UNI-T UDB3000S Series: UDP3305S / UDP3305S-E

[Pfriemler]

For all German/European users that are interested in the S-E version:
https://www.pollin.de/p/uni-t-labornetzgeraet-udp3305s-e-4-kanal-programmierbar-328-w-353199
379 Euro, some promotion code or sell actions may clear the shipment costs to Zero.

[thephil]

And someone told me that you can get the S-E version for 342€ right now through the UNT-T subsidiary in Augsburg, Germany. But you have to ask them for the "promotion" price.

[elemakil]

Hey thephil,

can you shed any more light on the promotion that UNI-T is offering? Do I have to contact them through the webstore or Email (if so, which of the Emails listed on their homepage is appropriate for this request?). I'd appreciate some more information as the UDP3305S-E would be a great bargain at this pricepoint.

Best,

[thephil]

can you shed any more light on the promotion that UNI-T is offering?

Apparently, UNI-T has/had(?) advertised a 20% discount in the US. Someone told me that he saw that and simply asked the German UNI-T people about it and was offered the price I mentioned. He wrote or talked to these guys:

Uni-Trend Technology EU GmbH
Affinger Str. 12
86167, Augsburg
+49(0)821 710 498 26
service-eu@uni-trend.com

I don't know if it still works but can't hurt to ask.

[Duglum]

I wrote them and they replied with a discount code ("THANKYOU10") for their Shop.
The email claimed the code will only be valid until tomorrow.. but i kinda doubt it.

Anyway, it brought down the price for the UDP3305S-E to 296.10€ net (352.36€ gross for me, which means they applied the 19% german VAT).
Shipping was free. The shop also said delivery time will be 2-4 business days, so they most likely send it from Augsburg.. international express from china for such a heavy item would probably be far too expensive to offer it for free.

Oh and, did anyone ever try to replace the 14bit DAC with the DAC8562 chip iAleks mentioned earlier in this thread? Replacing the firmware with the "S"-one sounded like it was no problem. Don't really need that type of precision and would probably not do it before warranty runs out, but it would be nice to have the option.

[voltlog]

For those wondering if they can upgrade the UDP3305S-E to be a higher spec UDP3305S just by replacing the ADC/DAC chips (ADS1118 / DAC8562 ) and flashing new firmware, UNI-T says "It's not possible!"

At Embedded World 2024 in Nuremberg, I had the opportunity to talk to the senior engineer in charge of the team that developed this PSU at UNI-T and asked him if it would be possible to swap the ADC/DAC chips and flash different firmware for the conversion.

Our conversation was very limited because he only spoke little english but what I could understand is that there are two problems that one will face: there are other smaller changes on the PCB apart from ADC/DAC chips and then there is the very important calibration which is only designed to be done at the factory, not accessible to the user.

BTW I also have a reaview & teardown video of the UDP3305S.

https://youtu.be/h7XDSfOQJHI
https://youtu.be/d056TNS9aa8

[mws]

I also saw the offer here. Unfortunately, I can't find a way to enter the code on the UNI-T website.

[pope]

I also saw the offer here. Unfortunately, I can't find a way to enter the code on the UNI-T website.

It's been removed.

[tonyalbus]

A while ago i received new firmware 1.12 , i see it not on their website, so decided to post it here.
Also the change log is very limited on there website, so i have here the one i received.



V1.12 update:
Optimize list output function.

V1.11 update:
Strategy for changing the output setting value and protection value: The output setting value can be made greater than the protection value.

V1.10 update:
1. Optimize SOCKET connection mode;
2. Solve the bug of occasional loss of sent data in SOCKET connection.

V1.09 update:
1. Add SOCKET connection mode, the connection port is 5025;
2. Optimize network connection.

V1.08 update:
1. Improve SCPI standards;
2. Add memory-related communication commands;
3. Optimize the local file manager and display the applicable channels of this list file and delayer file before the file name.

V1.07 update:
1. Add large font display mode.

V1.06 update:
1. Add power-on output function.

V1.05 update:
1. Added new communication commands to adapt to the NeptuneLab platform;
2. Added German to multiple languages.

V1.03 update:
1. The time resolution of timer and delayer is upgraded to 0.1 seconds.
2. The change strategy is: when the output setting value is greater than the reasonable value, the current value will not be changed.
3. An "error status" is added to the list output running status. When the output value set by the list is greater than a reasonable value, an error will be reported.
4. Add a shortcut for setting UI language.

Upgrade method:
1. Select the upgrade file according to the model and put it in the root directory of the FAT32 format U disk (the file name cannot be modified);
2. Insert the USB flash drive into the machine to be upgraded (power off);
3. Press and hold the "UTILITY" button to turn on the computer and start the upgrade;
4. After the upgrade is completed, manually restart the machine.

Video how to:

[thm_w]

For those wondering if they can upgrade the UDP3305S-E to be a higher spec UDP3305S just by replacing the ADC/DAC chips (ADS1118 / DAC8562 ) and flashing new firmware, UNI-T says "It's not possible!"

That is cool that you asked.

I guess the ~$10 BOM difference is enough for them to make two different products (2pc ADS + 2pc DAC?). Other manufacturers wouldn't have bothered.
Teardown was good to see, you can always post the full link:

[pope]

Looks like they increased the prices. I was about to pull the trigger but now I'm gonna have to look for a different brand. Oh well...

[BillyO]

Looks like the increased the prices. I was about to pull the trigger but now I'm gonna have to look for a different brand. Oh well...

Yeah, they've given so many of them away lately to "influencers" they have to increase the price to make up for it.

[0x2102]

Hi there,

I own the UDP3305S-E for about a week now and overall I enjoy the PSU. 4 ports are great, build quality seems to be good, usability is good. I can't judge the accuracy or other technical specs.

Coming from RD buck converters there are two things I don't like that much:

1.) Fan noise. It seems like everybody it is saying is quieter than XYZ, but for me it's quite loud, even at idle and it only get's worse from there.
2.) Running the power supply at 12V / 5A: outputs 60W and it draws around 190W from the wall. Looks like PSU itself requires about 20W to operate, the rest is inefficiency due to the fact that it is a linear power supply?

Standby power consumption seems to be 0.2W - which is great and that's how it should be. I have seen power supplies that draw 6W - 8W in standby. That is a no-go in 2024.

I was thinking of replacing the fan with a Noctua but 1 low noise fan will probably not provide enough airflow when it has to dissipate > 100W. Heatsink seems too small for that.
Call me crazy but I might not keep it just because of the fan noise.
 

[thm_w]

2.) Running the power supply at 12V / 5A: outputs 60W and it draws around 190W from the wall. Looks like PSU itself requires about 20W to operate, the rest is inefficiency due to the fact that it is a linear power supply?

It does seem oddly poor efficiency (35%) but its not far off from whats expected from a linear PSU. Unless you have a switching pre-regulator or lots of transformer taps its going to generate heat. You can play with the output voltage and see where the taps change over and where the efficiency drops.

Comparison DP900:
- 24W at idle
- 30V 61W output, 130W from wall = 58%
- 24V 40W output, 92W from wall = 59%
- 12V 10W output, 48W from wall = 42%

Call me crazy but I might not keep it just because of the fan noise.

Don't think its crazy. These instruments are usually targeted at workplace use, where in an office fan noise of this level (I assume) is normal and tolerable. Though some are even too loud for workplace use (rigol dg800p). If you are a hobbyist at home, it may be unacceptably loud. Did you measure dB?

What are the specs of the original fan?
Don't think noctua is an optimal replacement just because its a good brand, it may or may not be a good swap.

[tonyalbus]

or lots of transformer taps its going to generate heat. You can play with the output voltage and see where the taps change over and where the efficiency drops.

Yes it as 3 or 4 tabs, you can hear the relays when changing the volatges, i thought i heared 3 or 4 clicks going from 0 to 30,
the good thing is, on lower voltages it does not have to dissipate to much power and heat, becouse it switched to a lower voltage on the transformer.
that is also the reason the heatsink does not have be to that  big.
and i am one of those who found it silent compared to my other PSU's in the lab.
i am running the latest FW, 1.12 maybe they also did something with the fan control

[thephil]

In my testing, I found four relay switching events at roughly 5, 11, 17.5 and 25V. That would translate to five separate transformer taps. So you would expect best efficiency just above those voltages.

[0x2102]

First thing I did was to upgrade the firmware to 1.12

I think the noise level is comparable to the DP900. It's not loud but it's also not silent as it could be, especially when the outputs are turned off. It's that steady fan noise I can hear 5 meter away from the unit.
Sometimes I would leave my other PSUs running when I google/review something but not with this one. It will remind you that it's running and I turn it off and back on 20 minutes later when I need it.

Comparison DP900:
- 24W at idle
- 30V 61W output, 130W from wall = 58%
- 24V 40W output, 92W from wall = 59%
- 12V 10W output, 48W from wall = 42%

Here are my UDP3305S-E numbers:
- 16W at idle
- 30V 60W output, 128W from wall = 54%
- 24V 40W output, 92W from wall = 53%
- 12V 10W output, 48W from wall = 31%

Did more testing and it seems like higher current has a big impact on efficiency. It looks like the best efficiency is before it has to switch to the next transformer tap - which kind of makes sense due to the higher load on the tap.

10W - 22.4W output results all in the same 72W from the wall. 2A current from 5V to 11.2V - right before the switching point.

[ncsm]

First, I apologize if this is out of context, but I was wondering if anyone could help with how to enter calibration mode? Best regards

[thephil]

I recently started playing with TestController (https://lygte-info.dk/project/TestControllerIntro%20UK.html) and, of course, the UDP3305S was not supported, yet. So I went ahead and put together a first version of a config file. So far, it supports data logging on all channels, including serial and parallel mode and configuring basic channel settings. It's available from my udp3305s GitHub repository:

https://github.com/philpagel/udp3305s

I would appreciate feedback, before I submit it to the TestController Project.

Thanks
   Phil

[thephil]

First, I apologize if this is out of context, but I was wondering if anyone could help with how to enter calibration mode? Best regards

I'm not sure, there is a calibration mode. At least I have not seen one or heard of it. You could try asking UNI-T about it – at first they will say no, but if you insist in a friendly way they may reveal something. That strategy worked for getting firmware upgrades...

[tonyalbus]

Hi, i have asked my UNI-T contact.

There is calibration via software via the USB port
UNI-T does not release that software to consumer,
only official service center with calibration equipment selected by UNI-T have this.

[Tillman]

SCPI Command dumped from flash.
I think these commands are used for calibration.

Code: [Select]

FACTORY:MIS:SN..
FACTORY:MIS:SN?
FACTORY:CAL:VOLT....
FACTORY:CAL:CURR....
FACTORY:CAL:VOLT:DELETE.
FACTORY:CAL:CURR:DELETE

[dEdt]

From firmware 1.11 onward an over-voltage protection OVP or over-current protection OCP level reached will lead to switch off of the related channel as tonyalbus described in Reply #45 .
Sometimes it is desirable to switch off all channels as for example symmetric supply of op-amps should be switched off together in case of one faulty supply.
The trigger function for the digital I/O lines can be used for this purpose:
Three lines are used as an output providing an "Output Off" event for each channel. One line is used as an input to switch off all channels.

The connector is wired according to the attached jpg using the connector screws, no soldering needed.
By the way the connector type is: Phoenix Contact MC 1,5/5-STF-3,81 with screwed connection, Nr. 1827732

The Trigger software setup is done in the menu Utility -> Trigger as following:

Data Line D0 set to "IN"
Ctrled Channel: CH1 CH2 CH3
Trig Type: Rise Edge
Sensitivity: Middle
Response: Output Off

Data Line D1 set to "OUT"
Ctrl Source: CH1
Trig Condition: Output Off
Polarity: Positive

Data Line D2 set to "OUT"
Ctrl Source: CH2
Trig Condition: Output Off
Polarity: Positive

Data Line D3 set to "OUT"
Ctrl Source: CH3
Trig Condition: Output Off
Polarity: Positive

Don't forget to enable the lines!

Now you can switch on the channels and the function is active.

As Pfriemler has discussed in Reply #97 the trigger output signals are latched, so after an event, the level of the related line remains in its post-trigger mode.

To reactivate the above discussed function after tripping, there are different ways. The simplest I have found is to power cycle the Power Supply. Fortunately the trigger configuration is preserved with one exception, you have to enable all four lines again in the Trigger menu.

[kangalooj]

Hi, How did it go?