Siglent SPD3303X-E - any way to set CC mode to charge a supercapacitor? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: kubatyszko
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 07:54:32 am
content: Hi there,I have a couple of large super caps (2600 Farad, 2.7V) that I'm trying to play with, obviously the first step is to charge them.When I use my other cheapo bench supply that literally has two dials (for CV and CC), set the CC to however many amps I want, the voltage slowly starts climbing.When I try to do the same on my Siglent SPD3303X-E i I cannot get it into CC mode myself, and the manual does not explain it either.I can adjust Current or/and Voltage, but no matter what I try, the PSU stays in CV mode and I can't get it into CC mode myself...Any ideas ?Cheers

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 08:53:25 am
content: What is the displayed charge current ?

author: S13
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 09:26:49 am
content: Have you actually hooked up the capacitor to the Siglent and enabled the output power?The siglent will switch to CC automatically if it cant reach the programmed voltage.

author: kubatyszko
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 05:05:52 pm
content: I have and nothing really happened.I didn’t want to crank the voltage up, certainly not beyond Capacitors rating if 2.7v.The capacitor was definitely discharged so it should have been drawing current.I’ll try again.Thanks

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 06:35:59 pm
content: Could we have some pics of your set up, including the controls on the PSU?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2025, 08:13:09 pm
content: Quote from: kubatyszko on February 21, 2025, 05:05:52 pmUnless a current limit is set there will be no current supplied/drawn.These units come with V & A set to Zero which for 1st time use catches many out so we set V @ A to 1 before dispatch.This chap explains how this caught him out in 1st time use with the single channel SPD1305X:https://youtu.be/0CLlEqH0fOE?t=110

author: kubatyszko
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 02:16:10 am
content: Right. That may have been the case.I tested the capacitor with another PSU and discharged it a little, then hooked it up again to the Siglent. Increased V slowly up to 2.7 - it did turn into CC mode at some point, maybe slightly above 2V. Then needed to set the A to 1 and the current started flowing properly.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 02:26:45 am
content: Quote from: kubatyszko on February 22, 2025, 02:16:10 amMost likely.If we look at your Ch2 settings, they are as supplied from the factory.Setting a voltage but leaving the current to zero will not supply any voltage or current.Suggest you set it to 1 and 1 so it don't catch you again.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 03:42:03 am
content: Quote from: kubatyszko on February 21, 2025, 07:54:32 amI've done this many times. Set the voltage, then set the current you want the charge rate at. That's it, that's all. Connect the cap, turn on the output. Things happen as expected.