Test/review of Electronic load ZKE EBD-USB

EDC Gear for Flashlight Carriers USB Power Devices
51

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)

52

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.

53

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

54

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

Mike Nash

55

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.

56

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.

57

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)

58

On 10 it is easier:
Use device manager, first select “Show hidden devices”, then you can right click on each and just remove it.

59

The new download URL for the PC software is:

the English software version is marked “eb_setup_v1.8.5en_20190301.exe”

60

Thanks for the update! Any major changes?

61

I haven’t used the tester in years. I can’t see any major changes in the software.

62

Sometimes it’s getting worse :wink:

Better change hardware. Look here

63

Looks like a good load for sure, but not great for USB tests.

64

Yeah, it lacks connectors, but not big deal when you have time to do some soldering.

65

Even then, anything with quick charge won’t communicate well - but it’s an interesting load I haven’t seen before. Thanks!

66

Hi friend. I have ebd-usb+. But i have a big problem. I changed the calibration setting of the device.But dont fix it.Can the device be reset? Can it be restored to its initial settings? Can you help me pls.

67

How did you calibrate it?

If you use the EBD-USB+ software (EB Tester), I think in the Calibration menu, there is a Reset button — have you tried it?
(I have not personally tried calibrating or resetting my EBD-USB+ though, so kindly report here if the Reset button did something for your unit).

~

EB Tester software has another update (it now indicates Build 2020-01-01) - as usual no changelog and likely just some very minor unspecified changes since the executable file seems to still be similar file size)

(when installing, I find that you need to uninstall or rename/delete the old EB.exe file (default in C:\Program Files (x86)\ZKETECH\ folder), otherwise, it didn’t seem to update my previous EB Tester Software even when it appears to install successfully…)

68

I have a couple of questions ( for HKJ ) about this tester for batteries is possible to just use the current measuring capabilities of this tester with out using the on board load ?

How easy would it be to power the battery voltage separately from the battery tester from the USB connector to the computer

Thanks for your time

69

Easy, it has a USB output for that purpose.

? The computer connection is separate from the measurement input and output, but there is a common ground connection.

70

The reason I was asking about if the load of the tester could be disabled is because what I have in mind doing is setting up a battery backup power supply charging and discharge logger for power supply output

I have there battery tester machine and just love using it for that purpose but I do not want to modify this tester
I would prefer to use this device and modify it for the purpose that I was just talking about

Thanks for answering my question this helps