.008 on SDL and 30.006 on DMM ripple 6.8 mVrms (I is 2.5A for information)
For a set point of 25v I read 25.007 on SDL and 25.006 on DMM  ripple : 6.8 mVrms (I = 5A as I put my power supply in current limitation)
For a set point of 5v : I read 5.003 on SDL and 5.003 on DMM ripple 2.3 mVrms (I = 5A as I put my power supply in current limitation)
For a set point of 1.2v : I read 1.202 on SDL and 1.103 on DMM ripple 1.5 mVrms (I = 5A as I put my power supply in current limitation)

remark :
The resolution of 1mA or 1mV for the setpoint is accurate

   

[Bad_Driver]

Here my two cents after buying last week a new SDL-1020X-E not hacked (last firmware 1.1.1.21R2 / HW 03-03-020) as even with the youtube’s reviews it’s very hard to have real figures on the behavior on this model.

Thanks for this work. You put a lot of effort in it. Since I‘m awaiting my SDL for tomorrow and having no experience with other loads - what‘s your conclusion? Is the SDL enough bang for the bucks? Or should I have had spend my money for another one? Please share your perspective with us!

[RAWebb]

Yes, I saw that earlier however it only mentions that the main boards are the same. I'm curious whether anyone with access to both models could say whether, for example, the FETs are the same temperature rating on each or if the fan on the 300W units has a higher rated volumetric flow rate.

[trp806mo]

Is the SDL enough bang for the bucks?

It depends really on your needs and what you are ready to accept or not.

For me, the question is can I found a DC load with a lower price which allows me to manage the output current from a saved waveform or an input with at least 10Khz of bandwidth and which doesn't weigh no less than 10Kg and is 20 years old. Same for the ripple noise, may i find something with, lets say 1% of ripple for current < 5A under 35v.
I don't know so that for the moment, I'm keeping this DC load (in France you have 14 days to return it if you want)
Would I be ready to spend 1K€ and more for a Chroma, Kikusui, TDI , Prodigit, keysight or GW instek to have those functions? right now i can answer no so this C load is an acceptable compromise as i can use it for some other stuff as Li-ion pack qualification.

[Bad_Driver]

Is the SDL enough bang for the bucks?

It depends really on your needs and what you are ready to accept or not.

For me, the question is can I found a DC load with a lower price which allows me to manage the output current from a saved waveform or an input with at least 10Khz of bandwidth and which doesn't weigh no less than 10Kg and is 20 years old. Same for the ripple noise, may i find something with, lets say 1% of ripple for current < 5A under 35v.
I don't know so that for the moment, I'm keeping this DC load (in France you have 14 days to return it if you want)
Would I be ready to spend 1K€ and more for a Chroma, Kikusui, TDI , Prodigit, keysight or GW instek to have those functions? right now i can answer no so this C load is an acceptable compromise as i can use it for some other stuff as Li-ion pack qualification.

Thanks for your answer! I got yesterday my SDL but found not enough time for a deep dive. My main goal
will be PSU and Li-Ion testing.

Upgrading went smooth with some hickups with the LAN connection. At the end PUTTY has done the job.
Same day I got my SPD3303X-E, upgrade went good as well.

So quad thanks to TV84 for my improved SDS2000X, SDG2042, SDL1020X-E, SPD3303X 
I owe you a beer! 

But the SIGLENT software is a nightmare! Look at the perfect matching GUIs attached 
I‘m pretty happy, that most of all SIGLENT device have now a definition in „TESTCONTROLLER“.

Same problem with the hardware front end of my 5 SIGLENT devices. You find any kind of strange ways to enter something - really weird!

[trp806mo]

I didn't understand that you are Siglent fanboys:-DD If you may take some time to check the noise/ripple of your SDL unit, it will be interesting (maximum rate at 2.5A/µs) and highest current possible with your probe.

For the DMM i like the free universal logger interface as i have the same interface for all my DMM (but i didn't check if it's compatible with the Siglent). 

[lundmar]

Hi,

i would like to buy an electronic load and try to consider between the SDL-1021X-E and Rigol DL3121. it is important for me, that i can control the load (easily) via linux bash. currently i use lxi-tools (https://lxi-tools.github.io/). The Rigol states to support the LXI protocol. i assume, that the rigol can be controled via lxi-tools therefore.
does anyone here know, if the Siglent SDL1000X series can be controled by lxi-tools? i had a look into the programing manual (https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/user/SDL1000X/SDL1000X_Programming_Guide_V1.0.pdf) and see there SCPI commands. but i don't see any statement about lxi protocol support.

anyone know, if the SDL1021X-E can be used with lxi bash command?

thanks!
Alectricity

Yes, the SDL1000X should work just fine with lxi-tools for sending SCPI commands via VXI11.
None of Siglents instruments that I know of are LXI certified but most are LXI compatible.

[Bad_Driver]

I didn't understand that you are Siglent fanboys:-DD If you may take some time to check the noise/ripple of your SDL unit, it will be interesting (maximum rate at 2.5A/µs) and highest current possible with your probe.

For the DMM i like the free universal logger interface as i have the same interface for all my DMM (but i didn't check if it's compatible with the Siglent).

To be honest, the "improvement" made only sense for the SDG2042 and the SDS2000X+ but the not yet closed back doors make SIGLENT very interesting for the hobby market and they found a big community during the last years.
The additional randomly jumping last digits for the SDL1020X-E -> 1030X and for the SPD3303X-E -> X are fun, they are nice to see but worthless since they "simulate" a precision the devices do not have. And I don't know if I ever
need the additional 100 W of the SDL since my focus is on the lower end.

Back to your request:
My strongest PSU delivers 18A but is a switching one with a lot of ripple. I got an idea with my bunch of 18650 cells, this way I could avoid any kind of "source noise". But it will take some time.
I built a low noise amplifier (batterie driven) for serious noise measurements of PSU during the last weeks with a BW of 10 Hz ... 100 kHz. With my high end 192 kHz 24 bit audio interface and software I can also get the noise spectrums up to 90 kHz.

[oz2cpu]

SDL1020X-E PROBLEM
i got two units, one with sw V1.1.1.21R2 (works)
and one with V1.1.1.21 (dont work)
problem explained :
power on the unit, CC mode, current set to 500mA, turn load on,
it loads 700mA !!
playing with the current adjustment is how i am able to "cure" this problem, and then it go into corrent current load level,
and it stays there for the rest of my working day, power it down, and up again, I get this problem again.. all the time..

so I figured, maybe this is a known software problem, since my new unit dont act like this,
lets upgrade it :-)
got the file, did the upgrade, it ended with a FAILURE !!
now at power on it say error,
and it reads 0V and it NOT able to load anyting..
basicly i got a bricked unit.. please help ??
see attached pictures, the unit also say HW version ID 00-00-000

edit : added video
youtu.be/C2KpPUQAxL4
and
youtu.be/5J7C0EtM32g

[tv84]

Wouldn't it be better to do an upgrade with no model changes? Just to check it in "official" conditions...

[oz2cpu]

that is a valid point, so i downgraded it to stock 1020X-E and confirmed it was done ok,
then tried software upgrade again, still NOT working..
anyone else dare to try this ??

[oz2cpu]

news : still not able to perform software upgrade, it always end with FAILED
but this time i took the previous version : SDL1000X_X-E_1.1.1.21_EN
and it also said fail, but somehow it managed to reset all errors in the eeprom and adc, so now my unit reboot fine, and works fine,
my sw version is now the original, but my wierd +200mA error seems to be compleetly gone
so this means i have a unit that refuse to perform sw upgrade, it is also a needed feature, so i assume it can still be called defective ?
any of you tried to software upgrade via usb ?
from what version, to what version ?

[tv84]

Repeat the SDL1000X_X-E_1.1.1.21_EN upgrade.

If all goes well then try again SDL1000X_X-E_1.1.1.21R2.

[oz2cpu]

i allready tried a few times, repeating will not solve it..
no one else tried to upgrade their load sw ?
maybe it is a general thing ? the upgrade feature dont work ?

[tautech]

i allready tried a few times, repeating will not solve it..
no one else tried to upgrade their load sw ?
maybe it is a general thing ? the upgrade feature dont work ?

Did one a week ago no problems. Previous > latest.

One needs question your FW source and/or USB stick.
Factory site:
https://int.siglent.com/download/firmwares/?CateIdss=12
Only trusted USB sticks used and only 8GB or less.
Care must be taken there are no OS upgrades of any sort are on the USB stick as if a reboot is done with the USB stick still inserted the instrument will look for OS updates.

Our normal procedure > install FW and when instrument asks for reboot remove USB stick before powering OFF.
For instruments with auto reboot after FW upgrades ensure there is no OS update on the USB stick.

[oz2cpu]

here we go

YAY finally passed sw upgrade..

update: https://youtu.be/_jKpY3x45QYin
this new updated video :
new bug found : the usb stick too fast bug, only on some sticks.
sw upgrading done: file length too long (not a bug, but easy detail to fix)
the good old current 0mA or 200-300 off, bug is back,
and system forget settings bug, also still show up now and then.

and more : it seems like the current bug is clearly worse, the first time i power it on, the longer my unit was powered off,
is it a temperature thing ? or a time thing ?

[oz2cpu]

SOLVED !!

It is a Temperature Thing !! this unit dont like cold
just a tiny bit under normal room temperature, and it fail to read settings, and also fail to write and modify,
This also explains why the firmware update failed on a cold day, and why it worked on a hot day where I have been using the unit a bit first..

I have been putting both units outside, inside, warmed up, recycled power, various test repeat times,
i even made my own intermistic climate chamber :-) to make it 31C, stable and regulated.
it is clearly a temperature thing..
one chip inside one of my loads, works perfectly, all the time, when a bit over room temp hot,
to find out exactly what ic this is.. i need to open the unit, how ever it is new and still under warranty,
just too bad, i love to perforform the research, but maybe it is better to have the unit replaced?
unless they tell me I can open and perform the research for them ??

attached two thermal pictures from this morning, wow only 19 to 20 C in my lab in the early morning, that is a bit cold..
and the unit under test was keept at 31 to 32 C in a nice isolated way,
with a 3D printer heat plate under it, and a sensor and power regulator

[colorado.rob]

Got an early Christmas present today -- the SDL1020X-E arrived and is on the network.

@Tautech -- one request to Siglent: Please add support for the SCreenDumP (SCDP) SCPI command to the SDL1000X. I was rather disappointed to find it missing from the programming guide.

The odd thing is that when I send the command, I get a success code, but then 0 bytes are returned.  I was hoping that, like with the SDM3065X, it might be an undocumented command.

[tautech]

Got an early Christmas present today -- the SDL1020X-E arrived and is on the network.

@Tautech -- one request to Siglent: Please add support for the SCreenDumP (SCDP) SCPI command to the SDL1000X. I was rather disappointed to find it missing from the programming guide.

The odd thing is that when I send the command, I get a success code, but then 0 bytes are returned.  I was hoping that, like with the SDM3065X, it might be an undocumented command.

Requested.

FYI as a result of the great work by Defpom SDL models are now supported by HKJ's great program:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/

[colorado.rob]

A couple of observation on the SDL1020X-E.  The size is perfect for my needs.  It perfectly matches the length of my Aim/TTi MX100TP DC power supply.

The readback voltage as an SDL1020X-E is bang on in the 36V range and off by about 10mV in the 150V range.  I am using a precision voltage reference and an SDM3065X to measure voltage.

Of course I tried to get the added readout precision by updating the model code via SCPI.  However, after doing so, two problems are noticeable.  The first is that the voltage reading is off by 1-2mV in the 36V range and 12-15mV in the 150V range.  Higher precision with less accuracy is not a net gain for me.  The second problem is that the voltage readout is rather noisy -- to the point that the added precision does not provide much useful information.  I am seeing about 500-700uV changes on the voltage readout of the SDL, and noise of 1uV (@10PLC) on the SDM.  The noise in the SDL readout seems to decrease slightly for higher voltages.

Increasing the SDL's averaging setting (Utility|Config|Aver) from the default 9 to 14 reduces the noisy readout to 200-300uV.

Is the noisy readout something that occurs with the X model as well?  Are there any settings that can minimize this beyond increasing the "averaging" setting to 14?  What is the frequency of measurement?  Is there way to convert the averaging setting in the SDL to PLCs.  I didn't see any aperture or PLC settings in the user guide or programming manual.  I understand this is a DC Load and not a DMM, but having similar features to improve resolution and power line noise immunity would be helpful.

I just took a look at the KISS Analog video on the SDL1020X and the last digit of his voltage readouts seems to jump around a bit, if maybe slightly less than mine when set the to default "9" for averaging. I don't know how steady his voltage source is, so it's not possible to make a judgement from that.

Regarding the different voltage reading, is there a different calibration table used for the X vs X-E models?

And to be clear, from my reading of the datasheet, I understand that all of the above is within the specs of the instrument, even for the X model.

[GnomeZA]

I looked at the firmware for a bit and the device type and power limit can be conveniently set via SCPI:

Code: [Select]

SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID 1
SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG 300

Gives me 4 digits of resolution and a power limit of 300 watts on my SDL1020X-E.

Just to add for some newbies, this worked for me on a SDL1020X-E I got last week.

To execute this I connected the load to ethernet, set it to DHCP (or static IP if that is your thing).  Connected to it using telnet (but netcat/etc. will work also) on port 5024 and then pasted those two commands.  Reboot the device and bob's your uncle.

For the experienced guys, this may be obvious but there is shockingly little information online suggesting what and how SCPI works (or at least when I googled).  My day job is software engineer, so when I noticed a post of someone using nc, I realized the protocol was essentially equivalent to telnet.  Most sites wanted me to download apps which didn't support the device and so on.  Super frustrating.

Hopefully above helps future readers out.

[Swake]

Thanks GnomaZA, that is indeed very helpful and interesting information.   

[Johnny B Good]

 I've just ordered an SDL1020X-E ten minutes ago from Telonic Instruments and I'm expecting its delivery tomorrow morning.

[Johnny B Good]

 It turned up at 11am and I've had it running a 197W load for the past 45 minutes (as of 12:14). It all seems to check out ok from a cursory test. It's an expensive way to check out a sub 40 quid 30 volt 10 amp bench power supply, a Longwei LW-K3010D which gratifyingly, displays voltage and current on its 4 digit displays within +0.017% for voltage and +0.255% for amps at the 30 volt mark.

 The voltage readings between the SDL1020X-E and the SDM3065X agree to within 0.05% which, considering that Siglent had used an SDM3065X to calibrate it in the first place, is within specification. Now all I have to do is figure out how to upgrade it to a 1030X-E.  Not unsurprisingly, it's already at the latest FW version (v1.1.1.21R2) which post dates the SDL_FW.bin file by 7 months - is it still safe to use this bin file?

[Johnny B Good]

 I reviewed the relevant posts (circa #147) and tried telneting using PuTTY (ip address plus port 5025 as mentioned by oz2cpu) and successfully connected. I tried the SCPI commands mentioned by atimos

SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID 1
SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG 300

I had to type them into PuTTY's console since pasting wouldn't work for me. I waited for the obligatory ten seconds or so before rechecking the system info page before power cycling it. It rebooted with no signs of this upgrade attempt and subsequent telnet sessions now fail with a PuTTY fatal error pop up message box showing:

"Unable to open connection to http://192.168.0.203: Name or service not known."

Clicking the OK button closes the whole PuTTY session rather than just the error message box and I have to fire it up all over again if I want another go.

 It rather looks as though the latest FW version has closed this SCPI 'backdoor'.

 I may have made an error or else missed the boat on that particular method extolled by atimos. If there is an update on hacking to the SDL1030X-E feature set, perhaps someone can offer me a hint, via a PM if needs be... pretty please? 

[EDIT] O yeah, I forgot to mention that the HW version id in my example still reads as 03.03.020. Also, after setting the LAN address manually, it still shows in my router's device list and passed the ping tests so it's not an IP address issue I'm seeing with PuTTY.

[Momchilo]

I may have made an error or else missed the boat on that particular method extolled by atimos. If there is an update on hacking to the SDL1030X-E feature set, perhaps someone can offer me a hint, via a PM if needs be... pretty please? 

[EDIT] O yeah, I forgot to mention that the HW version id in my example still reads as 03.03.020. Also, after setting the LAN address manually, it still shows in my router's device list and passed the ping tests so it's not an IP address issue I'm seeing with PuTTY.

Do other SCPI commands work?

[mawyatt]

Anyone know if there is a self calibration feature?

Search for Calibration didn't turn up anything.

Best,

[Johnny B Good]

 I can't establish any more telnet sessions to repeat the very first session where I'd sent those first two SCPI commands. I didn't see any responses echoed back but from what I'd read, this wasn't any surprise. At least at that point, I wasn't getting any PuTTY error messages, fatal or otherwise...

 Arghh! It was the http:// prefix that was the problem! 

 I'd just tried running Putty from a winXP VM (host is Linux Mint) and got the windows flavour of that fatal error. When I went to the Linux version and looked at the address I'd stored for an SSH connection to my file server, I noticed it didn't have the http:// prefix, so I edited the saved telnet session I'd created for the SDL, deleting the prefix and voila! no fatal error popup box. I then copied the commands and went to the windows PuTTY which does allow pasting into it, did the same IP address edit and reran those commands (both lines!).

 It seems to have worked as far as raising the max power limit goes but the ID upgrade hasn't altered the model number in system info. However, I'm now seeing 4 decimal place values, apropos of which, if you want to increase the amps units, the quickest way to reach the units digit is to "Go Round The Horn" - click on the right arrow, it wraps back around to the leftmost digit.

 I obviously need to study a bit more before I can change the product ID displayed by system info (or perhaps it isn't worth worrying about?).

[EDIT] Cracked it!  This last hurdle to updating the model number to SDL1030X being overcome thanks to Defpom's contribution.

[Johnny B Good]

 Now that I've upgraded my SDL to the SDL1030X specification, I've been able to run some thermal management tests, the results of which I think will be of some interest, especially to those who may be concerned about the possible reduction in reliability due to the additional 50% increase in heat output.

 I downloaded the datasheet for the Infeon IRFP250N power mosfets used in the SDL1020X and 1030X electronic loads (same hardware) as shown here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2533179/#msg2533179

 (third image)

There are a total of ten 12 devices bolted onto that wind tunnel heatsink to share the 310W maximum (I'm currently running a 308 watt test) meaning just 31W 25.67W dissipation per device. From the datasheet, initially assuming direct contact with the heatsink and a total thermal gradient of 1 deg per watt, junction to heatsink, that gives a delta Tj to heatsink of 31 deg 25.6 deg.

 With a max Tj of 175 deg, that means a heatsink upper temperature limit of 144 deg with no margin for error. However, I noticed the use of some sort of SilPad to isolate the 150 volt max input in that image.

 After some research to get some idea of the thermal resistance of a typical TO247 SilPad, the best I could pin it down to was somewhere around the 0.5 deg/W mark so a better estimate of the delta Tj to heatsink at a 31W 25.67W dissipation is around the 47 38.5 degree mark, conservatively 40 deg. A reasonable heatsink upper temperature limit in this case, allowing for an extra 25 deg safety margin, would seem to be 110 deg C.

 Right now, I'm seeing a reading of 87 deg from a K type probe inserted about an inch and a half into the exhaust vent (room temperature some 23.5 deg (+/- 1 deg). This has been constant over the past 45 minutes so it looks like the devices are running comfortably within their thermal ratings with another 15 to 20 degrees to spare on top of that 25 degree safety margin.

 Presumably, Siglent's over temperature protection has taken the worst case scenario into consideration (eg, the two devices at the exhaust end of that wind tunnel heatsink running some 5 to 10 degrees hotter than the two at the fan end due to the inevitable thermal gradient of such a fan cooled wind tunnel design).

 So far, everything is looking good. I measured the power consumption with the load turned off and it measures 11 to 11.5 watts depending on the actual mains supply voltage (typically 238 to 245 vrms). Starting from cold with no load, the fan is stopped and doesn't kick in immediately unless (at 31v) the current is set to 6A whereupon it runs slowly, adding another watt to the base line consumption.

 As the heatsink temperature rises, the fan slowly builds up speed which shows as a smoothly increasing wattage reading on my trusty MetraWatt analogue wattmeter which peaks about 4.5 watts above the baseline consumption for loads going over the 200W mark. From these observations, it's clear that the hardware had been designed to cope with a maximum of 310 watts to begin with. The reduced 210W maximum of the SDL1020 providing an improved margin of reliability.

 One curious observation is that after the heatsink temperature rise has maxed out the fan speed, it continues running at this speed for about a minute 45 seconds after switching the load off before dropping ever so slightly (less than half a watt reduction - it's the change in note that's most noticeable) and then carries on at this speed until, afaict, the heatsink temperature drops to 36 deg, at which point it shuts off completely.

 I've repeated this test, switching off the load when the fan has only been sped up to about half speed. In this case it simply keeps running at this slower speed before the low temperature threshold is reached again, whereupon it shuts completely off as before.

 As far as I can tell, Siglent's design engineers have put considerable effort into the thermal management of this electronic load (more than Rigol's designers seem to have done at any rate) so I'm quite happy with this upgrade hack (at least I can see where the money went).

[EDIT] Just one remaining amusing factoid. I discovered that the mains filter doesn't have a discharge resistor. Accidentally discovered not as you might have supposed - I noticed, after switching it off at its own mains switch, when transfering to a switched mains extension socket plugged into the MetraWatt in order to monitor its power consumption (slightly less than the SDM3065X's 13W btw), the neon indicator giving a brief flash as I plugged it in. Leaving it switched off, I repeated this test by unplugging it, turning the extension socket switch back off and plugging it back in to repeat this brief neon indicator flash test with varying degrees of brightness with only one test failing to show the flash due to managing to unplug it just at the zero crossing point.

 Be warned, you may discover this lack of a safety discharge resistor in a more painful way.

[Johnny B Good]

 I finally got round to RTFM and spotted this nugget in the protections section (page 68 of the user manual) where it states:
=============================================================
Over-temperature Protection (OTP)

The load will enter OTP if the temperature of internal power devices
exceeds 85°C. If an OTP fault occurs, the load input will be disabled and an
OTP warning message will pop-up. When the temperature of the load
decreases and is below the protection point, press any key on the front panel
of the load to clear the error and exit OTP status.
============================================================

 Presumably the main heatsink temperature.

Since I didn't see any such protection kick in, not even in a later test when my thermocouple registered 89 degrees in the cooled wind tunnel side of the heatsink (the OTP sensor is mounted on the outside next to one those powerFETs where it should be seeing a slightly higher temperature), that suggests a significant error on the part of Siglent's OTP sensor calibration unless they've raised the trip point without updating the manual.

 I'm fairly certain that my TC readings are, if anything, a degree lower than actual and even taking the precaution of reducing the thermal gradient from the hot junction into the thermocouple wires by inserting it an inch or two into the heatsink assembly to minimise the classic rookie error of overlooking the cooling effect from the wires on a TC due to poor thermal contact when trying to measure hot surfaces, I'd expect to be seeing a slightly lower temperature than the OTP sensor sees on the hotter external surface of the heatsink.

 IOW, either Siglent played safe with their initial specification and later decided to revise the OTP sensor trip point another 10 degrees or so higher without updating the manual or else it's simply a calibration error in my particular example.

 Has anyone else pushed their SDL1030X to the limit like this and experienced an OTP event?

[Johnny B Good]

 I've been running another 309.5W "soak test" from this afternoon for the past 6 or 7 hours, starting at an ambient temperature of circa 19*C (about half an hour before the CH kicked in). About an hour ago when the room temperature had topped 24*C, I thought I'd finally reached the OTP upper limit temperature with the TC reading 90*C. The odd thing here being no sign of an OTP warning message pop up. It took another 20 minutes of close scrutiny before the penny finally dropped. It wasn't the SDL that was tripping out but my cheap 'n' cheerful Chinese 30v 10A bench supply's OTP kicking in.

 I hadn't noticed that the voltage, as well as the wattage and current readings had been dropping to zero straight away, so concentrated had I been on the wattage read out. The power would be restored within seconds of each drop out and resume for a minute or so before the next drop out.

 In the meantime I had observed the expected 1 or 2 degree drop back in heatsink temperature which seemed to indicate a gradual reduction of the OTP trip point temperature with successive cycles. Even with this big 'Clue by Four', it took a chance glance at the bench supply to notice not only that the current display was showing a zero reading but also that of its voltage output... Bingo! Penny dropped at last (or that Dave Jones' feeling at the moment of discovery that the 10bits setting on an SDS2000X Plus limits its effective bandwidth to just over 100MHz )

 It had reached a temperature of 90*C by the time the bench supply's protection had started to kick in. By the time I realised the true nature of these drop outs, it was tripping out at just 88*C. I shut off the load and switched it off to stop the fan from over-cooling the heatsink whilst I gave the bench supply a chance to cool itself down before resuming the test run with the PSU's voltage maxed out and the CC setting on the SDL lowered to compensate back to the 309.5W setting I'd been running. I also shifted the bench supply a little to give it a little more breathing space which seems to be holding any further OTP events at bay.

 About an hour into the resumed 'soak test' the temperature has finally reached the 200*F mark (93*C at an ambient of 26*C) with still no OTP response from the SDL itself. I've now turned the radiator stat down and opened my hobby room door to share its warmth with the rest of the house and cool down a degree or so. This has resulted in the heatsink temperature dropping back to 92*C (197/198*F), verifying that it had reached its limiting temperature at an ambient of 26*C.

 So, after all of this soak testing, I'm still none the wiser as to exactly what Siglent have set the OTP temperature trip point to. It's clearly way above their claimed 85*C setting but by how much?

 The only new thing I learnt from this being that my modified LW-K1030D bench supply has a reasonably high OTP trip setting (there's no way I'm going to blindly poke a TC into its guts to get a more precise heatsink temperature reading) that does actually work (despite my adding RC filters to the switching mosfet gates to trade a little switching efficiency for a much needed 12 to 15 dB reduction in conducted and radiated switching noise as per this YT video ), with a seemingly narrow hysteresis window.

 BTW, I was a little more conservative with the cap values - 22nF instead of the 47nF he'd used and I'd used small wire ended 33 ohm resistors. I don't have a thermal imaging camera, only an IR thermometer but I did a before and after full load power consumption test to check I hadn't excessively increased the switching FET's power dissipation - a matter of an additional 2 watts consumption versus the extra 4 or 5 watts I'd seen using the 47nF cap values suggested in that YT video, hence my more conservative choice of 22nF caps.

[HamDancer]

Hi all -

I have a brand new SDL1020X-E "upgraded" to SDL1030X (latest firmware). I'm trying to do a battery discharge test while monitoring with EasySDL. Everything works fine for roughly 29 minutes, then EasySDL stops displaying updated data while the SDL unit keeps going fine. EasySDL hasn't frozen (the GUI still works), it just isn't reading from the device anymore and continues to show the last values it successfully read. This has happened multiple times, always around 29 minutes in. To fix it I have to kill the application and power cycle the SDL. The SDL is hooked up via ethernet using the NI-VISA (20.0).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Rob

[tautech]

Hi all -

I have a brand new SDL1020X-E "upgraded" to SDL1030X (latest firmware). I'm trying to do a battery discharge test while monitoring with EasySDL. Everything works fine for roughly 29 minutes, then EasySDL stops displaying updated data while the SDL unit keeps going fine. EasySDL hasn't frozen (the GUI still works), it just isn't reading from the device anymore and continues to show the last values it successfully read. This has happened multiple times, always around 29 minutes in. To fix it I have to kill the application and power cycle the SDL. The SDL is hooked up via ethernet using the NI-VISA (20.0).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Rob

Yep, these:
Latest firmware is supposed to fix some of these issues so double check the version currently installed and maybe install it again.
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_V1.1.1.21R2_EN.zip

[HamDancer]

Yep, these:
Latest firmware is supposed to fix some of these issues so double check the version currently installed and maybe install it again.
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_V1.1.1.21R2_EN.zip

Thanks for the response. That was the firmware that was already installed, but I went ahead and installed it again. Also I upgraded my NI-VISA to 21.0. Same behavior - the ethernet interface freezes at 29:27. Just to be clear, the SDL unit continues to work and measure, it's just the data stops going to the PC.

Rob

[tautech]

Yep, these:
Latest firmware is supposed to fix some of these issues so double check the version currently installed and maybe install it again.
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Electronic_load/SDL1000X_X-E_V1.1.1.21R2_EN.zip

Thanks for the response. That was the firmware that was already installed, but I went ahead and installed it again. Also I upgraded my NI-VISA to 21.0. Same behavior - the ethernet interface freezes at 29:27. Just to be clear, the SDL unit continues to work and measure, it's just the data stops going to the PC.

Rob

Reported to Siglent.

For now as a workaround HJK's nice program might work for you:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/

Defpom did the SDL description and took some trouble to get it working right however not sure if the same bug occurs at 29 minutes which if it does points to a bug in the SDL itself.

[HamDancer]

Reported to Siglent.

For now as a workaround HJK's nice program might work for you:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/

Defpom did the SDL description and took some trouble to get it working right however not sure if the same bug occurs at 29 minutes which if it does points to a bug in the SDL itself.

Thanks, I'll give it a try and report back. I also tried recording just in plain CC mode (instead of Battery) and had the same thing happen at 29 minutes.

Wherever the problem is, I can't seem to reset the connection without power cycling the SDL. I can't disconnect and reconnect from the PC successfully.

Rob

[HamDancer]

Thanks, I'll give it a try and report back. I also tried recording just in plain CC mode (instead of Battery) and had the same thing happen at 29 minutes.

One last gasp - I tried it with the SDL in idle mode (load off) and EasySDL not recording or showing a graph. It still failed after 29 minutes. Just to make sure it wasn't NI-VISA timing out, I used EasyDMM with my SDM3055 and just let it run for an hour and it had no trouble displaying live data the whole time. I think it's a bug in the SDL. I'm rather surprised no one else has noticed this. Can anyone else with an SDL verify the problem?

Rob

[tubularnut]

Just tried it on a native SDL1030X-E, and it logs to EasySDL well beyond 30 minutes.

EasySDL version is 8.5

Firmware 1.1.21R2

[HamDancer]

Just tried it on a native SDL1030X-E, and it logs to EasySDL well beyond 30 minutes.

EasySDL version is 8.5

Firmware 1.1.21R2

Thanks for trying it out. I connected my mine using PyVisa and encountered the same 29 minute problem. Then I left EasyDMM measuring all night and it worked fine with the SDM3055. I'll keep looking to see if I can see something in my environment that could be causing the problem.

Rob

[HamDancer]

Just tried it on a native SDL1030X-E, and it logs to EasySDL well beyond 30 minutes.

EasySDL version is 8.5

Firmware 1.1.21R2

OK this is really driving me crazy, and I'd love some help figuring out what's going on. If I turn on my SDL1020X-E (upgraded to 1030X-E) with FW 1.1.21R2, I can connect over Ethernet with EasySDL 8.5. If I turn on my SDL1020X-E and leave it on for 30 minutes and then try to connect with EasySDL, I get a message that says something like "It's not the correct resource !". If I reboot the computer nothing changes. If I connect and then let it run for 30 minutes, the connection stops returning data. This happens with EasySDL or with a script written in Python with pyvisa. It doesn't matter what mode the SDL is in or whether it's actually measuring a load. Nothing I do lets me connect or measure after 30 minutes. It's such a perfect time delay it's hard for me to believe this is a hardware problem.

Does anyone else have any success or failure stories?

Thanks!

[HamDancer]

Just tried it on a native SDL1030X-E, and it logs to EasySDL well beyond 30 minutes.

EasySDL version is 8.5

Firmware 1.1.21R2

OK this is really driving me crazy, and I'd love some help figuring out what's going on. If I turn on my SDL1020X-E (upgraded to 1030X-E) with FW 1.1.21R2, I can connect over Ethernet with EasySDL 8.5. If I turn on my SDL1020X-E and leave it on for 30 minutes and then try to connect with EasySDL, I get a message that says something like "It's not the correct resource !". If I reboot the computer nothing changes. If I connect and then let it run for 30 minutes, the connection stops returning data. This happens with EasySDL or with a script written in Python with pyvisa. It doesn't matter what mode the SDL is in or whether it's actually measuring a load. Nothing I do lets me connect or measure after 30 minutes. It's such a perfect time delay it's hard for me to believe this is a hardware problem.

Does anyone else have any success or failure stories?

Thanks!

I believe I have figured it out! The problem has to do with having a static IP address. Here's what I found:

• Configure the SDL to have a dynamic (DHCP) IP address. Power cycle for good measure. The ethernet port will continue to work forever (I recorded data for at least 12 hours).
• Configure the SDL to have a static IP address. Power cycle for good measure. Exactly 30 minutes after boot the ethernet port will cease to function (it won't even respond to pings).
  
  • When in this broken mode, switch the IP address to DHCP and then back to static. Now the port will work forever (until the next power cycle).
  • Just to make sure this wasn't caused by something in my environment, I tried it with three different static IP addresses, one of them being the same IP assigned by DHCP. It didn't matter. The port froze in all cases.

@tautech I think you can update your bug report with these additional details. I'm going to guess people don't see this very often because they don't use static IP addresses.

@tubularnut It would be nice to know if you're using static IP or DHCP to see if this happens across units.

Rob

P.S. On an unrelated note, EasySDL is a really bad piece of software. It's full of bugs. I find it hard to believe it's version "8". I hope they clean it up so it's of similar quality to EasyWaveX or even EasyDMM.

[tubularnut]

I’m using static IP.

[HamDancer]

I’m using static IP.

Grrr...

Well I have no idea what the difference is, then.    It's really consistent for me. I've been experimenting for several days. And all my other Siglent instruments work fine with static IP.

At least if someone else runs into the problem someday maybe this will give them something to try. Thanks for checking.

Rob

[Johnny B Good]

 I'm assuming you have an ethernet switch or two in your LAN. I've had experience of strange network behaviour from time to time with a Netgear 8 port Gbit switch over the past ten years or so on rare occasions, obliging me to power cycle reset it.

 Mind you, I can't recall having to reset it for a long time time now since I recapped it about a year or so back. If a bad cap was the original cause of this trouble, it must have gone bad within the first year or two remaining no worse over the next 6 or 7 years before it suddenly got so bad that I had the bright idea that maybe it was time to look for bad caps before scrapping it and make good use of a cheap component tester I'd only acquired a year or two earlier from Banggood.

 Also, of course, you can do the usual troubleshooting such as swap to different ports and trying other ethernet cables (in this case, different ports rather than substituting other cables).

[HamDancer]

I'm assuming you have an ethernet switch or two in your LAN. I've had experience of strange network behaviour from time to time with a Netgear 8 port Gbit switch over the past ten years or so on rare occasions, obliging me to power cycle reset it.

 Mind you, I can't recall having to reset it for a long time time now since I recapped it about a year or so back. If a bad cap was the original cause of this trouble, it must have gone bad within the first year or two remaining no worse over the next 6 or 7 years before it suddenly got so bad that I had the bright idea that maybe it was time to look for bad caps before scrapping it and make good use of a cheap component tester I'd only acquired a year or two earlier from Banggood.

 Also, of course, you can do the usual troubleshooting such as swap to different ports and trying other ethernet cables (in this case, different ports rather than substituting other cables).

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, the computer and the SDL are directly connected by a Gb switch (the same one that runs my other Siglent instruments). I haven't tried switching out cables or ports because it didn't seem to match the symptoms. The freeze doesn't happen with DHCP, but does happen with a static IP, even when the static IP I choose is the same one previously assigned by DHCP. The choice of static vs. dynamic IP assignment should be transparent to the (dumb, unmanaged) switch. Also if I switch the SDL to DHCP and back to static while it's running, the ethernet starts working again, so that rules out a bad cable. I had originally thought there could be some kind of timeout on my computer - maybe something going into a power saving mode - but all of this rules that out as well. As does the fact my other instruments work fine. The fact that it happens pretty much to the second after 30 minutes after power on is definitely suspicious. My best guess is there's a bug in the SDL firmware where in static IP mode it still sets the same timer it might to renew a DHCP lease, but since it's not using DHCP it corrupts something.

But hey no harm in power cycling my switch and swapping ports. I'll give that a shot.

Rob

[Johnny B Good]

 Well, the first time I experienced problems, it seemed to be a router issue (internet connectivity afaicr) but no amount of soft or hard restarts (both router and even the desktop PC) seemed to help. Power cycling the Gbit switch was the very last thing I tried which eliminated the very weird connectivity issue at a stroke.

 The next time, months later, when my weird network connectivity issue returned, I went straight to power cycling the switch which fixed the problem in seconds. I didn't suffer this weirdness very often, maybe every three to six months or so and whenever it happened, I simply power cycled the switch to restore normality once more.

 Whenever you're trying to pin down weird IP connectivity issues like this, it's always best to "Leave no stone unturned". It may not help in this case but you'll never know until you try it.

[doppelgrau]

Yes, even "dumb" switches can have too much intelligence.
Had once a unmanged switch, where PXE boot didn't work, had somehow filtered some packets in the first seconds after link up...
(TP-Link TL-SG105 switch does not work. The dhcp requests are transmitted, but arp-requests or tftp packets got lost.)

[HamDancer]

Well, the first time I experienced problems, it seemed to be a router issue (internet connectivity afaicr) but no amount of soft or hard restarts (both router and even the desktop PC) seemed to help. Power cycling the Gbit switch was the very last thing I tried which eliminated the very weird connectivity issue at a stroke.

 The next time, months later, when my weird network connectivity issue returned, I went straight to power cycling the switch which fixed the problem in seconds. I didn't suffer this weirdness very often, maybe every three to six months or so and whenever it happened, I simply power cycled the switch to restore normality once more.

 Whenever you're trying to pin down weird IP connectivity issues like this, it's always best to "Leave no stone unturned". It may not help in this case but you'll never know until you try it.

Well I swapped ports with one I know works and power cycled the switch and no change…still frozen after 30 minutes. The fact that I can fix it after it breaks just by switching to DHCP and back to static on the instrument really seems like a firmware bug. But clearly it’s hard to reproduce across units. Also I have three other Siglent instruments on this same switch with static IP and they have no issues.

At least there’s a workaround…it would be nice to get feedback from other people who have tried using the SDL with a static IP so we could see if anyone else experiences the problem.

Rob

[HamDancer]

At least there’s a workaround…it would be nice to get feedback from other people who have tried using the SDL with a static IP so we could see if anyone else experiences the problem.

BTW one nice way to handle this situation is to set up your router to always assign the same IP address to the MAC address of your instrument. This gets you the benefits of a static IP but works around the problem with the SDL (assuming anyone else ever runs across it).

Rob

[tubularnut]

At least there’s a workaround…it would be nice to get feedback from other people who have tried using the SDL with a static IP so we could see if anyone else experiences the problem.

BTW one nice way to handle this situation is to set up your router to always assign the same IP address to the MAC address of your instrument. This gets you the benefits of a static IP but works around the problem with the SDL (assuming anyone else ever runs across it).

Rob

It’s always advised to do this if you are setting static addresses on a device itself, and if you haven’t reduced your DHCP range, as you can potentially get conflicts. I had assumed you had already done this as you seem to imply you always get the same IP address?
But I don’t think this would have been your underlying problem though, unless your DHCP lease time was around 30 minutes to 1 hour. It will still be interesting to see the result.

For me, I have a reduced DHCP range of .100 to .199
I can then use static addresses .99 and below for home devices where I want them fixed, and .200 up for lab devices without having to worry about reserving addresses. Some routers also have a limit on how many addresses you can reserve, but this method gets around that.

[HamDancer]

At least there’s a workaround…it would be nice to get feedback from other people who have tried using the SDL with a static IP so we could see if anyone else experiences the problem.

BTW one nice way to handle this situation is to set up your router to always assign the same IP address to the MAC address of your instrument. This gets you the benefits of a static IP but works around the problem with the SDL (assuming anyone else ever runs across it).

Rob

It’s always advised to do this if you are setting static addresses on a device itself, and if you haven’t reduced your DHCP range, as you can potentially get conflicts. I had assumed you had already done this as you seem to imply you always get the same IP address?
But I don’t think this would have been your underlying problem though, unless your DHCP lease time was around 30 minutes to 1 hour. It will still be interesting to see the result.

For me, I have a reduced DHCP range of .100 to .199
I can then use static addresses .99 and below for home devices where I want them fixed, and .200 up for lab devices without having to worry about reserving addresses. Some routers also have a limit on how many addresses you can reserve, but this method gets around that.

Yes, that's exactly what I do (.100 to .199). I allocate my static addresses below, so I've never needed to do an explicit map in the router before. But my router has allowed me to DHCP-map my SDL's MAC address to an address in my static range, which is even more convenient. This whole thing doesn't make much sense, since the freeze happens when I'm *not* using DHCP. Thus the router's DHCP lease time, etc. can't possibly have any effect. I'm just positing that the SDL has some internal timer with a default value that is doing something unfortunate in the case of booting with a static IP, possibly using uninitialized memory which is why it works on some units and not others. I find it very hard to believe it's something in my environment at this point.

[tubularnut]

Yes, that's exactly what I do (.100 to .199). I allocate my static addresses below, so I've never needed to do an explicit map in the router before. But my router has allowed me to DHCP-map my SDL's MAC address to an address in my static range, which is even more convenient. This whole thing doesn't make much sense, since the freeze happens when I'm *not* using DHCP. Thus the router's DHCP lease time, etc. can't possibly have any effect. I'm just positing that the SDL has some internal timer with a default value that is doing something unfortunate in the case of booting with a static IP, possibly using uninitialized memory which is why it works on some units and not others. I find it very hard to believe it's something in my environment at this point.

Sounds like we have a very similar setup then, which makes it even more of a mystery that STATIC (and DHCP) are ok for me past 30 minutes, and only DHCP works for you??

[kaz911]

Yes, that's exactly what I do (.100 to .199). I allocate my static addresses below, so I've never needed to do an explicit map in the router before. But my router has allowed me to DHCP-map my SDL's MAC address to an address in my static range, which is even more convenient. This whole thing doesn't make much sense, since the freeze happens when I'm *not* using DHCP. Thus the router's DHCP lease time, etc. can't possibly have any effect. I'm just positing that the SDL has some internal timer with a default value that is doing something unfortunate in the case of booting with a static IP, possibly using uninitialized memory which is why it works on some units and not others. I find it very hard to believe it's something in my environment at this point.

sorry to but in - but have you checked if you have a MAC address clash? It is rare- but can happen - and more likely to happen if you have multiple devices from same company - usually of questionable origin..

Check the arp table on your computer as well after it stops - and check if something have changed in your computers arp table.

[HamDancer]

sorry to but in - but have you checked if you have a MAC address clash? It is rare- but can happen - and more likely to happen if you have multiple devices from same company - usually of questionable origin..

Check the arp table on your computer as well after it stops - and check if something have changed in your computers arp table.

Interesting question, but I didn't have the other Siglent instruments turned on at the same time, so this seems unlikely. It also wouldn't explain why it works with DHCP and not with static IP, since the MAC address wouldn't change. The arp timeout on Windows is 15-45 seconds. I know the ethernet port shuts down completely because when I'm pinging it during shutdown it doesn't even respond to arp requests anymore and I start getting "destination unreachable" errors after the arp cache goes stale. But again everything works just fine when DHCP is on - I've been using it for hours today with no problems. Thanks for the suggestions!

[HamDancer]

OK - here's another bug I found in the SDL1030X-E. In List mode, if you select the "CR" function, the list is missing the units on the "Set" line and any number you enter in the list on that line will take effect and modify the waveform displayed, but the number itself won't actually show up in the list, which stays blank. See attached good (CV) and bad (CR) photos.

Maybe someone else can reproduce this one?

Rob

[Coliban]

Was this already mentioned?

Teledyne LeCroy T3EL150303P

https://de.rs-online.com/web/p/elektronische-lasten/2149913?cm_mmc=DE-PPC-DS3A-_-google-_-DSA_DE_DE_Test+and+Measurement_Index-_-Elektronische-Lasten+%7C+Products-_-DYNAMIC+SEARCH+ADS&matchtype=&aud-827186183686:dsa-1189795610816&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoK558en9gIVSOR3Ch2h3gJKEAAYAiAAEgL7kfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[kaz911]

haha - slap the Teledyne Lecroy logo on - and double the price..

[kaz911]

EasySDL bug:

I just got my SDL1000x

Have anyone else noticed the time scale on the EasySDL 8.5 seems to not run in sync with elapsed time?

Picture : Screenshot SDL - I reset the graph just seconds before I started the battery drain test. Test timer is > 1h - graph is at < 50 min.

[JDubU]

Interesting question, but I didn't have the other Siglent instruments turned on at the same time, so this seems unlikely. It also wouldn't explain why it works with DHCP and not with static IP, since the MAC address wouldn't change. The arp timeout on Windows is 15-45 seconds. I know the ethernet port shuts down completely because when I'm pinging it during shutdown it doesn't even respond to arp requests anymore and I start getting "destination unreachable" errors after the arp cache goes stale. But again everything works just fine when DHCP is on - I've been using it for hours today with no problems. Thanks for the suggestions!

As a test, have you tried connecting your computer directly to the Siglent using static IP's on each?  You might need an ethernet crossover cable (or another network switch) in case the Siglent can't do cable auto-polarity.  This would eliminate your network switch, router and other network connected devices from the equation.

[HamDancer]

Interesting question, but I didn't have the other Siglent instruments turned on at the same time, so this seems unlikely. It also wouldn't explain why it works with DHCP and not with static IP, since the MAC address wouldn't change. The arp timeout on Windows is 15-45 seconds. I know the ethernet port shuts down completely because when I'm pinging it during shutdown it doesn't even respond to arp requests anymore and I start getting "destination unreachable" errors after the arp cache goes stale. But again everything works just fine when DHCP is on - I've been using it for hours today with no problems. Thanks for the suggestions!

As a test, have you tried connecting your computer directly to the Siglent using static IP's on each?  You might need an ethernet crossover cable (or another network switch) in case the Siglent can't do cable auto-polarity.  This would eliminate your network switch, router and other network connected devices from the equation.

No...there's a point beyond which I can't believe this is my problem. Not only does my computer and network work perfectly with four other Siglent instruments (and dozens of other devices), but if I touch the IP configuration on the SDL configuration page the ethernet wakes up, and this time doesn't go back to sleep again. That would make no sense if it were a problem with my switch or router. I just don't know why no one else is experiencing the same thing. It really smells like an uninitialized variable in the firmware to me, and I just happen to have a bad value stored there. Currently I have my router set to always assign the same IP address based on the MAC address (and it's the same address I was using as a static IP before), and things work perfectly. That's added evidence it's not my computer, cabling, or switch.

Thanks for the suggestions, though. At some point I'll try my SDL with a completely different environment - different cables, router, switch, computer - just to make sure it has to be the unit.

Rob

[HamDancer]

Here's another bug in the SDL1000. This one could be dangerous to your DUT.

• Go into List mode
• Program several steps with different currents/voltages/powers/resistances
• Change the number of steps to be one fewer, so you don't see the final step you entered
• Turn on the load and trigger the list to start executing
• As expected, the list will cycle from step 1->N and then repeat
• While executing step N, hit the trigger again to pause the List at the end of that step; the display will show that it has stopped on that step
• Hit the trigger to resume the List. Instead of resuming at Step 1, as expected, it actually executes Step N+1, a step that isn't displayed or active. Once Step N+1 is done, it cycles back to Step 1 and continues normally.

If Step N+1 were programmed to be something dangerous, like a high current, it could potentially damaged the DUT.

While I'm at it, a feature request: It would be very nice to have an SCPI command that told you which List step (and Program step) was currently being executed.

@tautech can you forward to Siglent?

Rob

[kerouanton]

Happy owner of a new SDL since yesterday, I found the only Siglent distributor in Switzerland was in my street, less than 100m away from home  .

I've read all this thread as usual with my other siglent devices (I've now got all their zoo puppies except the RF generator and VNA), thanks @tv84 for the useful firmware/scpi info 
I was quite lucky because the SDL height is exactly perfect to insert into my "mobile lab shack" as shown on the second picture.

And obviously I spent some time investingating the capabilities, it's quite nice and fits my current ( ) and future needs: Solar panels, mppt controllers, nimh, lifepo4, powerbanks, power supplies and more. A remarkable test was done with my Powerwerx SS-30DV, able to deliver 25A continuous and 30A surge at 14.1V : I'm quite happy with the SDL. I know there are some bugs documented above, but for now it's not a real issue for my needs.

The only problem I constantly have with Siglent, is their software.

I have the feeling either they outsourced the development to someone different for each device in an external company, or they hired a trainee  . I really would love Siglent to take their customer feedback in account for this, and that they start writing an unified software that could handle all their devices (let's say, like Visa-NI that has a single framework with optional plugins per product), or at least rewrite their applications to be more synthetic and similar in terms of UI.

I wonder if @tautech has already given a feedback to Siglent about this, but on my side I feel that they could miss some customer market share because of the low quality of their software. That's a pity because the hardware is well engineered.

Next time I'll visit my Swiss distributor neighboor, I'll have a talk too about this. (oh, btw it's funny to see that the other brand they sell is Agilent. Not exactly the same price/market (they have 220GHz-1THz Spectrum Analyzers for example. Don't ask for the price...), but that means they didn't reject Siglent as being "low-end chinese devices"

[HamDancer]

The only problem I constantly have with Siglent, is their software.

I have the feeling either they outsourced the development to someone different for each device in an external company, or they hired a trainee  . I really would love Siglent to take their customer feedback in account for this, and that they start writing an unified software that could handle all their devices (let's say, like Visa-NI that has a single framework with optional plugins per product), or at least rewrite their applications to be more synthetic and similar in terms of UI.

I agree with you completely...so much so that I took it upon myself to start writing such a software suite. It currently supports the SDL and SPD. It includes full instrument control (at least everything supported by SCPI), line plots, scatter plots, histograms, and, for the SDL, a detailed battery discharge report. For the SPD it adds presets, voltage and current limits, and easier ways of entering numbers.

I would love to have beta testers. If you (or anyone else) is interested, drop me a PM and we can discuss.

-HamDancer

[arcitech]

Hi gang, first post. (thanks for existing!)

TL;DR increasing the limit >300W seems to work be configurable and functional (but I make no claims about reliability/longevity etc.).

Having found myself testing LiPo packs at a continuous 10C discharge current, I found myself butting up against the 300W limit. For 6s packs (25.2V when topped off), I  was able to maintain this 10C test consistency for 6s packs <1200mAh, but anything larger would surpass the 300W ceiling, if only briefly at the start.

I'm happy to report that the

Code: [Select]

SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG setting happily accepts values above 300W. The unit will, like other changes mentioned here, require a restart before the UI allows inputs above the previous limit. I can also confirm that the unit was able to actually discharge at 420W for a few seconds -- despite a temp/rigged high static pressure discharge fan fitted to heat sink outlet to help the pusher at the other end, I'm keeping my magic smoke.

I'll likely dial my limit back down to ~330W since my present cap on 6s packs @ 10C is 1300mAh. The time above the 300W "standard" limit for my tests will be brief, since voltage drops several volts shortly after load, and I'm only twiddling this knob because I feel comfortable paying for my own mistakes.

Has anyone else already twiddled around on this front? All apologies if this is not news; I've read this thread a few times but haven't carefully studied it...

YMMV, and of course, proceed with caution if you want to try things out for yourself. (caution and... maybe a peltier retrofit)

[tv84]

It seems you're totally on unchartered territory. So, please post any new data and try not to burn the thing.

[arcitech]

My first couple 6s/1300mAh/10C tests w/ a peak of ~328W have gone just fine. It bears mentioning again that time above 300W is brief, as this is a CC load on a battery. (Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but don't want to cause anyone to cook their gear!)

Since the internal fan's ramp up is rather slow, I'll leave any more "drastic" tests for after I've affixed an external fan to the rear (and a thermocouple affixed to the rear of the heatsink). Previous temp measurements indicated an ~80°C ceiling during 300W CP tests. I just happen to have a 60mm Noctua fan showing up tomorrow which should be an appropriate match...

I'll also do my best to dig around and see whether there's any means of accessing a console on the unit (hopefully without cracking it open, as it's only a few days old). As a newcomer to test equipment, but a bit of an old hat in the linux space (w/ a dash of embedded/yocto), I'd like to wield some more established skills on my new collection of "crappy but hackable" Siglent & Rigol gear (e.g. collecting metrics & serving them through grafana). Perhaps a (truly) programmable battery test routine isn't out of reach...

[HKJ]

The only problem I constantly have with Siglent, is their software.

Have you tried TestController? It support a few hundred test instruments including many Siglent models and works on Windows, Linux and Mac.
On this forum: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/
Download: https://lygte-info.dk/project/TestControllerIntro%20UK.html

[arcitech]

Still chugging along fine with the occasional trips north of the 300W line.

Added these doodads for a much more usable experience, if slightly awkward. Unsure where to obtain the flashy PCB banana option I think I've seen once. Wonder if there's room inside for some flush shrouded banana inputs to retrofit in place of the lugs... but doing it up R&S style might be a plan B. I like what defpom did but I'd want a spare pair to keep fresh before I drilled anything.

Haven't seen an M6 threaded nut to 4mm input out there but I've not scoured either...

[tautech]

Haven't seen an M6 threaded nut to 4mm input out there but I've not scoured either...

flash2b showed us some adapters here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2512482/#msg2512482

Then later upgraded to the 4mm banana plug nuts here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2539623/#msg2539623

You can buy these here:
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32778229464.html
They are a 6mm stud so the 4mm banana plug nuts wind straight onto the existing 6mm studs without any mods required. 

[arcitech]

Haven't seen an M6 threaded nut to 4mm input out there but I've not scoured either...

flash2b showed us some adapters here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2512482/#msg2512482

Then later upgraded to the 4mm banana plug nuts here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2539623/#msg2539623

You can buy these here:
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32778229464.html
They are a 6mm stud so the 4mm banana plug nuts wind straight onto the existing 6mm studs without any mods required. 

Thank you, but OTS electrical connectors on Ali Express without any amp rating spec doesn't, to me at least, instil much confidence when working with LiPos on the load.

I do have a short path from the load to a window (screen preemptively yanked!) in case a cell/pack thermal runaway gets underway: lipo in fire blanket out the friggin window onto asphalt. (a sand bucket is too heavy to huck out the window).

The load is also probably too heavy to eject swiftly. As comical as it is to think about, I don't want to have the neighbors see a shattered piece of electronics below. They might think I'm having marital problems. But I am pretty sure a pcb solution solves this that exists, and puts both inputs conveniently on the right edge to be sure inputs aren't blocked.

[Johnny B Good]

 I think you're overthinking the problem. If I was routinely testing LiPo packs, I'd simply keep my pair of 160mm long Knipex cutters handy to chop the wires (one after the other, naturally ) to effect a swift divorce from my precious SDL in order to throw it and the fire blanket into a metal waste bin which will allow me the extra 4 or 5 seconds to tip it safely out of our half landing window from which I can check for the presence of any potential accident victim(s) rather than blindly eject it from a more local but blind sided window.

 My hobby room windows' openings are the top panes making it awkward to safely eject such undesirable flaming objects from, whereas the half landing window opens at the bottom pane with a clear view of what's below making it a much safer option.

 I know there's a small but not insignificant risk of a battery pack fire with LiPos but just how many times a month do you expect to have to chuck a flaming battery pack out of the window?

[arcitech]

I know there's a small but not insignificant risk of a battery pack fire with LiPos but just how many times a month do you expect to have to chuck a flaming battery pack out of the window?

Zero times per month, zero times per life, but I tend to prepare for the unexpected since, way back in my younger years, some oily rags between trash bags, and a half day's time, left only two walls of my childhood home standing. I tend to prepare for the unlikely & unexpected as a result, thankfully w/o being a paranoiac about it (except when caricaturing myself online, of course).

[Johnny B Good]

I know there's a small but not insignificant risk of a battery pack fire with LiPos but just how many times a month do you expect to have to chuck a flaming battery pack out of the window?

Zero times per month, zero times per life, but I tend to prepare for the unexpected since, way back in my younger years, some oily rags between trash bags, and a half day's time, left only two walls of my childhood home standing. I tend to prepare for the unlikely & unexpected as a result, thankfully w/o being a paranoiac about it (except when caricaturing myself online, of course).

 I wasn't deriding you for looking for a "neat and effective swift disconnect" solution to ejecting a burning LiPo pack off the premises. Just suggesting a more pragmatic and equally effective solution between now and finally getting hold of the required parts to eliminate the need to always keep a pair of heavy duty cutters on hand in the event that such a flaming disaster were ever to strike in your lifetime.

 Either way, the key to preventing Sod's Law being invoked (as I'm sure you're already too well aware) is to always be prepared for such surprises (even if it's just keeping a humble pair of cutters on hand to prevent such dramas becoming a total disaster). 

[Bad_Driver]

„Hoping for the best but expecting the worst“ - Jack Reacher. 

[Dirk C.]

Moin,

is there anything else fixed or updated?


2022/9/27   1 .1.1 22    Compatible new EEPROM chip

Dirk

[BillyO]

So I did all the stuff in post #147.  It displays 4 decimal places but will not allow me to set current any finer than 1mA.  Did I miss something?

[TheDefpom]

So I did all the stuff in post #147.  It displays 4 decimal places but will not allow me to set current any finer than 1mA.  Did I miss something?

You cannot set less than 1mA on any of the units, what you get on the X models is the readback resolution to 0.1mA.

[BillyO]

Okay, thank Scott.

[pmendiuk]

Hey all,
Are there any SCPI commands to clear C-Add and the accumulated mAh in Battery test?  I looked through the programming manual and didn't find anything other than reading the value.

[tautech]

Firmware update issues:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl-1030x-e-firmware-upgrade-(usb)-problem/

Seemingly stemming from incompatible USB stick format.

[Self Bias]

I got myself an SDL1020X-E after debating the Rigol DL3021 for a while. The siglent seemed to be much more stable with dynamic loading and generally better in hardware, so I chose that one. With the advice provided here on how to increase resolution and the power limit, and the same going for the Siglent SDS2000X+ that I also own, I think I can give something back.

I was fairly annoyed to see that both the set current and the readback values were off quite a bit. This may have to do with the hardware being X-E instead of X as someone mentioned on here, but the annoying part was that I couldn't find a way

So, I put @tv84's dump into the hex editor and looked around. There is a number of relevant commands to be found which I partly tried:

SYSTem:CALibration:MODE: Can be set to 1 by writing 1 or On. If done while the load is active, it will become inactive, but the On/Off button will stay lit. Resets to 0 after powercycle. I could not observe any changes whether active or not. Can be read with a question mark.
CALCLS:*: Deletes the calibration values. Possible subcommands are VOLTage, CURRent, RESistance, EXTV, MONItor, ALL. Effect becomes visible immediately. The reset is not written to memory though, see below.
CALibration:* Possible subcommands are DATA, EXTV, MONItor, STorage. I played around with DATA a lot to try and see if I can write calibration values, but I couldn't. I tried tuples like 1,1 ; 1,1,1; etc., I tried adding "W" for write - no luck. EXTV I didn't try. MONI crashed the unit a few times. STorage probably stores the temporarily changed calibration values, e.g. after using one of the CALCLS commands - didn't test it.

The following two commands read the calibration values back:
CALibration:CTRL?: Control calibration. In my unit, the response was 0.000668,1561,0.002856,1563,0.000084,794,0.000502,815 .
CALibration:MEAS?: Readback calibration. In my unit, the response was 0.000669,1269,0.002862,1269,0.000084,827,0.000502,786 .
CALibration:RES?: Produces no response.

I tried to interpret these and didn't fully succeed yet. What I found out:
1. A float and a 2-byte unsigned int belong together.
2. The order is as follows: Voltage Low, Voltage High, Current Low, Current High. This corresponds to the 36V/150V and 5A/30A ranges.
3. CTRL is for controlling the target voltage in CV and the load current in CC (and probably CR, CP) modes.
4. MEAS is the readback for the display. In CR and CP modes, this probably affects accuracy as the control loop will likely operate on these, so CTRL and MEAS calibrations work in tandem for those.
5. The firmware might support a hardware loop or some other form of calibration for CR mode, but doesn't expose it or it wasn't fully implemented. Therefore, RES calibration is not available.

I could not get calibration to work using these commands, so I did something else: using @atimos' post about FLASH:READ, I dumped the flash and looked for the values given by CAL:CTRL? and CAL:MEAS?. Success: The entire calibration data is within Offsets 0d-63d. I will use decimal addressing from here on as it's used for the SCPI commands.

I tried to make a memory map, but for that, I need to give those variables a name. And that's where I failed. I'm mostly through calibrating the unit, but it was at least 30% guesswork and modifying variables to observe their effect.
I assume the float is a kind of offset as it tends to shift values in both the low and high end of a range. But at some point it becomes linear. The int value could be a linear correction, but it seems that the offset is neither for all values nor does it define the maximum value. My current guess is that the offset isn't actually a data value (ADC result), but the point within the range at which a specific data value occurs. This means that the linear correction shifts with the offset. I have no mathematical proof and it sounds a bit convoluted, so I hope there is a better explanation. It's also weird that the int changes linearity and the float changes the offset, most systems I've seen and written do the opposite. To make things even more complicated, there seemed to be a squared component in the calibration: With the "right" settings, the measured values were off at the low and high end of a range, but correct in the middle.
The int and float are stored in little endian formats. I can provide a python script to decode the dump directly, I just need to finish that memory map. For those who want to take a look themselves:

CTRL V LOW starts at 0d with four bytes for the float value. At 4d two bytes for the int follow. Then there's two unknown bytes (see below).
CTRL V HIGH starts at 8d.

It seems that the calibration data is grouped by voltage/current rather than MEAS/CTRL, so there's a jump:
MEAS V LOW starts at 16d.
MEAS I LOW starts at 24d.
CTRL I LOW: 32d
CTRL I HIGH: 40d
MEAS I LOW: 48d
MEAS I HIGH: 56d

There are also oddities: between two range calibration values, there is a gap of two bytes. For most ranges those are 00 00, but for one it isn't. Modifying the bytes does not produce any noticeable change.

One big annoyance is that at least in the low current range, the set current is dependent on the Slew Rate. With 0.5 A/us, my set current is now correct to at least 1 mA. with 0.01 A/us, the current is too high by at least 20 mA across the range. I have no idea what technical reason could cause that as I would assume that CC drives the load FETs with a constant voltage generated by a DAC. Does anyone else have that issue?

One big disadvantage of directly writing the calibration values to the memory is that they only come into affect after a restart. So every time you change a value, you need to reboot, making the whole process very tedious. Maybe someone can find a way to reload the calibration data. With a three day old unit, the effect of that is:

[See attachment, I can't seem to get inline pictures to work.]

But don't worry, the startup counter can be reset too. It is a two byte int located at 236d. To reset it, all you need to do is
FLASH:WRITE 236,0
FLASH:WRITE 237,0

To set it to a reasonable value, write something to 236d and zero to 237d.

[Dirk C.]

Firmware update:

2023/3/23    1.1.1.22R1      1. Modify the BUG of the fan false trigger protection function

https://www.siglenteu.com/service-and-support/firmware-software/dc-electronic-load/#sdl1000x-series

Dirk

[mawyatt]

Anyone know if Siglent plans on releasing a Calibration procedure similar to the one for the SDP3303X?

Best,

[pmendiuk]

I have been testing various ACDC power supply modules from Amazon and I had a 12V 600W power supply fail in a spectacular fashion with a 50A combined load.  I had a 25A CC load (300W) with a "upgraded" firmware (1.1.1.21R2) SDL1020X-E and a KP184 set at 25A CC load (300W).  The KP184 didn't flinch and is still functioning normally.  The SDL1020X-E provided no load after the failure so I pulled the metal cover off to take a look.  I didn't see any obvious carnage so I powered the unit back up and it was functioning normally again about 30 minutes later.  I started testing again today and the SDL1020X-E seemed to be fine until I turned on the additional parallel load with the KP184.  The SDL1020X-E load current dropped after ~5 min to about 2mA and there has been no "recovery" as before.  I'm suspecting that the previous power supply failure was likely not a good experience for the load MOSFETs unless someone has some other ideas?

[tautech]

Had a discussion with a customer just a day or 2 back about his load....some lesser known Asian brand that I never noticed but to cut a long story short its negative terminal was mains earth bonded and as such had destroyed some projects he was working on.....put him right off the thing. 

We all need keep our eyes open for such bad design. 

[pmendiuk]

Had a discussion with a customer just a day or 2 back about his load....some lesser known Asian brand that I never noticed but to cut a long story short its negative terminal was mains earth bonded and as such had destroyed some projects he was working on.....put him right off the thing. 

We all need keep our eyes open for such bad design. 

There are no load output earth ground connections in my relatively new KP184, but I have no experience with the older units.

If someone would have asked me which load seemed more robust I would have previously said the SDL1020X-E.  I would like to get the schematic for the SDL1020X-E and see what happened to it.

[Self Bias]

The SDL1020X-E load current dropped after ~5 min to about 2mA and there has been no "recovery" as before.

Did you try turning it off and on again?

No seriously: The SDL performs a self test at boot. I don't have my unit here at the moment, but I think it could be triggered from the System menu as well - though I'm not sure if that actually runs the test or just shows the results.

One of the items tested is "Load", which I would assume are the FETs. Would be interesting to see if that test fails in that state.

[mawyatt]

Request for tautech.

Rob, could you ping Siglent about a user means to calibrate the SDL1000X ?

We've read the post about writing specific cal numbers to specific memory locations, but that seems risky for our case.

Ours is considerably off in Voltage and Current readings relative to our many DMMs.

Just recently we needed to validate a Korad KWL102 (30V/30A) power supply for a client/colleague, the Korad agreed well with our KS34465A or DMM6500, however the SDL load wasn't doing as well which required us to monitor the setup with a pair of DMMs. This is the type of usage that the SDL should be able to handle without the need for additional support equipment where one can rely on the Voltage & Current readings directly from the SDL.

Anyway, a ping to Siglent home base for a SDL User Calibration Routine would be greatly appreciated.

Best, 

[TheDefpom]

Request for tautech.

Rob, could you ping Siglent about a user means to calibrate the SDL1000X ?

We've read the post about writing specific cal numbers to specific memory locations, but that seems risky for our case.

Ours is considerably off in Voltage and Current readings relative to our many DMMs.

Just recently we needed to validate a Korad KWL102 (30V/30A) power supply for a client/colleague, the Korad agreed well with our KS34465A or DMM6500, however the SDL load wasn't doing as well which required us to monitor the setup with a pair of DMMs. This is the type of usage that the SDL should be able to handle without the need for additional support equipment where one can rely on the Voltage & Current readings directly from the SDL.

Anyway, a ping to Siglent home base for a SDL User Calibration Routine would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Did you have the sense connections hooked up (and turned on)? It makes quite a difference.

[mawyatt]

Request for tautech.

Rob, could you ping Siglent about a user means to calibrate the SDL1000X ?

We've read the post about writing specific cal numbers to specific memory locations, but that seems risky for our case.

Ours is considerably off in Voltage and Current readings relative to our many DMMs.

Just recently we needed to validate a Korad KWL102 (30V/30A) power supply for a client/colleague, the Korad agreed well with our KS34465A or DMM6500, however the SDL load wasn't doing as well which required us to monitor the setup with a pair of DMMs. This is the type of usage that the SDL should be able to handle without the need for additional support equipment where one can rely on the Voltage & Current readings directly from the SDL.

Anyway, a ping to Siglent home base for a SDL User Calibration Routine would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Did you have the sense connections hooked up (and turned on)? It makes quite a difference.

Not using external sense connections at moment. We just had a reasonably large error (~10mv) when reading unloaded or lightly loaded (10ma) voltage relative to a pair of DMMs, one sensing source and another sensistng load (SDL) input. Both DMMs agree, the SDL is off.

Current reading is also off with SDL relative to DMMs. The DMMs we use are either KS34465A (have 3), DMM6500, HP34401A or a AG34401A, and sometimes a SDM3065X (which we need to do the cal routine you kindly created, as it's off relative to all the other DMMs which agree very well, including the 2 old 34401A which show remarkable consistency, however we don't have the proper Cal equipment in house). 

Maybe later we'll try with the remote sense, but don't expect this should matter with no load or very light load as little current is flowing and we are using quality #10AWG cables with spade lugs and give plenty of time to thermally stabilize.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.


Edit: For example, just turned things on with SDL and a KS34465A sensing the SDL input directly across the input Knobs, a HP34401A sensing the output (source) of a new KWL102 which is set to 10.000V. The SDL is set to 1000 ohms load and the KS34465A reads 10.00006, the HP reads 10.00007V and the SDL reads 10.0066 to 10.0100 bouncing around a lot, unloaded similar result with SDL significant last two digits bouncing. Output of KWL102 is really clean for a switcher, however we get similar result using a SDP3303X.


Best,

[tautech]

Request for tautech.

Rob, could you ping Siglent about a user means to calibrate the SDL1000X ?

We've read the post about writing specific cal numbers to specific memory locations, but that seems risky for our case.

Ours is considerably off in Voltage and Current readings relative to our many DMMs.

Just recently we needed to validate a Korad KWL102 (30V/30A) power supply for a client/colleague, the Korad agreed well with our KS34465A or DMM6500, however the SDL load wasn't doing as well which required us to monitor the setup with a pair of DMMs. This is the type of usage that the SDL should be able to handle without the need for additional support equipment where one can rely on the Voltage & Current readings directly from the SDL.

Anyway, a ping to Siglent home base for a SDL User Calibration Routine would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Did you notice there's a new Service manual ?
https://int.siglent.com/u_file/download/23_04_12/SDL1000X%20Series%20Service%20Manual_E01B.pdf

While it does not include adjustment procedures there is a section for performance validation where it could be useful to have some data from your unit to forward to the engineers and also check if your unit still meets datasheet spec. See P15

Should you need forward results/tables slip them to me by email please Mike.

[mawyatt]

Did you notice there's a new Service manual ?
https://int.siglent.com/u_file/download/23_04_12/SDL1000X%20Series%20Service%20Manual_E01B.pdf

While it does not include adjustment procedures there is a section for performance validation where it could be useful to have some data from your unit to forward to the engineers and also check if your unit still meets datasheet spec. See P15

Should you need forward results/tables slip them to me by email please Mike.

No didn't know about the Service Manual, thanks we'll take a look.

Best,

[Self Bias]

Using the Sense input made a good difference for me too. Also I wouldn't use any setting but 2^14 for averaging.
On my unit, I have crimped fork connectors to the sense wires and connect them directly to the input posts for normal use. This already eliminates some error and seemed to make the reading a little more stable.

[Detlev]

I just measured my SDL1030X, the values look good here. Picture 1 with no load and picture 2 with 1A load. I can live with these deviations quite well. The SDL could be better at ampere.

A possibility for calibration would still be very good.

Have a nice day
Detlev

[mawyatt]

Detlev,

That's better than what we are seeing with our SDL1000X.

BTW do you see the last couple digits bouncing around on the 150V range, even with 2^14 averaging we still see this.

Thanks for showing

Best,

[mawyatt]

Using the Sense input made a good difference for me too. Also I wouldn't use any setting but 2^14 for averaging.
On my unit, I have crimped fork connectors to the sense wires and connect them directly to the input posts for normal use. This already eliminates some error and seemed to make the reading a little more stable.

That's a good idea with the sense line crimped with the heavy current cable if that's what you are doing, good idea either way. We have some heavy 10AWG & 12AWG flex cable on order for making up some 30A cables for upcoming testing and may make up a pair with the sense lines crimped with the lug. This should effectively move the supply or load "reference terminals" to the cable lug end whichever way it's connected, and not have to deal with two lugs on one terminal which is often a problem with some terminals.

Best,

[TopQuark]

Have never been really happy with binding posts on DC loads, when virtually everyone uses banana plugs anyways. I was tired of the custom adapter cables I DIYed dangling around, and I wanted something a bit beefier than the PCB adapter boards out there (e.g. https://www.tindie.com/products/labshack/dc-electronic-load-banana-plug-adapter-pcb-only/)

I ended up cutting a couple of parts out of 1mm thick solid copper sheets, and soldered 4mm safety banana jacks onto it. I did have to snip away the lower right rubber bumper to have it fit properly, but the binding posts extends beyond the bumper, so it wasn't going to do anything anyways. 

I quite like this little accessory, it is quite solid and resistance should be as low as it gets. There is a possibility the binding post may come loose and the copper parts will short out, but I have wrenched hard on the binding post with a pair of Knipex Cobra, think I should be good.

[tautech]

Early in this thread a member found binding post caps that take banana plugs.
First pics here and a couple posts later a link to where he got them from on Aliexpress.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2539641/#msg2539641

[TopQuark]

Early in this thread a member found binding post caps that take banana plugs.
First pics here and a couple posts later a link to where he got them from on Aliexpress.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg2539641/#msg2539641

That looks nice, bit I still prefer to have safety jacks that take shrouded plugs, especially when the other side of the cable is hooked up to a power supply under test, which may or may not take accidental shorts very well. 

[Mortymore]

No...there's a point beyond which I can't believe this is my problem. Not only does my computer and network work perfectly with four other Siglent instruments (and dozens of other devices), but if I touch the IP configuration on the SDL configuration page the ethernet wakes up, and this time doesn't go back to sleep again. That would make no sense if it were a problem with my switch or router. I just don't know why no one else is experiencing the same thing. It really smells like an uninitialized variable in the firmware to me, and I just happen to have a bad value stored there. Currently I have my router set to always assign the same IP address based on the MAC address (and it's the same address I was using as a static IP before), and things work perfectly. That's added evidence it's not my computer, cabling, or switch.

Thanks for the suggestions, though. At some point I'll try my SDL with a completely different environment - different cables, router, switch, computer - just to make sure it has to be the unit.

Rob

I recently bought a SDL1020X-E and configured it with static IP, as are my other Lab devices with LAN connection, and none had issues. But when using for the first time, EasyDSL stopped logging after 30 minutes. Then I recall have read something about it and revisited this thread.
Now all devices have IP reserved by MAC address in the router, and are DHCP enabled, and everything seems to work fine.

I agree that there must be some issue with the ethernet connection on the SDL. But in this case it can be overcome. 
Thanks for the tips.

NOTE: As mentioned before, the trend time in the EasySDL is wrong and Siglent should release a new software version.

[tautech]

Banana lead capable input terminals were mentioned in some other thread so followed an old link in this thread to find they are still readily available:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32778229464.html

[Mortymore]

I have IKEA shelves (BERGSHULT / GRANHULT ) over my workbench and they are 30cm deep and that's too short for the SLD1000X, so I made an extended support with an MDF board.

For now, I've installed a pair of banana terminals for sensing wires that run from de SDL rear terminals. The next thing to do when I have the time and the material needed, is to add below the display a pair of BNC connectors for I and V monitoring, to this connections be also easily available at the front.

[Mortymore]

Bought some silicon wire 12AWG and 18AWG, 4mm banana plugs, M6 spade terminals, and alligator clips to make a proper cable with sensor wires, mainly to test 12v Lead Acid batteries, 5Ah to 20Ah or so.

[Mortymore]

Second version of the shelf for the SDL.
Added 2 BNC connectors for Current and Voltage monitoring.

[Mortymore]

Making a Banana Jack Adapter for Siglent Electronic Loads
by Clough42

[colorado.rob]

Waste of time. These are inexpensive and work great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R2KJ88S?th=1

[mawyatt]

These high current spade lugs kinda work, we've used them for up to ~30 amps pulsed. Sure wish Siglent had proper banana jacks on the front, maybe the type that we've seen that are in the center of the high current terminals.

Best,

[mawyatt]

These high current spade lugs kinda work, we've used them for up to ~30 amps pulsed. Sure wish Siglent had proper banana jacks on the front, maybe the type that we've seen that are in the center of the high current terminals.

Best,

[tv84]

Second version of the shelf for the SDL.
Added 2 BNC connectors for Current and Voltage monitoring.

That's not off-the-shelf, that's in-the-shelf!  You have to show that to IKEA. 

[mawyatt]

Closer look.

Best,

[Martin72]

Hi folks,

I must admit that I´m too lazy to read the whole thread now...
My test equipment is missing two things, a SA and a electronic load.
Short question:

https://www.batronix.com/versand/last/SDL1020X-E.html

Recommendable? any issues/traps ?

[colorado.rob]

Hi folks,

I must admit that I´m too lazy to read the whole thread now...
My test equipment is missing two things, a SA and a electronic load.
Short question:

https://www.batronix.com/versand/last/SDL1020X-E.html

Recommendable? any issues/traps ?

Do you have any specific needs for an electronic load? Would you be better off with a four quadrant device (SMU)?

[Martin72]

Hi,

No, a four quadrant one is not necessary.

[mawyatt]

The Siglent we have works fine, no complaints, other than front terminals. Like most Siglent gear, easy to augment with the kind help of folks here

Disclaimer this is the only Electronic Load we've ever used or owned.

However, it has been very valuable and earned it's keep on a number of projects including the one we are presently working, like observing the Over-Current and Over-Load current trip points of 10 and 15 amps respectively, an emulating various electro-mechanical devices, like a 30 amp DC motor load.

Also, handy for doing self-calibration/verification of lab power supplies.

Best,

[Martin72]

The Siglent we have works fine, no complaints, other than front terminals.

This is also a bit of a mystery to me, but siglent is not alone in this, many have these actually impractical connectors.
At work we have "ancient" DC loads from Zentro, which have reasonable connections.

[Mortymore]

I bought mine some 3 months ago, and have not yet used all the functions.

Besides using it to calibrate my PSU after turned the SDP3303X-E into a non E model, I tested some small power DC-DC converters and other minor thing.
I've been using it mostly to test UPS batteries, since we got an assorted of brands, and they are not all the same. This testes could take a long time, depending on the test conditions chosen. It would be great if the SDL could display the Internal Resistance of the battery.

I use EasySDL to plot a trend chart of the voltage and record to csv file. There's an issue with the trend chart time, that is halved, meaning, if the plot has taken 10 minutes, it's 20 in reality.

Only this weekend my SDL1020X-E was turned into an SDL1030X. I don't do hacks right away. I prefer to give some time to see if everything is Ok and allow some "burn-in" before an upgrade. Checking current and voltage against the 5.5digit DMM, the load seems accurate, though the last 1 or sometimes 2 digits, tend to be jumpy.
The EasySDL shows the 4 decimal points, even with the E model.

I did the hack connecting the SDL through USB, and using NI MAX, sending only 3 commands as suggested by atimos

Go from 3 to 4 decimal places: SDL1020X-E --> SDL1020X
SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID 1
(EDIT: actually I used "ID 4" since from the atimos diagram and TV84 info, I believe 4 is for the SDL1030X, that was the goal)

Go from 200W to 300W: SDL1020 --> SDL1030
SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG 300

Change model name: SDL1030X
SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG SDL1030X

PS: Unfortunately Siglent didn't extend the 10% off (until the end of this month) to the SDL, but if bought from Welectron, you may try to take 5% off with Marco Reps code: marcoreps5 (5% off Brymen, Siglent)

[nctnico]

Hi folks,

I must admit that I´m too lazy to read the whole thread now...
My test equipment is missing two things, a SA and a electronic load.
Short question:

https://www.batronix.com/versand/last/SDL1020X-E.html

Recommendable? any issues/traps ?

From page 3 it looks like this Siglent load has a similar mains ripple issue like the Korad DC load I got recently.

[Mortymore]

It would be interesting to replicate today, at least some of the tests Timpert made 4 years ago to see what the hardware and software revisions and updates had solved, or not.

[tautech]

It would be interesting to replicate today, at least some of the tests Timpert made 4 years ago to see what the hardware and software revisions and updates had solved, or not.

HW changes are never disclosed.

[Mortymore]

My observation

It would be interesting to replicate today, at least some of the tests Timpert made 4 years ago to see what the hardware and software revisions and updates had solved, or not.

was in the sequence of what nctnico said about the SDL having ripple issues according to what was written in page 3 of this thread back in 2019
 

Hi folks,

I must admit that I´m too lazy to read the whole thread now...
My test equipment is missing two things, a SA and a electronic load.
Short question:

https://www.batronix.com/versand/last/SDL1020X-E.html

Recommendable? any issues/traps ?

From page 3 it looks like this Siglent load has a similar mains ripple issue like the Korad DC load I got recently.

I realise now that I should have inserted quotations in my previous message to make this clear

I was not expecting that Siglent reveals anything, but instead with some tests, the SDL reveals itself, if some of the "not so good" things reported by Timpert back then, as the ripple issues, was solved or not, from (updated) tests and not from what Siglent may or may not state it was done/solved.

I appreciate so much when a user does this sort of testes, as Timpert did, since it's a great opportunity to learn more, be wiser about to what to expect from a device, and for sure this will show to the "brand" (Siglent in this case) that the users are aware of some issues that a product may have, and working in benefit of both, improve the product if needed.

[Johnny B Good]

Banana lead capable input terminals were mentioned in some other thread so followed an old link in this thread to find they are still readily available:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32778229464.html

 That's not a bad price if you actually need two pairs of red/black connectors but I only needed one pair.

 I've just ordered a red and a black 6mm to 4mm banana plug binding post adapter from here,
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005474135340.html

  for a total vat and shipping to the UK inclusive price of £6.63

I'm in the middle of my mark III GPSDO project and have a bad case of "AJ Rimmeritus" (Red Dwarf reference) and my presence here is by way of distraction therapy, hence this belated alternative suggestion (Ebay no longer list these items).

 However, I'd still like to know whether anyone has ever managed to activate the OTP protection on their 'hacked to 300 (or higher) watt SDL1000X-E loads. I never managed to do so, even when I pushed the hotter (monitored) end of the heatsink way past the stated 85 deg C limit to some 93 deg C or so (200 deg F).

 For some reason, I'd assumed a total of just ten IRF250p devices when originally calculating the thermal margin per device. Teardown movies clearly show a total of twelve meaning some 25 watts per device for a 300W loading. The thermal specs for the IRF250p indicate a thermal gradient Jncn to heatsink of just under 1 K/W when directly mounted onto a thermally greased flat heatsink surface. In this case, Siglent have been obliged to use silpads which, at a best and conservative guesstimate, might double the thermal gradient to some 2 K/W ( 50 K rise for 25W of dissipation).

 With no safety margin for error, this implies a maximum heatsink temperature limit of 125 deg C (it might be another 5 or 10 degrees higher). With this in mind, I'm left wondering if Siglent have raised the OTP cut out temperature by another 10 to 15 degrees without updating the user manuals or whether the OTP function in mine is faulty in some way.

[mawyatt]

A few weeks ago we ran ours at over 300W for some time without issue, we are emulating a 30 amp motor load for a Solid State Switch we had developed.

Those terminal do look attractive and tempting 

Best

[Johnny B Good]

@mawyatt,

 Thanks for providing that information. I don't suppose you tried measuring the heatsink temperature with a thermocouple? My original tests can be found here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg3937981/#msg3937981

 Also, a few posts further down, arcitech posted about increasing the power limit above the 300W mark here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg4229470/#msg4229470

 Presumably, you followed his lead?    I guess if we can trust the OTP to kick in before any of the IRF250ps suffer a meltdown, it should be safe enough to raise the max wattage to, say, 350W (at least as far as arcitech's usage case with discharging a 6S LiPo battery pack is concerned).

 However,I wouldn't care to rely on the OTP if its trip point was any more than 15 degrees higher than its published 85 deg limit which is why I'm so interested in the actual OTP trip temperature.

 I don't suppose you'd be using those temptingly attractive terminals with 30A loadings.  They'd be more of a convenience to connect sub 10A power sources (small sub 20W dc-dc converters for example). I took a look at those 8/6mm spade to 4mm banana loudspeaker converters but the pricing, aimed at the audiophile market demographic, rather put me off, leading me to explore a much cheaper DIY alternative using solder connected in line 4mm banana jacks with a 3 or 4 inch 8/6mm spade ended 12 AWG flylead.

 The problem with this solution being the misuse of a male banana connector on the end of a cable connected to a power source. The only safe way to use 4mm banana connectors being to use only the safety shrouded type, preferably with the male connector used on the short flylead connection to the load to eliminate the temptation to use an unshrouded male banana plug on the end of the cable connected to the power source.

 I could find in-line shrouded 4mm male banana connectors ok but not any corresponding female connectors other than back to back gender bending connectors which, apart from adding more contact resistance and length, would reintroduce the temptation to use unshrouded male banana plugs.

 I gave up this search for "Unicorn droppings" and decided that since I couldn't find a 'safe' solution, I might as well be damned and go for those 6mm terminal to 4mm banana adapters since they'd be no less safer an option than those overpriced loudspeaker adapters. It just means I'll have to make sure to disconnect at the DUT end of the connection before pulling the banana plugs at the load. A rule that should be followed regardless of the safety of the connectors anyway. 

[blackdog]

Hi,

For anyone wanting to buy a Siglent DC Load and use the measurement outputs on the back, these measurement outputs almost are unusable.
I have heard through word of mouth that Siglent themselves are not happy about this either.
I therefore sent the Siglent DC Load back.

But, the Rigol in the same price range is not much better.
It too has problems with the measurement outputs on the back.
If you connect a battery scope to it(floating), which is therefore not connected to the Net ground, then these outputs usually oscilate!

Connecting the battery scope to the mains ground solves this problem, or a capacitor from the BNC connector to ground of the DC Load.
Great job Rigol, and very well tested too!

Also, I have the Korad model.
The Developer who made the interface is probably on drugs.
I made some lists on how to set certain functions for the Korad, but one mistake and you can start again from 0 with many button presses.

The DC Load Brands/Models I have held in my hands, do not seem to use a real DAC, but probably PWM, so the noise level is high.
Good measurements in terms of dynamic behavior on linear power supplies is therefore not well possible.

For this I now again use my self-designed DC Load, which is free of noise and other undesired behavior.

I had hoped with the built-in test functions of modern DC Loads that I could also do good and fast measurements on all kinds of power supply circuits.
That was not possible with the Korad, Siglent and Rigol.
With the prices of these devices between 300 and 800 Euro.
Not to mention the software bugs in these units, with emphasis on Rigol...
Just try setting the Duty Cycle in percentages, have fun!

Kind regards,
Bram

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[BillyO]

Turned on my SDL1020X-E.  It looked fine when it booted.  The I went to get a cup of coffee .. maybe 3 minutes later this is what I now have:



It has suddenly got all these white horizontal lines on the display.  Turning it off and letting it cool down overnight did not do any good.  Leaving it on overnight to fully warm up did not do any good.

Is this something that can be fixed with a little adjustment or is this a return to Siglent thing?

[nctnico]

I had hoped with the built-in test functions of modern DC Loads that I could also do good and fast measurements on all kinds of power supply circuits.
That was not possible with the Korad, Siglent and Rigol.
With the prices of these devices between 300 and 800 Euro.
Not to mention the software bugs in these units, with emphasis on Rigol...
Just try setting the Duty Cycle in percentages, have fun!

It is surprising how many manufacturers manage to mess up a device that has a relatively simple function so bad. According the reviews, you can add Keysight to the list as well. I have not checked expensive loads from Chroma and GW Instek (and other brands) though.

@BillyO: looks like a return for a warranty repair to me. If you have no warranty, maybe it is something simple like re-seating the cable to the display.

[BillyO]

@BillyO: looks like a return for a warranty repair to me. If you have no warranty, maybe it is something simple like re-seating the cable to the display.

I was thinking it might be something like that, but I do have warranty.  However, the cost of return will be high.  This is Canada and it's heavy.  Plus I'll have to do without it for a couple of weeks.

[tautech]

@BillyO: looks like a return for a warranty repair to me. If you have no warranty, maybe it is something simple like re-seating the cable to the display.

I was thinking it might be something like that, but I do have warranty.  However, the cost of return will be high.  This is Canada and it's heavy.  Plus I'll have to do without it for a couple of weeks.

Contact NA and seek advice.
As Nico says it could be a ribbon cable contact issue but FWIW the last section to the display is a mylar flat cable with embedded components which if faulty will require display replacement.

[BillyO]

Contact NA and seek advice.
As Nico says it could be a ribbon cable contact issue but FWIW the last section to the display is a mylar flat cable with embedded components which if faulty will require display replacement.

I've reached out to my "local" Canadian retailer .. awaiting response.

[Martin72]

For anyone wanting to buy a Siglent DC Load and use the measurement outputs on the back, these measurement outputs almost are unusable.
I have heard through word of mouth that Siglent themselves are not happy about this either.
I therefore sent the Siglent DC Load back.

Hi,

Hm-hm...
I can see two BNC jacks on the back, called I-Monitor and V-Monitor.
Usually you measure the voltage directly on the source, not on the sink.
I-Monitor could mean a voltage output across an internal shunt, very low values are expected and therefore a relative noisy signal.
All in all it won´t bother me, I would measure voltage/current in a different way.

[nctnico]

Typically the I-monitor comes from the current shunt amplifier that provides a 0-10V output to represent the range of the DC-load. So this isn't a low-level signal. V-monitor the same; measured from the sense wires if you are using these. V-monitor is likely to be scaled down to a 0-10V level as well to allow easy interfacing to an analog signal acquisition system. Either way these signals should have a good enough accuracy. Just don't expect them to be floating in respect to the DUT.

[Johnny B Good]

 JOOI, I checked the SDL1000X user guide and I can confirm that that is exactly the case (0-10v analogue output for both I and V monitor outputs).

 I have to admit that I've never tried using the monitor outputs on mine.

[BillyO]

Contact NA and seek advice.
As Nico says it could be a ribbon cable contact issue but FWIW the last section to the display is a mylar flat cable with embedded components which if faulty will require display replacement.

I've reached out to my "local" Canadian retailer .. awaiting response.

Just an update on this.  My "local" retailer is RCC Electronics.  They are sending me a new unit with a return shipping label for the faulty one.  Great service!!  If you're in Canada, they are the choice for Siglent equipment.

[Mortymore]

The I/V BNC monitor outputs range from 0 to 10V and that poses some challenge to get meaningful numbers, since my scope only allows to set attenuation steps of 1, 2 and 5.



Test conditions:  PSU SPD3303X-E output timed steps / LOAD SDL1020X-E set to CC 1A (I:5A, V:36V)                  



Oscilloscope IDS-2074E                                  
CH1 (yellow): set to current probe, 0.5X attenuation, measuring current                                 
CH2 (cyan): set to voltage probe, 1X attenuation, measuring voltage but 3.6x lower                                 
Math (red): Measuring Power with function CH2*3.6*CH1 (CH1 Measured directly with factor 0.5x already corrected from CH1 input attenuation, but the ratio for CH2 had to corrected to 3.6x in the math channel)                                 
                                 


If the scope had an attenuation input that could be freely set by user, it would be just a matter of setting the needed ratio. Then the CH2 in the example would reflect the real voltage and the Math channel would just multiply CH1*CH2 to calculate Power (given it's purely resistive)

EDIT: For a photo, check a previous post with a similar setup, but there the source was a SLA battery instead of the PSU used here   

[Johnny B Good]

 Just 18 days ago, I posted that I'd ordered a set of 4mm banana socketed binding post nuts from :-

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005474135340.html

 The package turned up this morning, a mere 18 days later (about a month ahead of their delivery schedule!). Unfortunately, the items didn't entirely match the given description so I've had to request a refund/return from the seller.

 The problem being that just like all other sellers' photographs and the brief descriptions of "M6*60 binding post 6mm pure copper flat cap terminal 4mm hole banana socket", these had a hidden 'extra', namely that whilst  the external binding post studs (and their coloured nuts)'s threads were M6 the thread pitch was 0.75mm (fine threaded) making them useless as replacement banana jack adapter nuts.

Unfortunately, there aren't any sellers on Ebay selling any variety of these "M6*60 binding post 6mm pure copper flat cap terminal 4mm hole banana socket" kits, leaving me no choice but AliExpress if I want to avoid being 'scalped'. So once more it was another deep dive into AliExpress's web site to try and track down another seller that could offer some clue that their versions complied in full with the description "M6*60 binding post 6mm pure copper flat cap terminal 4mm hole banana socket" with no hidden (and unwanted) extras like "6mm fine threaded binding post nuts".

 After a surprisingly short search, I chanced upon this seller;-

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32793961677.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.4.1b601802PhPHdo

 which revealed in a short video (incompatible with Opera but firing up my despicable Firefox excuse for a web browser overcame that obstacle) that the threads at both ends were quite obviously the standard M6 1mm pitch thread That was another seller whose page I now can't relocate. I guess it must have this image (last attachment) which prompted me to buy from this seller. Better yet, they were even cheaper (￡1.05 each +VAT). I ordered a couple (red and black) for a total delivered price of just ￡4.83 (£1.80 less than I'd paid for the first lot).

 The take away from my experience with AliEpress sellers and these "M6*60 binding post 6mm pure copper flat cap terminal 4mm hole banana socket" kits for anyone contemplating the "4mm banana socket upgrade option" is that you need to ensure that what you see as a 'tried and tested solution' isn't hiding the presence of a 6M fine threaded stud binding post terminal. It would seem that your best chance of seeing a more revealing view lies in any movie clips the seller may be offering.

 And, BTW, has anyone managed to discover the actual OTP trip temperature on these SDL1000X electronic loads yet?





 

[BillyO]

I got mine from these guys: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000179697145.html

They worked like a charm.

[Johnny B Good]

Thanks Bill,

 If I hit the same issue with this second lot, the link you posted should make it "Third time lucky" 

[BillyO]

Hope you get the right ones this time:

Here is a picture of mine.  They have the same thread on both ends and it fits the Siglent.

[Johnny B Good]

Thanks once again Bill,

 I wish these sellers would provide similar quality photos of the stripped down assemblies. Looking at the seller's image I downloaded, it's not quite as clear cut as it seemed when I had it re-scaled in my web browser to directly compare against the ones I'd received from the first seller. However, at the time when I was trying to judge whether to take another chance, it didn't look like there was any mismatch in thread pitch. The lower price obviously tipped my decision in favour of making the purchase.

 BTW, I received verification of a successful refund from AliPay, confirmed by PayPal just after half past 7 this evening. All in all, a remarkably painless experience. I've not been asked to return the parts so presumably the economics of handling a return at their cost is way more than its resale value. In my experience, this is typical of Ebay and AliExpress on relatively low value goods.

 Delivery date on this second order is 3rd November so it'll be another two weeks or so before I'll be able to report the outcome.

[mawyatt]

These terminals look interesting, we are using lugs (banana plugs into open end of lug) but these are a better solution. Are these a direct fit and just require soldering in place, and are they capable of handling 30 amps without heating up?

Best,

[Johnny B Good]

 Are you referring to these? (see attached).

 I assume you meant to attach a photograph of these. When I first saw them, I wasn't quite sure whether they'd been purpose made as 4mm banana plug to spade adapters or simply a case of serendipity where, just by chance, they could be used as such (with little to no modification with a pair of bull nose pliers). To my mind, it had looked like the latter case. 

 After posting my response (but of course, only after posting ), I realised I'd misinterpreted your question. The answer to which is that we're simply replacing the original binding nuts with the ones taken from those "M6*60 binding post 6mm pure copper flat cap terminal 4mm hole banana socket" kits. No soldering involved, just a simple (and reversible) swap out, assuming you don't get lumbered with the type I'd gotten a refund on because the actual binding post end was M6 fine rather than the expected M6 (standard thread) through and through.

[mawyatt]

Are you referring to these? (see attached).

 I assume you meant to attach a photograph of these. When I first saw them, I wasn't quite sure whether they'd been purpose made as 4mm banana plug to spade adapters or simply a case of serendipity where, just by chance, they could be used as such (with little to no modification with a pair of bull nose pliers). To my mind, it had looked like the latter case. 

Yes those are the lugs. The banana plugs into the open end without any modifications. Works with most banana plugs we have, some types fit better than others tho. We've run 30 amps thru these lugs without issue, but consider the proper jacks a better overall solution if they are a good fit replacement without reworking the E-Load.

Best,

[BillyO]

We've run 30 amps thru these lugs without issue, but consider the proper jacks a better overall solution if they are a good fit replacement without reworking the E-Load.

The knobs and washers off the "new" posts are just threaded onto the Siglent binding posts after the original equipment knobs are removed.  The whole process takes only 15 or 20 seconds and not tools are required.  There are no modifications required other than swapping out the knobs.

[Johnny B Good]

 Thanks for settling the matter in regard of my answering the wrong question.

 Hopefully, my edited version has provided the answer to the actual question you had been asking.

 Your nicely pragmatic solution is a neat way to solve the problem using the bits you already have to hand. Some might regard it as 'a bit of a bodge' but to my mind, its more a case of 'inventive lateral thinking'.

 I've tried similar repurposing of these lugs (as I'm pretty sure most eevblog members will also have done) but with rather mixed results, mainly it has to be said, because the lugs I'd used were not as good a quality as yours.

 I suspect others have hit the same problem and would have needed to spend time and money to acquire a stock of decent quality lugs to emulate your solution, hence the interest in spending the time and money instead on these 6M binding post kits just for the 4mm banana socket adapter lug nuts.

 My post about my experience in purchasing a set of these M6 binding posts had been to provide a "Heads up" for anyone else contemplating this 4mm banana socket adapter exercise over the risk of landing up with M6 fine threaded binding post nuts which don't fit on the SDL 1000X terminal binding posts.

 BTW, I fully understand Siglent's decision not to curse these electronic loads with 4mm banana jacks since apart from the complaints about the lack of high current rated binding posts, this could also lead to a higher rate of expensive shorting out accidents with power supplies and battery packs. Far better for Siglent to leave the choice of potentially unsafe connections entirely in the hands of their customers than to be seen to be encouraging such misuse of banana plug ended test leads.

 A better solution to arranging a more convenient connection IMHO, would be a pair of 4mm banana jack plugs attached via a couple of 3 or 4 inch 10 gauge flexible lug ended fly leads  and use test leads terminated with solderable in line banana sockets. Basically the same connection method you'd use to test wallwarts with co-axial dc plug ended flyleads.

[Mortymore]

Johnny B Good

This...

...
The knobs and washers off the "new" posts are just threaded onto the Siglent binding posts after the original equipment knobs are removed. 
...

... is what I believe most of us have been doing with those banana posts adapters.

Just unscrew the exiting knobs from Siglent, and from the new ones, insert a washer and screw the new knobs with the banana inserts.
One washer is needed because without it the new knob will not be properly tighten. "Disregard" the remaining parts.

This method will fit the purpose, and there's no need for any real mod of the Load.
It can be easily undone and the original knobs refited if a beefier cable with proper terminals is to be used, instead of banana plugs.

[mawyatt]

Thanks all, we'll likely order these next time we order something.

Nice to know no mods are required to E Load!!

Mike

[Veteran68]

Making a Banana Jack Adapter for Siglent Electronic Loads
by Clough42

This is the approach I've taken, as it seems like best of both worlds having both types of connections in place. Got Clough42's PCB and the Pomona banana jacks from DigiKey, just haven't assembled it yet. A project for the weekend maybe, if I don't get to it sooner.

Nice to know there's a simple mod with replacing the knobs with banana jack sockets if I need a backup solution.

[Johnny B Good]

 I have to agree with colorado.rob's assessment on this one https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg5078467/#msg5078467

 However, I don't agree with his suggested alternative solution https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R2KJ88S?th=1 since neither of these solutions offers any more safety regarding the risk of shorting out of the DUT (particularly when the DUT happens to be an unprotected LiPo battery pack) than the 4mm banana socket adapter M6 binding post nuts which at least have the charm of being a neater and far cheaper again option than those audiophool priced spade tag to 4mm banana socket adapters.

 I guess anyone familiar with such LiPo battery packs would be well aware of the risks associated with them and always remember to disconnect at the battery pack end first before pulling the banana plugs out at the electronic load end (and likewise switch off an expensive mains powered PSU or shut off the bench supply feeding a dc-dc converter module), making the shorting out risk of the banana plugs a more acceptable one.

 The other useful feature of a banana plug connection as far as anyone testing LiPo battery packs is concerned being that they provide a method of swift disconnection to allow a flaming LiPo in its fire-bucket of sand to be swiftly ejected off the premises without having to sacrifice the electronic load as well (although keeping a suitable pair of side cutters to hand would serve just as well with the standard spade tag connection).

 There might have been some merit in that fancy adapter if it had used banana plugs instead of sockets so that the test leads could be terminated with in-line female banana sockets instead to eliminate the risk of an accidental short on the output from the DUT.

 If you're happy to accept the shorting out risk, the swap out of the binding post nuts with the 4mm banana socketed binding post nuts supplied with these M6 binding post kits represents the neatest and cheapest solution IMO.

[Johnny B Good]

Hope you get the right ones this time:

Here is a picture of mine.  They have the same thread on both ends and it fits the Siglent.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=166657.0;attach=1903143;image

 I just thought I'd let you (and anyone else reading this topic) know that those M6 binding post kits arrived this morning (just ten days after placing my order - even swifter than the first lot!) and they're the spitting image of the one you'd posted.

 As far as can tell, mine appear to have come from the same factory. They're a good fit on the SDL 1000 binding posts allowing firm contact with the thinnest of spade tags (or even 0.2mm wire) without packing washers. I checked the depth of the binding nuts against the Siglent's binding post length which proved to be about half a millimeter shy of bottoming out. You only need to make use of the washers to allow full penetration of the banana plug (and even without, you still get a good firm contact anyway - the resulting 2mm gap is really more a matter of how it looks).

 The nice thing I did notice about these binding nuts is that their slightly smaller diameter makes it noticeably easier to spin them on and off with the flats offering a better grip to tighten them up or slacken them off. Overall, a useful upgrade over the original binding nuts.

P.S. To save anyone having to search the topic thread, here's a link to the seller I'd bought mine from :-

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32793961677.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.4.1b601802PhPHdo

[Bad_Driver]

I got today the suggested binding posts. They came unfortunately on the slow boat from China. It took some weeks….
But they fit perfect, thanks for the advice!
Since I used the fork like 4 mm binding posts Johnny has shown on the photo  (and I will use them further) no additional washer is needed.

[Johnny B Good]

 Spacing washers are not actually needed unless you're stressed out by their "not fully inserted" appearance.

 Those binding post nuts are designed to allow banana jacks to be fully inserted even when you leave substantially heavy duty cable lugs attached to the binding posts. On closer scrutiny, banana jacks will fully engage the socket with another 4 or 5 mm to spare before they bottom out and It's quite obvious (now!) as to why they'd been designed that way.  That look of not being fully inserted when no spacing washers are fitted isn't a bug, it's a design feature!

[Mortymore]

Turned on my SDL1020X-E.  It looked fine when it booted.  The I went to get a cup of coffee .. maybe 3 minutes later this is what I now have:



It has suddenly got all these white horizontal lines on the display.  Turning it off and letting it cool down overnight did not do any good.  Leaving it on overnight to fully warm up did not do any good.

Is this something that can be fixed with a little adjustment or is this a return to Siglent thing?

My 6 month old Load is starting to look like this one.
Is this a known display problem?

[GnomeZA]

My 6 month old Load is starting to look like this one.
Is this a known display problem?

I have one that is quite a number of years old now and don't have any problems.  You both have quite new meters, I would 100% do a warranty return on, 6 months is nothing, must be some new part they are using on the newer models that are sub-standard (my opinion ofc).

[Johnny B Good]

 I've had mine since 12th January last year and so far I've not seen any sign of trouble. However, I doubt I've clocked up more than 30 hours of run time since then so it's a bit of a worry that mine might start exhibiting the same symptom given a few tens of hours more run time.

 I've got a set of four 100AH 12.8v LiFePo4 batteries that I'm planning on running capacity tests on a pair at a time at 12A which will add another 17 hours or so run time and probably 34 hours if I decide to do a second run. I could land up seeing the same issue by the end of those tests.

 System Info doesn't show total run time, just the number of startup times (51 when I last checked just now).

@Mortymore, Any idea how many hours of run time you'd clocked up before the display went "funny"?

[Mortymore]

Hi

I have no idea about the amount of runtime hours. I can only say that in a span of a month or so, it had some regular use testing 7Ah lead acid batteries, with tests set to run for approximately 5h if the battery was in good condition, and most of them were not. I'd say 30h per week. This is a rough estimate of 120h powered on in that month. And lately I've been using it more regularly again because I started to learning Python and I'm trying to develop a program that involves communication with a PSU, 2 DMMs and the Load, so it can be powered on for a few hours a day. That can be just 1 hour, but can be also 5h or 6h straight during the weekend.
Thing is, the SDM3000X DMMs have screensaver option, but the SPD3000 PSU and SDL1000 Load doesn't (understandably), so as long the Load as to stay powered on, the display is on.

Regards
Cesar

[Joe1vm]

Hi.
finaly SDL1020X-E has been received today. Interestingly with 1.1.1.23R1, which is not available for download yet....

[did]

Hi,
I bought one SDL1020X-E few week ago and I'm facing one very strange issue.
Time to time, when I power up the DC Power load, I have one HW tests check NOK (LOAD FAILED, EEPROM PASSED, ADC FAILED) and the unit is not operational (not possible to read input voltage and set one DC current). In some cases, on top of this HW test check NOK, I have the fan running at maximum speed.
I tried to make the FW Upgrade to latest available version (1.1.1.22R1) and to reset to factory setting but problem remains.
This issue is not systematic and I didn't find so far the trigger to reproduce this misbehavior on purpose. This is a seldom issue, very likely linked to temperature but I didn't find the root cause yet. It seems the occurence is higher when I restart the unit after 1 or 2 days of iniactivity (very cold restart  ). When the unit is booting without error then the equipment is fully operational.
 Did you see similar issue in the past with this SDL1000 equipment familly ?
I put in attachment pictures corresponding to this problem :  HW tests failures snapshot and the corresponding System Info screen (where you can see the HW ID = 00-00-000).

[GnomeZA]

Hi,
I bought one SDL1020X-E few week ago and I'm facing one very strange issue.
Time to time, when I power up the DC Power load, I have one HW tests check NOK (LOAD FAILED, EEPROM PASSED, ADC FAILED) and the unit is not operational (not possible to read input voltage and set one DC current). In some cases, on top of this HW test check NOK, I have the fan running at maximum speed.
I tried to make the FW Upgrade to latest available version (1.1.1.22R1) and to reset to factory setting but problem remains.
This issue is not systematic and I didn't find so far the trigger to reproduce this misbehavior on purpose. This is a seldom issue, very likely linked to temperature but I didn't find the root cause yet. It seems the occurence is higher when I restart the unit after 1 or 2 days of iniactivity (very cold restart  ). When the unit is booting without error then the equipment is fully operational.
 Did you see similar issue in the past with this SDL1000 equipment familly ?
I put in attachment pictures corresponding to this problem :  HW tests failures snapshot and the corresponding System Info screen (where you can see the HW ID = 00-00-000).

If it is new, isn't it just safer to return it for replacement/repair under warranty.  I mean I know we all like taking things apart and so on, but like if you buy new one of the few rare benefits is you can get it fixed for free.

[did]

Hi,
RMA number already received yesterday from the seller 
I will send back the unit after Christmas holiday period. During the while I will try to find out the trigger of this misbehavior. Will start the SDL1020X-E in different temperature conditions in the coming days. May be I will find the suitable way to reproduce this issue and then ease the diagnosis.

[Bad_Driver]

My load suffers from the same issue.

First boot: the same failure and the fan is running at full speed.
Second boot: everything is ok.

Unfortunately my device is now 26 month old, 2 month older than the European warranty period, so I have to apply for the 3 year-warranty from Siglent.

Has anyone the commands by the hand to reconvert my SDL1020x-E backward to the original state?
Thanks in advance!

[Mortymore]

For an SDL1020X-E hacked to an SDL1030X, the process can be reverted using Ni-Max (with LAN connection, or USB)

SDL1030X -> SDL1020X-E
SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG:ID 2

300W -> 200W
SYSTem:DEVICE:POWERUG 200

Rename LOAD (if it was changed)
SYSTem:DEVICE:PRODUCTUG SDL1020X-E

 
Model IDs:
1 - SDL1020X (4 digits)
2 - SDL1020X-E  (3 digits)
4 - SDL1030X (4 digits)
5 - SDL1030X-E  (3 digits)

[Veteran68]

If you use a LAN connection you don't need NI software, all you need is a telnet client and connect to port 5025

Code: [Select]

┌──(david@tux1)-[~]
└─$ telnet sdl1020x-e 5025
Trying 192.168.0.232...
Connected to sdl1020x-e.XXXXXX.com.
Escape character is '^]'.
*IDN?
Siglent Technologies,SDL1030X,SDL13GXXXXXXXX,1.1.1.22R1
^]
telnet> quit
Connection closed.
┌──(david@tux1)-[~]
└─$
You can use PuTTY on Windows (or any other terminal app that supports telnet)

[pmendiuk]

I have a SDL-1020X-E that previously was very reliable, then intermittently does not apply any load.  The unit is out of warranty and I wondered if anyone have a schematic or service manual?

[Martin72]

Hi,
There are no schematics in the service manual, only some measure points.

[pmendiuk]

Sounds like I'll be making some schematics for the output circuit and the FET drivers.  Has anyone done their own calibration for the SDL1020X-E?

[Martin72]

I got the SM today, I have to read through the calibration part first.

[Martin72]

Here the service manual(will be deleted within 24hrs):
(Link removed)

[Martin72]

I couldn't hold back any longer and tried to see if I could turn the 1020X-E into a 1030X load.
It works, and it's very quick and easy...
I used LAN instead of the USB connection.

And then as follows:
-Select LAN as the connection on the load, activate DHCP
-Call up Putty (or a similar program)
-Enter the assigned IP, port 5025, Telnet
-Then enter the known commands in the Putty window(I only entered them separately because of the pictures, you can of course type them in one after the other and confirm with Return.)
-There is no feedback, disconnect afterwards and switch off the load.
-Switch the load on again and be happy. 

The calibration should therefore be invalid, I will recalibrate it soon.

Martin

[delvo]

@Martin72 if you have information about how to calibrate it I would love to know

[Martin72]

Send you a PM.

[Veteran68]

Told you it was easy

[BillyO]

I couldn't hold back any longer and tried to see if I could turn the 1020X-E into a 1030X load.
It works, and it's very quick and easy...
I used LAN instead of the USB connection.

Martin, no need to hide your 192.168.x.x address.  That private range has been duplicated just about a billion times all around the globe.  If someone can find your public facing IP address and get past your firewall, then finding your instruments in that private subnet could be passed on to a 12 year old poetry student.   

[mawyatt]

Where does one acquire the manual that has the proper calibration procedure? Looked at the Siglent NA site and the Service & User Manuals have nothing about instrument calibration?

Best,

[Martin72]

I had received the service manual with calibration instructions from siglent last week and had it here for download at short notice, I can post the link again.
The explanation from siglent as to why this document is no longer downloadable was that the script had caused "confusion for some" and they had therefore taken it off the net again.

[Martin72]

Here again the link (will be deleted soon):

Edit: Link removed after four days.

[pmendiuk]

Here again the link (will be deleted soon):

Edit: Link removed after four days.

Thanks for that link.

[Martin72]

Today I briefly tested whether the load works at all - after the purchase and "upgrade" I hadn't touched it again.
I will definitely test it in more detail and I think I will open a separate thread for this, as it would quickly get lost here.
It will be a few more weeks before I'm ready, because I have to wait for my new scope.
In the meantime I can get some other things, because when I was looking around I noticed that all my supplies can only deliver a maximum of 3A...a bit low.
Let's see.
As I said, briefly tested the SDM3065X, which was still calibrated until the summer, as a reference and recorded three values.
First of all: This connection(load connectors)....Who comes up with something like this...
Terrible, I'll have to change that before the test.
Then:
These were small currents, you shouldn't forget to switch the range at the load, otherwise the display is inaccurate.

Set Current: Measured Current: Deviation:

500mA         0.499504A               -0.10%
1A               0.999558A              -0.04%
1.25A           1.249561A              -0.04%

I think that's very neat.

Here is the deviation display load/SDM3065X:

Load:  SDM3065X:  Deviation:

0.4992A   0.499504A   -0.06%
0,9996A    0.999558A  -0.004%
1.2496A    1.249561A  -0.003%

I also think that's very good.
And as I think about it, this is something I can already test, up to 3A.
I will probably create a table with more values.

[Martin72]

I have now recorded a few more values, used a different power supply unit and set not only the current range but also the voltage range of the load (5A/30V).
Further, more detailed tests and impressions as mentioned later and in a new thread.



You should not be influenced by the first values, such small currents cannot be precisely mapped by this type of load, so this is not a shortcoming.

[Martin72]

I actually have everything together for the tests.
I also bought the small black power supply unit to have more than 3A available (10A).
Then an LED driver from meanwell with 1050mA constant current.
With the other power supplies I can test the maximum power, e.g. the 2x60V to 120V and 3 A are 360W.
Plus my Tektronix current clamp and a small siglent scope.
So it will start soon.
One thing I tried out earlier was the meanwell led driver.
You can actually see a significant ripple on the current.
More on this at the weekend.

[ddrl46]

Has anyone been successful in performing an adjustment on this unit? The procedure in the service manual is a bit confusing...

[SHF]

Hmm black power supply not nice   

[Martin72]

OK,
Then I already have a black one.

The procedure in the service manual is a bit confusing...

That's why Siglent withdrew it again, there were too many requests regarding the calibration.
However, it must also be said that calibration is only due when the load has run out of its specification.
This in turn can be tested and/or the "Verification Performance Test" from the service manual can be carried out.

[theblinkingman]

Can somebody please post the service manual with the calibration procedure again?

[theblinkingman]

I messed around a little bit with calibration and generally it seems to work like described.  The adjustment is a little bit coarse, so I didn't get it dialed all the way in. 

It's not mentioned in the manual, but you can save off the current calibration by running CAL:MEAS? and CAL:CTRL?. It returns something like 0.000668,1285,0.002859,1292,0.000084,884,0.000502,797 which are the "a" and "b" values you set with CAL:DATA <1 or 2>,"a","b".  1 is for the CTRL calibration and 2 is for the MEAS calibration.  The first two numbers are for the 36V CV range and the second two are for the 150V CV range.  I believe the last two a/b pairs are for CC mode for both ranges too.   

When setting the calibration, it applies to the voltage range that is currently active and currently active mode (CC or CV). 

Remember to CALCLS:VOLT before starting (and after you've saved your existing calibration).  CAL:ST stores and applies the calibration values.  The load doesn't like it when changing the CTRL values while it is enabled. 

Here's a quick script for calculating the a and b values for CV, but I found that I had to play around with the numbers afterwards to get a decent result. 

Code: [Select]

#!/usr/bin/env python3

# Voltage calibration in CV mode
# *_dmm is the voltage measurement done via external meter
# *_sdl is the voltage measurement displayed on the load
# y1 is CV at 1V and y2 is CV at 10V.  Set the power supply ~15V CC .1A
def calc(v_range, y1_dmm, y1_sdl, y2_dmm, y2_sdl):
    # start with voltage limit set to 1
    v_set = 1
    ctrl_const = 2000 if v_range == 36 else 1500
    # v_range = 36
    # v_range = 150

    ctrl_x1 = (65536 * v_set) / v_range
    meas_x1 = (65536 * y1_sdl) / v_range

    # next set voltage limit to 10
    v_set = 10
    ctrl_x2 = (65536 * v_set) / v_range
    meas_x2 = (65536 * y2_sdl) / v_range # Not used?

    ctrl_step = (y2_dmm - y1_dmm)/ (ctrl_x2 - ctrl_x1)
    ctrl_offset = ctrl_x1 - (y1_dmm / ctrl_step) + ctrl_const
    meas_step = (y2_dmm - y1_dmm) / (ctrl_x2 - ctrl_x1)
    meas_offset = meas_x1 - y1_dmm / meas_step

    print(f"CAL:DATA 1,{ctrl_step:.6f},{ctrl_offset:.0f}")
    print(f"CAL:DATA 2,{meas_step:.6f},{meas_offset:.0f}")


# First start with the 36V range
calc(36, 1.5111, 1.9507, 12.445, 10.934)
# Switch into 150V range and do it again (values should be different)
# calc(150, 1.5111, 1.9507, 12.445, 10.934)


[Mortymore]

My 6 month old Load is starting to look like this one.
Is this a known display problem?

After a month out for Siglent repair services, my SDL returned yesterday and under warranty the LCD and mainboard were replaced. New HW version 03-03-022
Welectron took care of all the shipping process through UPS.