0107 - "Improving" the Siglent SDL 1020X-E DC Load
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- In this video we'll look at how to improve your Siglent SDL 1020X-E to full SDL 1030X specifications using only a few simple SCPI commands. Not sure it really qualifies as a true hack as Siglent supply the commands to do the job. We'll also install some different binding post knobs to provide the means to attach banana plug leads.
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Thanks ! I received my new unit today. I have finished making the changes and it works correctly. Software version is 1.1.123R1
Thanks for letting us know!
Yep, those knobs are great. I have seen other folks create a custom PCB that bolts onto the existing knobs and provides Banana sockets for this same e-load. This is way simpler/better/cheaper/easier. Good find.
Yeah I agree. Saw this over on the EEVBlog website.
This is exactly what I did with mine, although I initially bought the 1020X (not X-E) i turned it into the 1030X. I also use the exact same banana caps replacements. :)
Cool. Great minds think alike.
I can confirm (as 26/01/2024) this little trick still work. Thanks.
Good info. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing these tips. They were a big help with my 1020X-E.
Glad I could help!
Like the binding posts, upgrade to the capacity is well worth it when costs are compared. I have a cheapo 60W unit which is ok for testing small batteries etc, 300W is getting serious!
Agreed.
You must be in the 'CP' mode on the Siglent before you apply the POWERUG 300 command, otherwise it doesn't appear to work.
Great information, thanks for sharing!
I think I would call it an upgrade.
Upgrade it is!
So I'm trying to do this but not getting anywhere. I connect my computer to a network switch, then the instrument. I go into the network settings and check what IP address I've got. Then I set the instrument 1 digit off from that and give it the matching subnet. Then I go into a terminal client and input the information, it claims to connect but the command prompt seems dead. I can type, but pressing enter doesn't do anything. I also tried 5024 because apparently that's a common port but that one doesn't even connect only the 5025 will connect. I'm probably doing something stupid. I tried 5024 because the Siglent, "Using Telnet LAN" document says that's the port you're supposed to connect to the instrument at.
Did you set your terminal to local echo? The Siglent will not echo characters back to your terminal. Also, did you issue the command "*idn?" - (you need the "?" on the end before hitting return). Don't use a port other than 5025.
Thanks James!
@@uni-bytehey as an aside did you try checking accuracy before and after? I can’t prove this because I brain farted and didn’t do this ahead of time but I pondered that maybe this side steps calibration overlay done at the factory?
@@JamesReedy I did some checking on the first one I had (this one was warranty replacement) and within the limits I could check (up to about 120W, 20A, 60V) it seemed just fine. I expect though that as calibration is hardware defendant and the hardware does not change in this process I would not see a change.
I could see it possibly not having calibration beyond the 200W limit, but since a) the current and voltage limits do not change so both models need to be calibrated to those, and b) it would mean a separate calibration process if things were calibrated differently for the 4 "models" model and that just amounts to an unnecessary expense. To make a long story short, I think all 4 models run exactly the same calibration, then at the end of the line before the sticker go on, they enable features as required.
@@uni-byte yeah I was seeing a discrepancy in the reported voltage. I noticed that I had the full scale set to 150V, dropping that down to the lower range 36V improved things but at 1V it looks a teeny tiny bit out of spec. I don't have it on hand but it's like 0.02% + 0.05% of full scale, so for 36V that's like what 18.2mV so at 1V the low limit would be 981.18mV and I think I was right up against that. That said at higher voltages approaching the in-range limits the error was pretty damned small.
I suspect you're right, I just tend to over-fixate on stuff. Lesson learned to check stuff before hand and then compare. I'd agree they're probably all calibrated to the same standard and then binned (I think the more expensive units are tighter by half on some ranges) put on a shelf and they slap model numbers on them and code them as needed using the SCPI commands 🤣
I've got an MSO58 here at work, I think the same instrument does the range from 350MHz all the way to 2GHz; even 10~15 years ago I have to think that wouldn't even be a thing. But we live in the era of, "heated seats by subscription" and the like. They'll build more content into an instrument and pray for attach rate on upgrades or just enjoy a more streamlined manufacturing operation.
Great video and tip about the knobs. But what size? AliExpress show M6 to M10. Thanks
M6 is the correct size.
Damn! No downside, you don’t think they scaled the heatsink?
Also I can’t for the life of me get the rear IMON and VMON to do anything useful. They are very high Z on the BNC to chassis and nothing comes out. I bought a new one thinking mine was broken all this time and I was unaware but alas the new unit also doesn’t push any signal out of those BNC’s even with it loading my PSU at 8A constant! So now I’m thinking I’m doing something wrong and this needs to go back as my unit likely isn’t broken at all.
Good god it’s in the menus I missed it, the manual doesn’t mention having to enable them and they’re relay isolated so the grounds float till enabled!
A good manual, the diagrams of the back panel and then talks about the functions. Should have a call out to the section heading that explains that they need to be enabled in order to be used. Now either I have an extra load or I need to return this one *grumble*.
When you set it up, does the V_M_ON indication go on? I've not used the function myself.
@@uni-byte yeah shame on me I thought I’d menu dove enuf, I didn’t. It’s…
Shift+Utility
Config
Goto Page 2
EXTC
I_M_ON
V_M_ON
I see reference to none of this searching, “enable” unless I missed it.
@@JamesReedy I hope you can get it returned. Yes, and I agree, when they identify controls and I/O they should reference the manual page that addresses their use.
@@uni-byte I was doing buck converter load response and wanted the current waveform to go with the regulator droop overshoot response.
So turns out best I can tell this function is low key crap. Unless there’s more settings what you get is 0-10V as mapped to full scale of 5A or 30A so either 2V/A or 333mV/A the former isn’t so bad because you can set your scope to 0.5X and get 1V/A output directly on the display.
The issue as I see it is that when you look at the IMOM out it’s rendered for a setting of 500mA/uS slew rate as a stepped output of 10 steps including 0 and 10V as the start and end points for a 0-5A CC load and this takes 26mS on my scope give or take. Same for the voltage…LAME.
I assumed these were the output of the current shunt that’s used by the thing to regulate and such.
Thank you very much for this!
I'm debating between this one and the Rigol load. Do you know what the minimum current draw on this one is? Can you pull lower than 10 mA reliably on the siglent? I have heard issues with rigol doesn't do a good job for currents lower than 10 mA.
It's stable below 10mA but the set value may not match the actual value. If you set 8mA, you may get a current of 6mA but it will be stable. So as an example, if you need precisely 8mA you may have to set it to 11mA, or something like that. If you are setting the CC by hand that is not a problem. Just set it so it passes what you want. However, if you are setting it via another device (like a computer) for some automated task, it might be an issue and you would have to calibrate it first and take that into account.
@@uni-byte Thank you very much! Do you know at what point the display value matches the actual current pulled?
The display always matches the actual current very closely even at low currents. It's the set point that can be out and on mine the set point is usually a few mA higher than the actual current. As the current rises, this naturally becomes less of a percentage of the total current.
Hello,
Thank you very much for this video. I am looking for an affordable electronic load and am thinking of buying a 1020X or 1020X-E right now.
Does anyone know if there are any physical (Harware) differences between the SDL 1020 series and the 1030 series? Since one is rated for 200W and other for 300W?
As I look at the datasheet I see that the X and X-E version has a difference in accuracy (CC mode, Readback Voltage) and the Over temperature protection is 95℃ in the 1030 series and 85℃ in the 1020 series.
When I saw your video I tried to get information if all models are mechanically the same but no luck.
Do you have any problems with the Siglent electric load or does it work without a problem? (Since you have right of the hand experience with the unit and before I buy it)
Thank you,
Best regards,
It works without any issues. There are many posts and threads about these loads on the EEVBlog forum. Members there have taken them apart and verified they share a common hardware platform. The only differences are enabled via software commands. This is common practice with electronics these days as it keeps production costs down and maximizes profitability.
For me, the biggest improvement is the added precision. Enabling the 300W is just something I did because I could. I will likely never use it.
In any case You might get a lot out of reading more about it on the EEVBlog forum. Specifically the test equipment sub-forum.
@@uni-byte Thank you very much for the very quick and useful reply. So far i have been reading the EEVBlog Forum. It is true that it is mentioned that all models have the same Hardware. Which I like to hear. Also in your video I can see how the upgrade process would work since it was a bit confusing to read only on forum.
Thank you for the info and thank you for the review video. Keep it up :D
do you know for a fact that additional components are not required to handle the power?
Not personally, however a number of people have reported that the internals of the two models are identical. For me though it's not that important. I don't see myself ever needing 300 Watts, or even 200 for that matter. I do, however, really appreciate the additional precision. If I really needed the 300W I'd probably pony up the dough for one that came with that specification to begin with.
precision without accuracy is useless @@uni-byte
@@mr1enrollment Having a degree in physics, there's a good chance I knew that already, LOL! Anyway, the two units share the same circuitry and firmware. The accuracy is already there in the design for the extra digit of precision. The extra precision just needs to be enabled.
If go in and do a software upgrade to the unit, does it resort back to a 1020X or does it stay at a 1030X?????
So far no problems. The adjustments are to the configuration database which should not be affected by a firmware update, but if it is you can just re-issue the commands to make the changes again. I suppose they could at some point create a firmware that did not support altering those parameters but it would have negative repercussions for their manufacturing process.
@@uni-byte I think Rigol did exactly that, to prevent folks from doing this type of modification.. Thanks for the information.. It is appreciated.. Robert in San Diego
@@myradiovideos Good data point. Thank you.
Can you update the link to the knobs, please? Thx a lot! :)
The link is working for me. What error do you get?
Non of the links lead me to the knobs. I get:"Sorry, the page you requested can not be found:(" @ AliExpress.
Request: Maybe you can post the name and article number, then I can find it on their side. Thank you very much !@@uni-byte
@@gernotpascuttini3045 Sure. There are 5 items at the link so I can't give the item number, but the title on the ad is "1pcs M6*60 binding post 6mm pure copper flat cap terminal 4mm hole banana socket / 40A high current grounding column". Good luck.
Please provide a link for your Siglent dealer. Mine has dropped the ball, on issues that I had.
Link added in the description.
What is it doing? Is it trying to keep the power draw constant despite changes in voltage?
It has several modes. There are 4 constant modes. Constant Voltage where it tries to keep the voltage constant, Constant Current mode where it tries to keep the current constant, Constant Resistance mode and Constant Power Mode. It can also be programmed to vary any of those parameter too.
Thanks! Useful device.@@uni-byte