Safety Warning for owners of GW Instek GDS-200 / 300 Electrical fuse issue

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Kiriakos GR:
For me as Blogger it is my responsibility to thoroughly inspect all aspects of any incoming sample, but exclusively at GDS-200/300 Oscilloscope & multimeter I shown trust and never checked fuses compartment.

Today after removing plastic cover for an eye inspection of lithium battery inside, I did a sad discovery.
Fuses inside these are made by Conquer Electronics Co., Ltd. in Taiwan, Fuses model this is UDE and this translates to Slow-Blow Fuses at 500V.

I am not aware of whom dump-ass with in GW Instek made such a choice of Fuses, but this is major mistake especially when UDE Fuses these have interrupting rating of :
500mA~3.15A : 1500 amperes at 500V DC and at 4A~12A : 500 amperes at 500V DC

Therefore it is my responsibility to alert public opinion that GDS-200/300 should be not used for direct current measurement to mains, and all GDS-200/300 Owners are obligated to consult GW Instek brand of which type of fuses they should use as immediate replacement.

Currently if your GDS-200/300 has default fuse setup, you should avoid using current measurements as safety precaution.
My finding this has severe importance and it makes me wonder of how this meter did pass approval to be used even at CAT II 600V / CAT III 300V with Slow-Blow fuses?
Conquer Electronics Co., Ltd. - UDE Fuses

I am attaching picture of GDS-300 fuses compartment and of CONQ UDE Fuses PDF.

Kiriakos GR:
This is rather interesting, even after a month time, new management group at GW Instek, they stay silent behind the walls of their castle.

This is a great example of how GW Instek behaves when you actually cough them with their pants down. :P

Haggy38:
Hi,

I recently bough the GW Instek GDS 207 Scopemeter, waiting to receive it, what type of fuse should I replace them if they are as you described? Still using your GDS 320? so far so good? Do you have some inside pictures? Sorry for too much questions.

Gustavo

Kiriakos GR:

--- Quote from: Haggy38 on April 26, 2018, 10:02:40 PM ---Hi,

I recently bough the GW Instek GDS 207 Scopemeter, waiting to receive it, what type of fuse should I replace them if they are as you described? Still using your GDS 320? so far so good? Do you have some inside pictures? Sorry for too much questions.

Gustavo

--- End quote ---

Hi,
You did just powered up my own curiosity, about if something different in the regard of Fuses will be inside at your own GDS 207 scope-meter.
For now all that I am going to say, this is be careful when you will remove the back cover, there is a pair of cables with a tiny connector, that you have to gentle (unplug) remove prior freely removing this back cover.

GDS-200 / 300 PCB this is close to identical.
I am looking forwards to see a picture of your fuses.

Personally for every day use I am using GDS-2102A which I did carefully select it, and I am still pleased with it, but even so I am still looking for a faster than this.
GDS-320 this does not see much of action in my hands , I do not have these days outdoor applications, but I do using it as comparison point when I have doubts.
Currently I consider GDS-320 also as calibration standard, I am keeping it in pristine condition. :)

Haggy38:
Thanks for your feedback, did you changed your fuses? What type? As soon I get it I will inspect the fuses, and post some pictures.

I will use this scopemeter for my vintage audio and 90s pinball machines.

Gustavo