ITTSB.EU Blog Forum
Electrical Test and Measurement instruments => Bench-top Oscilloscope & Handheld scope meter => Topic started by: Kiriakos GR on May 15, 2018, 10:24:06 PM
-
My very own GDS-320 Oscilloscope this started demonstrating battery capacity damage.
Within three years time of ownership (3 years, 5 months,).. I did recharge it about 40 times.
Most of times I was use it as oscilloscope for intervals of 30 minutes top, and few times as DMM for thermostat behavior data-log.
I do consider such using conditions as very lightweight ones, even so for another one time it seems that Lithium chemistry this is my silent enemy.
My first test shown that my GDS 320 battery this now lost about 35% of storage capacity, but I am going run more tests in this week.
Replacement battery should be FT8862103P, nowadays Google search will drive you at the home page of the Chinese manufacturer which takes pride of how safe they are the batteries which him produce.
UN38.3 for Lithium Ion Battery tests this is actually about crashing down the battery and this does not get in flames.
Unfortunately Lithium pouch batteries they have the tendency to dis-form but not always.
At home page of http://www.fujielectronics.com.cn/index.html (http://www.fujielectronics.com.cn/index.html) there is not any downloadable datasheets, just a brief description and miniature pictures which I just enlarge for our visitors to see.
What seems problematic this is that specific brand does not use email or talks to strangers. ;D
Neither seems to have any distributors about retail sales, and in simple English an direct product order seems impossible if you do not speak Chinese.
-
At my first message above, I was feeling as alerted so to find more proofs about this problem.
Today I did open up the scope so to find out the entire truth.
My findings are not positive, one of the two cells this is now slightly bulged.
But even so this is not that major as issue, than what it is the totally problematic concept behind the process of battery removal and replacement.
Specific battery this is attached directly over a metallic frame of thin metal, that it is the back cover of TFT screen.
Dual side sticky tape it does good job holding the battery unmovable, but this is also a high risk factor than even an expert, he could cause damage to other parts, when this battery it must be removed.
Practically because I have the awareness that tiny and long length pcb of battery charge controller, this is folded at the entire length of both cells, this makes impossible battery removal with out this getting damaged.
1) Therefore the possibility of replacing just the battery cells and reusing the old battery controller, this has less than 10% chances of success.
2) Additionally there is no warranty that specific charging controller will stay unlocked when individual battery cell are removed from it (unsoldered).
3) I would predict than even if you had the chance to have a fresh assembled battery pack in your hands, original spare part this delivered to you by GW Instek, risks of damaging other parts this is extremely high.
Therefore you are tied with only option and this is GW Instek about them to handle this process.
What I am still unaware this is entire cost of parts and labor and shipping, so one GDS 200/300 scope this to gain a new battery replacement.
Assembled battery dimensions: 8 mm x 120 mm (wide) x 100 mm (length).
Wires: Red, Yellow , white, they carry +8.15V its one (scope turned off) and black this is negative.
Similar Li-polymer Cycle life: 500 Times (and 1 year warranty).
Charge voltage 8.4V
Nominal voltage 7.4V
Max. charge voltage 8.6V
According to battery production date of my GDS320, this is now 48 months old ( becomes four years old in about two months time).
-
Have you contacted GW Instek for possible solutions? And battery replacement cost? Terrible news to gds owners, fuses and battery replacement......what else?... it's an expensive scopemeter >:(
Gustavo
-
I did contact authorized seller of GW Instek in Greece, they will let me know of replacement battery cost as soon they will receive relative information's from the source.
In the positive side of things, in our times (this decade) only GW Instek and HIOKI Japan, they providing spare parts for component level repair.
From the other hand, its one battery powered tool, it hides one surprise, which the customer will discover in a later time.
In the regard of spare parts availability, I have full trust at both GW Instek and HIOKI Japan, and to no one else.
-
Today I did receive long waited news.
GW Instek sends a picture this illustrating battery spare part.
Yes the battery comes bonded over aluminum frame, this solution translates that you are not simply paying for battery cells.
There is also a note, that its customer he should mention serial code number, because there is two versions of this spare part.
Currently available it is this pictured below.
Never forget that for actual pricing estimate, you should contact national GW Instek authorized re-seller.
My very own price estimate this is 80 Euros (plus 5 EUR local shipping) or a total of 85 EUR delivered.
This solution it is for customers willing accepting the risk to fiddle with sensitive ribbon type cabling and to perform free of mistakes work.
-
Since 2018 and up to 2026, they are several changes.
1) GW Instek this classified GDS-200 / 300 series as discontinued.
2) Today at 3/2026, I did receive from HQ - Taiwan, a message, that the company will support these products for five years, after official discontinued date.
3) Product support countdown clock, this started ticking at 1/2024, end date this might be at 1/2029.
4) GW Instek EU (Netherlands), product service/RMA team, the GDS battery is EUR 124 plus shipping.
5) For Greece they offered as shipping price the number of EUR 80.
An Bold sum this is at 202 Euros. (I am assuming VAT as included).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other alternatives:
For fellow citizens of Russia, there is a domestic company, batteries seller, this has the offer of order-able FT8862103P substitute.
They are using four small cells, wired in pairs, battery cells of unknown source in China.
For fellow citizens of European Union.
Even up to date, there is no alternative offering as assembled battery pack.
The only branded source of batteries that I do trust, this is named as Cameron Sino (CS).
And I did message them, so to get their voice, if they are interested to offer a substitute?
Within European Union we are not limited at finding all sorts of Lithium Ion, battery cells.
An DIY expert he can decode FT8862103P electrical wiring, these four cables.
He may also reuse BMS board of FT8862103P, and to connect a new pair of generic cells.
Due the ungrateful nature of the ones visiting ITTSB EU, so to steal technical information, with out donating and supporting me = the source.
I am now in denial to share any information about my very own research at making my own FT8862103P substitute.
Note regarding market of used GDS-200 / 300 ( at eBay and other sources):
All listing they have now instruments, with a half damaged battery, you will need a NEW replacement battery at 100%.
Always consider as your own responsibility the costs of getting an replacement battery.
GW Instek did two errors at product design:
a) They did not use an external battery box, this for 18650 type, of easily available Li Ion Cells. :P
b) If the battery was instead, an lifepo4 ?, this it would have a survival ability of ten years max.
c) Due to Li Ion design compatibility of internal charger, any replacement (battery pack), this must be of Li Ion chemistry.
-
My golden advice if you discover swollen battery issue...
Stop using the instrument, this will prevent further increase of gas pressure.
------------------------------------------------
Regarding GW Instek, the company and service center both are in denial to verify that they own fresh stock of this battery. :P
And now a message for the brave ones, there is a door at Aliexpress ( Modern Battery factory - with fresh international certifications) this it can offer this type of cells (2x 3.7V), for about 24EUR shipped.
The catch is, that you need to reuse FT8862103P BMS (PCB).
-
4) GW Instek EU (Netherlands), product service/RMA team, the GDS battery is EUR 124 plus shipping.
5) For Greece they offered as shipping price the number of EUR 80.
An Bold sum this is at 202 Euros. (I am assuming VAT as included).
According to this policy, GW Instek EU, this has nothing to offer at south Europe customers.
This is a classic example of lazy employees, them collaborating with most expensive Express Delivery, Courier.
And this is not an optimal decision. :P
If this is an example of, out of warranty support? Then there is no support.
In practical terms, if GW Instek service team, this can remove safely this battery plus tray, then there is a way for every expert service man, that he can follow too.
This is medium to high price portable scope, this is not owned by kids.
In the world of grown up, they are not any dead-end, at finding a replacement battery. :)
And now a message for the brave ones, there is a door at Aliexpress ( Modern Battery factory - with fresh international certifications) this it can offer this type of cells (2x 3.7V), for about 24EUR shipped.
This is sweet pricing ... 8)
-
By assuming that your unit this is now eleven years old, how much runtime this has today?
-
As new, this had an runtime of four hours, with it 6100mAh Cell.
I tested it two times this week, it now holds for one hour = 75% capacity loss.
I learned allot information's about such batteries this week.
Original battery pack this is a custom dimensions per cell.
I did find new cells, these listed at standard dimensions.
Then I had three choices, going for 6200mAh? or 8000mAh? or 10000mAh?
And I did decide to go with the 10000mAh 8)
This translates to 6.5 hours of runtime.
I am very happy mostly because within Aliexpress losers, I did discover a serious seller :)
He elaborated at demonstrating to me actual cells in stock, these are branded with production date and all international certifications.
I even got 3 Euro discount, due specific Aliexpress shopping period ( active for ten days). ;)
-
Excellent news 8) 8)
I was not expect to see anything less from Kiriakos, than him discovering and getting, ONLY THE BEST solution available this period of time !!
-
Shipping will take a while, but eventually, our ACS courier this will do the last mile delivery ;)
Thanks mate!
-
Not an easy job, but its possible. 8)
Its on my character feeling responsible for any action of my.
So I feel the obligation to write few things.
PCM controller over this scope, the hart this is an Texas Instrument controller.
This is named as fuel gauge.
Total design this is complicate, from the battery connector (4Pin) the wires are used for:
1) Pack +
2) Serial Clock Input
3) Serial Data Input
4) Pack -
PCM controller this is factory programed, so to handle cells of 6100 mAh capacity.
I got 10000 mAh cells, and I had to make a hack, so this capacity to be recognized.
Entire PCM this is custom design, ODM of this PCB he is untraceable, and you cannot find a spare one.
My advice at true experts at electronics repairs.
Go for 6100 mAh capacity , so this to match PCM programing.
Battery metal plate this is of steel, you will need huge patience and lots of isopropyl alcohol, so to remove the glue pads underneath.
PCM controller this supports self learning.
Charge first the new pack.
Lets it discharge until it shut down.
In theory, after these two cycles, the Fuel gauge this will return back to accurate measuring.
This is the last pack of information's, that I do share in public.
For anyone afraid s taking serious risks, he better pay the full price at the local authorized GW Instek distributor, so him to take the money and the responsibility, at returning back to you a functional oscilloscope.
Good luck at what ever you decide. :)
-
What any one else will decide, this is his business.
Lets stick at the local good news. 8)
What is the new runtime, with these fresh 10000 mAh?
-
First test = 6 Hours 50 Minutes
There is no second GDS-320, with such long runtime over this planet. ;D
I am extremely satisfied with the result of all my choices.
Even my choice of AliExpress seller, this also turned as success.
Great communication, and collaboration so I to get specific brand and batch of goods.
PCM controller calibration, this is now completed.
Tomorrow I will run the second test, as final confirmation. 8)
-
I think that the second test, this will be more representative of actual GDS-320 charging system and battery pack performance.
From discharged state to fully charged, the handling (charge rate) will be according to specific PCM controller specifications.
As it was happening, when this PCM was in control of the older 6100 mAh capacity.
(Along the chemistry of the new pack, this will be almost 100% activated.)
-
Second test = 6 Hours 55 Minutes +5M than before. :)
GDS-320 charging system this cannot stress the newer and larger in capacity cells.
These can handle double the charging current.
Either way, after and of this second test, I did gained enough confidence, the condition of the new cells this is excellent.