Test/review of Electronic load ZKE EBD-USB

I installed it... Nothing has changed apparently :)

Hi BLF.
I couldn’t find the build 2017-12-01 file in the provided link. Could someone post an alternative link to download it please. Thanks.
Mozart

Thanks for pointing out, the software download web page appears to have been changed to another page on the same website here:
电脑联机软件下载 - 灼智科技(ZKETECH)_np=7_302

d_t_a
Thanks for the link.
Will try the new build.

I’m looking at picking one of these up, does anyone know where the best place to buy is?

Banggood has it, but several AliExpress stores also carry it usually at a somewhat better price, but select a store with a higher feedback rating.

Hello HKJ,

Just found this forum and your post about the EBD-USB. I have one and have used it to load batteries under test. I have also seen others using it to monitor batteries while being charged, i.e. monitoring and graphing the voltage and current of the battery being charged. I would also like to use it to monitor batteries during charge but I have found no information anywhere as to how to do this. A few videos show that the female connector on the side of the EBD-USB is used for battery charge monitoring but no connection details. Any information would be welcome. Thank You

You connect the battery to the “usb out” connector and then you select “monitor” in the PC program

Wouldn’t this show only the voltage and not the current?

The idea with the out connector is that it measures current, the voltage will not be that precise due to connection and cable resistance (That is just me, I like a lot of correct digits).

So to set this up, you would need a way to route the current to the out connector, like two wires with an insulator in between at one end of the cell. Right?

You would need to route then source current to the input connector and the char current from the output connector. There is no need for any extra isolator, you just need to draw all your current from the output connector, without any connections to the input connector.

You’re talking about measuring from the USB port, not from a cell, right? Because if not, I’m not clear on how this would work to monitor the current at the cell.

If you want to measure how a battery charger works (the actual CC/CV curve used to charge the battery) you would insert the EBD-USB between the charger terminals and the battery, not between the USB power supply and charger power supply input. For this you need to come up with some cable adapters as the meter only has USB ports.

Here’s how you would connect it (just using a different meter and lots of unnecessary adapters, keep them to a minimum and use as short and thick cables as is practical)

It is done the same way as maukka so nicely illustrates. Just be aware that there will be some resistance in the setup, i.e. the charging will not be exactly the same as without it.

Thanks so much, that’s way smarter than what I was trying. Time to track down some parts!

Many thanks to HKJ, bmengineer and maukka for the posts clarifying the EBD-USB+ battery current monitor connections.

Mike Nash

Hi,

Just found this forum and this post. I, for the life of me, cannot get my EBD-USB+ to work … I think my computer see’s ‘it’ … it autodetects com port 3 (and if i change the com port in the deveice manager settings the software seems to ‘follow’ the new com port) but the software simply will not connect to any load I put on it … i get nothing.

I can confirm that the load tesing, USB female slot works, as I can attach an actual load to the male usb out and it works off the source battery i attach to the usb female input plug. And if i assume that the micro-sub port to attachj ti to my computer, then i am not sure what’s wrong.

I kind of feel like it’s a computer/com prot issue … i’m using windows 10 and i’m not sure how it treats a USB plugged in device as a com port (is there a setting i need to change). I will try to try using older EDB-USB software and i will try a firmware update … if i click on the firmware update buttonm in the software, it actually doesn’t let me select any type of device …o perhaps my micro-usb connection isn’t working? I’ve tried 2 different cables but will try a third to see if that works.

Thanks for any help, advice and sugestions.

Cheers.

Use these drivers and follow the instructions carefully:
http://www.ifamilysoftware.com/news37.html

Firmware updating only works after you short some pads on the PCB.

I have EBD-USB(not plus) for about 2 years, and I’m not happy due sudden disconnect from COM-port. Software indicators become frozen, and device continue to draw current. Very disappointing to begin spoiled test again and again. Tried everything, different PCs, Windows, cables, drivers. Defective device? Don’t know. Not using now. Got TEC-06, run it w/o PC connection.

Sad. Good device...

Btw, to clean out COM ports on Windows 7/8 (not sure abt 10, make backup first) there is a script, just as example:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports]
"FILE:"=""
"LPT1:"=""
"LPT2:"=""
"LPT3:"=""
"XPSPort:"=""
"Ne00:"=""
"Ne01:"=""
"Ne02:"=""
"Ne03:"=""
"FOXIT_Reader:"=""
"Ne04:"=""
"COM1:"="9600,n,8,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\COM Name Arbiter]
"ComDB"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

COM assignment will be reset, make sure you don't have vital things there (printer, modem, etc)