USB power meter/tester thread - YZXStudio, Power-Z, RDTech and more.

Argh, I am frustrated! …because I’ve had my zy1276 for a week and haven’t gotten a chance to play with it, lol!

Lots of great info here, thanks all! Can’t wait to use it… :person_facepalming:

Sheesh, why does life have to be so busy that I can’t spend every day tinkering with my hobbies? Well, I did get my EBD-USB+ up and running yesterday, that’s good.

Works great!

edit: one problem, when trying to save the chart, it says “the system cannot find the drive specified”. I’m running the software from C:. Or was this feature still unfinished?

you can specify the path in the settings. then when connected, press play, then press pause, then go do the cart, then you should be able to save it, BUT yes, this feature isnt finished and tested, so please be patient.

The log .csv saves fine, just not the chart.

bug fixed, please download latest file. Chart is already in developing, but it is in working condition…

I notice here:

The ZY1276 firmware v3.35C (it seems to indicate 2017/10/22) includes a test for Apple MFi, unfortunately I’m not sure where the firmware might be available for download — I believe one has to join a China-based WeChat/QQ group to get the firmware update?

Can the latest ZY1276 perform checks for Type-C compliancy?
Or is it just a resistance test like on the previous models?

Any word on MFi-checking capability yet?

Any idea how to test for Type-C compliancy?

I presume needed are 3 ingredients:

  1. genuine USB Type-C to Type-C cable
  2. Type-C charger (that understands Power Delivery) and also
  3. Type-C (Power Delivery) load?

Purchased a ZY1276 from ebay seller 6999694 in late December. Delivery took approx 9 business days via included (free) ePacket from Shen Zhen to the Central US.

Construction seems solid and the LCD is vivid. The charge rate/power detection appears accurate after testing and comparing the documentation on a number of different make/model power banks and wall chargers.

The unit arrived with firmware 3.35G with default language of English. No instructions were included but I was able to figure out basic operation from the ZY1270 manual found at www.kaayee.com/download/.

After some additional research on yzxstudio.world.taobao.com, I found the ZY1276 description page has reference to a document archive. This archive has the v3.33 English and v3.35 Chinese manuals in pdf. (说明书_免费高速下载|百度网盘-分享无限制)

For those asking about the apple MFi check - I haven’t figured out a way to perform this test.

Update on the MFi check:

* A Quick Charge 3.0 capable power source is likely required to activate this test.*

1.) Repeatedly press select button until you are on Screen 3 (Voltage / Current / Power + DATALINE + PROTOCOL)
2.) Long press select button to activate the “FastChargeTrigger” menu.

* WARNING* Make sure nothing other than the power supply is connected at this point. You take the risk of accidentally over-volting/destorying any connected downstream electronics in cables or devices depending on your power supplies’ capabilities and the Fast Charge menu options you choose! It’s easy to accidentally trigger >5V voltage output in this menu so consider this warning.

3.) Press button twice to select “Are You Sure”? (As a safety measure - If a connected device is detected this option may not be available.)
4.) Long press button to enter the Fast Charge Trigger menu.
5.) Press button repeatedly to navigate to the “AppleOldMFi” menu item (last on list) and then long press to start the test.
6.) You will be prompted to connect the power supply side of the MFi cable and press button to start test. Cycling power will take you directly back to the “AppleOldMFi” test menu until you manually exit by long pressing the button.

Notes:

If connected to a typical 5v only USB power source, the MFi test will fail saying “Not Allowed”. After a good deal of trial and error and some additional research I found a different brand’s USB power meter MFi check requires a Quick Charge 3.0 power supply for the test. It appears this test requires 6.5+ volts.

After locating a power bank with a QC 3.0 port, I tested every Apple cable I had on hand and found the following:

A.) 10+ Apple OEM lightning cables passed both the first 5V and second 6.xV tests as expected. These cables included the original thinner and the slightly thicker cables shipped with the newer ipads and iphone+ size models.

B.) A single new Apple OEM cable failed the first test (test 2 auto skipped) and was detected as a Fake. I’m fairly certain this is a previously unused cable that came with an iPhone X or an 8. However the cable works fine for full rate (12 Watt) charging a 50% discharged iPhone X and iPad Pro 10.5 on IOS 11.2

C.) Amazon Basics branded 3ft + 6ft cables passed both tests.

D.) Anker branded 6ft cabled passed both tests.

E.) Cheap 4pk of “G-Cord” labeled 6” cables from Amazon - Failed first test and labeled as a fake. However this cable charges a 1/2 charged ipad Pro at 11.75w (5.00v/2.35A). It also charged an iphone 5s @20% charge with very aged battery at ~4 watts.

I’m not an MFi certification and spec guru… if I had to guess, the MFi test performed was for an older MFi spec… hence the label “AppleOldMFi”.

Someone with more knowledge of MFi certification, specs, and changes between them please chime in.

Any idea where to download the firmware 3.35G for the ZY1276?

Update:
After looking around more carefully, I decided to go to YZXStudio's TaoBao site (which seems to be the "official" site).
On the page that sells the STLink programmer (which I also got), there are links to the latest firmware update.

STLink programmer device in Taobao:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.0.0.18b1977bBi3AZA&id=40440336480

In the description, there's a link to the firmware download site:
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1c4ahNg

Go down the directory structure from the above link:
https://pan.baidu.com/s/1c4ahNg#list/path=%2F%E5%8D%87%E7%BA%A7%E6%96%87%E4%BB%B6%2F%E5%BD%A9%E5%B1%8FUSB%E8%A1%A8


The latest firmware so far is here (v3.35H dated 12/24/2017)
ZY1275ZY1276V335H-171224.zip

Followed the instructions given on the STLink item page (there are illustrations there, even if one couldn't read Chinese).

Basically the procedure is:
1) download & install the STLink utility (STM32)

2) you may want to do a Firmware Update on the STLink programmer device first (unplug/replug after firmware upgraded)

3) instructions suggest 2 possible ways of updating the ZYxxxx USB meter (there are other instructions there for updating the various YZXStudio devices, like the ZLxxxx load meter and the YZXStudio powerbank, but I won't delve into those since I didn't try those):
- follow the wire configuration (3 or 4-wire) as illustrated there:

- method (a) first connect the STLink programmer (4-wire) to the USB meter; next insert the STLink programmer to the PC's USB port, then run the STLink utility (actually you could run the utility even before connecting the STLink to the PC);


- method (b) do not connect the 3.3v wire of the STLink programmer (ie. only 3 pins), but instead plug the USB meter to a power source (eg. power bank / power adapter); then the order of connection described in (a) can be done in any order

4) STLink utility program operation:
- Open the firmware file (in my case, I used the "ZY1276-2.hex" -- I'm not sure what's the difference of the "ZY1276-1.hex", the instructions seem to indicate that if "-1.hex" fails, try the "-2.hex". [my ZY1276 formerly had firmware 3.33N; it's now updated to 3.35H]
- Click "Program Verify"
- if properly connected -- see (3), it seems to automatically open window box with "Verify after programming". Click Start. It should takes just several seconds.
- the instruction says to click "Disconnect from target" icon before actually disconnecting the STLink pins from the USB meter.

Of course, the tricky part of the above is holding the 4-pins (or 3-pins if externally powered) of the STLink programmer onto the USB meter for the whole time you're also controlling the program on the PC...

~~~~~~~~

I still have to try out what's new in the v3.35H firmware..
(update:)

after tinkering a bit (my ZY1276 came with 3.33N), after updating to 3.35H,
changes I immediately noticed (before I read the firmware changelog) --
- the "3-parameter" display page (volt/ampere/watt) (the screen where one can change orientation of the screen) now updates/refreshes faster than the other display pages (this is documented in the V3.35F-171129 changelog)
- the VA curve display page: clicking the button before will change to the next display page (the 3-parameter display), with the new firmware, clicking the button once will "stop" (pause) the curve display, clicking the button again changes to the next display page
(in effect, it now takes an additional button click to go to the next display page; also, clicking once "stops" the curve, but I don't know how to "resume" the curve display, other than to cycle to the next pages until it comes back to the curve display page -- if anyone knows how to "resume" the curve display after "pausing" it, other than to cycle thru the next pages until it comes back to the same page)

-protection detection display page, display order has been changed a bit: USB Type-C is now displayed on top, and with some additional info, whereas before, Type-C was displayed at the bottom and with less info (documented in V3.35E-171110, V3.35E-171120, V3.35H-171221, etc)

- new protocol detection triggers (mFi, AFC) [as documented in V3.35C-171022]
- have yet to test Apple mFi since I don't have a new Apple device at the moment (still using an old iPad 3 with older-type connector)

The firmware changelog is as follows (translated from Chinese, courtesy of Google Translate)

[update: I reformatted it, and fixed some wordings, hopefully making it slightly easier to read]

big display screen firmware
ZY1270 'large color' meter, dual USB female, green.
ZY1271 'flying dragon' meter, single USB female, dual Type-C port, red.
ZY1276 'large blue' meter, new fast charge trigger, blue.


V3.33-170613beta
solved a few calibration writing errors bug.

V3.33-170609beta
increased the screen display area,
optimized part of the page display,
optimized curve automatic range effect,
added ability to change to Chinese interface in the Language system settings,
optimized the System Settings display,
added 4-direction rotation in 3-parameter display page - long press to adjust.

V3.33-170618beta
added Serial Port Upload function,
simplified the Setup Menu by removing a few useless functions,
change some bugs.

V3.33-170622beta
fixed PD Listening mode current 0 bug,
optimized fast charge trigger interface automatically release fast charge,
optimized PD monitoring stability.

V3.33-170627beta
fixed off-screen does not calculate the capacity.
fixed the old version current display error during low temperature bug.

V3.33-170711beta
fixed minor interface garbled bug.

V3.33-170715beta
fixed Clear Record Data shows the error code 015 bug,
fixed high power parameter overflow bug.

V3.33-170726beta
added fast charge trigger direct operation on next power up
optimized possible PD flashing screen bug.

V3.33-170727beta
added support for the yellow ZY1273 to upgrade to this version.

V3.33-170730beta
added Huawei SCP-4.5V2A decoy trigger,
fixed Samsung AFC triggering stability.

V3.35C-171022
added E-Marker line test,
added Apple mFi line test,
added Apple 2.4A mode,
added PD Packet Capture details,
fixed PD3.0-PPS compatibility,
fixed D+ D- pull-up causing ip6518 bug,
optimized PD capture speed and PD trigger stability,
new automatic test shows PD maximum power function.

V3.35C-171023
solved a screen flashes after automatic blank screen bug.

V3.35C-171024
solved a factory test mode bug,
solved a PD trigger bug.

V3.35D-171102
optimized Auto-Detection Mode PD Power display compatibility
solved a PD history problem where misoperation may cause the device when unplugged not to return to 5V bug (PD bug has nothing to do with me).

V3.35E-171110
fixed Netease 65W charger PD Trigger blank screen does not work bug,
optimized the automatic protocol detection display order.

V3.35E-171117
added black gold ZY1275 support.

V3.35E-171120
PD interface screen and Automatic Detection interface screen now displays PD2.0 or PD3.0 protocol.

V3.35F-171129
optimized SCP trigger can output 4.5V5A constant current,
optimized the three-parameter display interface 12.5FPS high-speed refresh.

V3.35G-171211
fixed a calibration data lost flashing 0 can not start bug.

V3.35H-171221
added Samsung AFC 12V detection in automatic protocol detection,
optimized some AFC detection stability,
fixed automatic Protocol Detection PD power 100W display as 10W bug.

V3.35H-171224
solved a slow D+ D- curve wrong range bug.


Be careful not to flash incorrectly.
If the flash is wrong, please replace the -1 or -2 suffix and try to re-flash.
This version does not support DIY LOGO upgrade boot screen.

Nice find on the ZY127x firmware repository.

Here is a link to the official ST Microelectronics hosted ST-LINK/ STM32 programming utility v4.2.0 - http://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stsw-link004.html

The ST provided windows signed drivers and a firmware update for the ST Link V2 programmer can be found at the bottom at that page. These appear to work for the non ST branded programmers.

Off to ebay/amazon for an st-link v2 and some pogo pins…

I notice that Banggood now has the ZY1276 USB meter for sale.

What makes me curious is the back panel shows some extra that are not present on mine (though mine is the one without Bluetooth):


(image is copied from Banggood’s product page for the ZY1276)

There are 2 holes marked On/Off with a Bluetooth icon, so I presume this is the picture of a ZY1276 with the Bluetooth communication module — so there’s a toggle to turn it on and off?

And on the side opposite the USB male connector, there are an additional 6 more holes with a label “CHG” (charge??) — any guesses as to what this might be for? (those are not present on mine)

(Could it be for an internal or external battery for the ZY1276 so it does not drain a minimal current from the USB power device? That could make the ZY1276 self-powered and perhaps more accurate for measuring other devices that have lower voltage — in my test, with a “USB power supply”, eg. a drained 18650 with USB-connector-to-battery-holder, the ZY1276 screen starts getting very dim when below something like 2.9v, I think the screen won’t display at all at around 2.6v — also, the voltage is likely not accurate since the ZY1276 is getting power to power itself). An external power would make it useful in these (not-real-USB-devices) testing purposes.

Well, we'll know soon enough, I ordered one yesterday :)

I also got some more UPM's in : Power-Z KM001, RuiDeng UM24C and that WEB-U3MFi I mentioned earlier...

How’s the Power-Z KM001? Maybe you can do a short “quick look” of its features (another message thread or youtube video…) I think HKJ has not yet done a full review of it yet (though I remember him saying he has already ordered it.)

I’ve made a quick video on how the ZY1276 USB meter tests Lightning cables for Apple mFi compliance:

I'v been working on a video for a while now, but the manual I have is written so densely/translated very badly, I don't understand much of it. On top of that, in that manual, screens are show that mine doesn't have.

And the software that you can get for it, is partially in Chinese, so that's another hurdle :)

I have tried to contact the guys behind the meters at chargerlab, but they won't answer...

Ah, nice.... I have that WEB-U3MFi that can do that, it's got a dedicated lightning port.
Don't have a manual at all for this one :)

Ah, that would be a first, I haven’t seen a USB meter with dedicated Lightning port yet…

I'm workin' on a video about it, but as I don't even have a manual, there is a lot of trial and error :)

Updated:
Mine has this a different back panel with the BT on/off wording. The back side is empty except for pads and traces for several components including a large section for what I assume is a BT module similar to the other ZY127x series… but I believe the layout and component/pad count are different.

Adding pics:

UPDATE

Hey guys as per dodge_911’s suggestion I’m making this thread a new place to discuss all sorts of USB power testing devices. YZXstudio meters are good but many new options have showed up recently from brands like Power-Z, AVHzY, Kotomi, RUIDENG and more.

Feel free to ask about any USB power meter/tester!

I received the AVHzY CT-2 also known as Kotomi Premium a few days ago and will post a mini review very soon. But I’m going to tell you right away if you’re thinking about spending $50 for the ZY1276 do consider the ZVHzY first. It is $20 more but offers a lot more than the YZX, including 3 slot 3750pt offline logging, MFi authentication (USB A), QC2/3.0 trigger, PD listener and much easier UI navigation. Most importantly Win10 x64 compatible driver and software that is easy to operate. It also comes with a USB dummy load, it’s not a ZL1000 but it works for most tasks.