Voltcraft DLP 3306 powersupply => USB connection

[kaleemg]

Hi Folks
I'm using Voltcraft DLP 3306 power supply which is connected to the PC via USB.
I see from device manager "USB Test and Measurement Device (IVI)" is displayed (please see screenshot for reference)

But I'm trying to control the power supply with python script and tried to use the voltcraft package. It is not possible to control as it is not possible to know which port it is running.

$ py -m voltcraft COM[X]

It gives below error:
RuntimeError: No Voltcraft PPS powersupply connected to COM[X]

When I try connecting using the GUI (ODPEasyControl 3CH.vi) provided by the device supplier. It is asking serial number of device hardware for the connection and it is possible to connect (ODPEasyControl 3CH.vi) and control the power supply user GUI interface

How to control it with python without using the GUI ?
Please let me know, if someone has already experienced it.

Thanks in advance

[kaleemg]

We have LAN / USB / SERIAL options to connect the PPS. See below image:

I tried USB and also SERIAL options. After connecting the serial cable, there is no change in device manager to see the COM port.

[ap--]

Hi @kaleemg

You need to provide more details on what you're actually doing. It's hard to help debug with the information you provide.

• When you access the Powersupply via Labview, is it connected via ethernet or via USB or via the com port?

• What serial adapter are you using when trying to connect via serial?

• When you connect via USB, can you check the USB vendor and product id, and report it here?

Cheers,
Andreas

[kaleemg]

Hi @ap--

Please see below answers to your query:

When you access the Powersupply via Labview, is it connected via ethernet or via USB or via the com port?
I'm not accessing the powersupply via labview. It is connected via com port.

What serial adapter are you using when trying to connect via serial?
It is direct serial to serial adapter. (not usb to serial adapter)

When you connect via USB, can you check the USB vendor and product id, and report it here?

I would like to provide more info:
This PPS Voltcraft DLP 3306 is possible to connect via 1. LAN/2. USB/ 3. COM as per the user manual.

1. It is possible to connect via LAN and control with the python API, which is mentioned here: https://github.com/scaleway/voltcraft-dlp3306

2. It is possible to connect via USB using the interface provided by Conrad.
   For this, we need to enter the serial number of the PPS. But I would like to control it with the python API which is provided by you,

But it is not possible as I'm unable to find which port is getting used by the PC for PPS.

3. I tried to connect serial to serial adapter (PPS to PC) directly. In this case, I assume the COM1 port should be used for the communication, which is not happening. Also I tried to connect serial to USB adapter (PPS to PC). it is possible to detect the port, but it is not possible to communicate or give response like you get in the command prompt. please see below image,

do you have this PPS model in your list?

Thank you.

[ap--]

Sorry for the long delay. This dropped off the list when I went on holiday.

This package uses pyserial to talk to the powersupplies from voltcraft that all use the same very simple serial protocol.

I can't really help with figuring out which COM port will be mapped to your powersupply.
Maybe try: https://pyserial.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tools.html#module-serial.tools.list_ports

But there is a chance, that this powersupply just uses a different protocol and is incompatible.

Without the hardware at hand to debug, I can't really help.

Since you mentioned that there is a LabView VI Gui (ODPEasyControl 3CH.vi) and you are able to control the power supply via the user GUI interface, there is a possible way you can provide me with the information I need to help:

1. install software to log communication on the COM or USB port. Change a few settings and record all the device communication. From the binary dump I might be able to help with implementing support for your powersupply.
2. check if the user manual has a description of the serial protocol, and if yes, please upload the user manual here, or add a link to it.

Cheers,
Andreas