Since firmware V1.05, it seems that the GW INSTEK GPM8310 has a new problem in the interval setting used for recording. When setting the interval in SETUP -> INTERVAL, one cannot scroll through values for the various digits. The ‘seconds’ value only can be set at 8 or 9 (!), the tenth seconds only to 0 or 5, etc. Seems like a broken UI issue. But: if you reboot the device and leave the value at 00:00:00, then the log will not use the internal setting but default to the data update rate. That rate offers 8 values (not continuous like the interval setting), but it is actually more interesting because it does allow shorter intervals like 0.1s (so 10 measurements logged per second), and 0.25s (4 measurements logged per second). Note: once you tried to change values for the ‘interval’ setting, you cannot get back any more to 00:00:00 and need to reboot the instrument.
Also, my YouTube video was not entirely correct in terms of saving logs – partly because of limited feedback and a somewhat confusing UI, I think. Saving the log of the measured value is NOT via the SETUP -> PAGE 2/2 -> SAVE/LOAD menu (that menu is about instrument settings into internal memory slots). Instead, in advance of the measurements, you need to go to SETUP -> PAGE 2/2 -> HARDCOPY. Change the ‘type’ from ‘capture’ to ‘log’. Then do the measurements, and click the ‘Hardcopy’ key on the front panel.
So, the full series of steps to save a log of measurements (taking into account the problem with the V1.05 software) is as follows:
1. Reboot the device.
2. Enter a good FAT-32 USB stick (best test proper functioning before saving logs).
3. Set the V-range, I-range and other settings as desired.
4. Press SETUP and check that the interval setting is at 00:00:00. Do not change this.
5. Press ‘ENTER’, scroll down to ‘UPDATE RATE’ and select the desired interval: there are eight options between 0.1s (i.e., 10 logs per second) and 20s (i.e., 3 logs per minute)
6. Go within SETUP, click PAGE 2/2 -> HARDCOPY. Change the ‘type’ from ‘capture’ to ‘log’. Best leave OVERWRITE at off (so for every save, the instrument saves a new file with an increment file number). Click ‘ESC’ button once to return to SETUP menu.
7. Press ‘ENTER’, scroll down to ‘MEASUREMENT STORAGE’.
8. Start the recording by choosing “On”. Note there is no visual clue that recording started except that the
9. Do one of the following:
- Wait until you finished doing the desired measurements
- OPTIONAL: if you want relative time logs in your data, then go to the main screen, go to INTEGRATOR MODE, press START. Wait until you finished doing the desired measurements. Then press STOP. And then also press RESET (without that you cannot save the results…)
10. Go to the main screen, SETUP, click ‘Enter’, chose ‘MEASUREMENT STORAGE’ and select ‘Off’.
11. Press the ‘Hardcopy’ key on the front panel. You should see the message “Data Log is being saved !”
12. If you again want to activate screen prints after this, go to SETUP -> PAGE 2/2 -> HARDCOPY. Change the ‘type’ from ‘log’ to ‘capture’.
Hope this is of use to others. Should you spot errors, let me know!