SDL1020X-E Electronic Load Communication Timeout Error

[vedsoni]

Hello everyone!

I have a Siglent Electronic Load 'SDL 1020X-E' with which I'm trying to communicate via LabVIEW. I have connected the load to the PC via a USB A to USB B cable. When I open NI MAX, the device does show up under Devices and Interfaces section as a USB device along with its address as shown:

NI MAX recognizing the Electronic Load

After this, I tried communicating with the load using the NI MAX VISA Test Panel and queried the IDN command. This, however, returned a timeout error, which was unexpected. (the timeout is set to 2000 ms)

I also repeated the same procedure by connecting the load to two other workstations with LabVIEW on it, but it gave me the same result.

Furthermore, I created a VI in LabVIEW using VI 'Open' and 'Close' commands and queried the device with an IDN. The device's name does appear in the dropdown list for VISA resource names but when the VI is executed, it returns a timeout error. (PFA the code).

Lastly, SDL just released their own LabVIEW driver for communicating with their load. I created a similar VI with 'initialize' and 'close' commands with their driver. Again I could see the driver listed in the dropdown list for device names but VI returned a timeout error.

What is the issue here? Do I need to change the NI-VISA version? I am communicating with Siglent as well about this, but they too do not have any idea about this error. Please help me out in troubleshooting this problem.

Stay safe and have a great day!

[MrJackHamilton]

I have been using 2 different Siglent instruments, DMM & PS which all experience problems via USB. I've detailed that in other places in the forums.

I have had complete success using the Ethernet port interface on the Siglent - and most if not all the timeout/drop out problems dissappear. Configure the address on the Siglent instrument - then open MAX and use the Network devices - find to obtain the handle to the device.

I believe the cause of the USB interface is the IVI USB driver as of today 7-2020 is dated 2013 as reported by Windows Device Manger as the 'latest most recent' version of the IVI USB driver - which is terribly out-of-date in the world of software and before the inception of Windows 10. Not to mention, possible issues with digital driver signatures, expiration dates, Microsoft obsolence implementations as they push Win10 updates out as we sleep.