ZKE EBC-A10, a multifunctional electronic load with a battery tester

Today I have a rather interesting device on my desk. It can help in situations where the popular IMAX is powerless. It also has other advantages, although it doesn't replace one of the most popular devices for working with batteries.
Anyway, if you're interested, come on in. I hope you'll enjoy it.

I'll start by saying that this device was added to the store's range at my request. ZKEtech makes quite a few similar devices to suit different tastes and needs, all the way up to an eight-channel model, but I chose the version that I think will be most interesting to most people.
If you think there's a better option, let me know and I'll try to get one for testing.

This time, the review is more for watching than reading, although of course there will be explanations and written descriptions.
A heads-up: there will be spoilers, so if you haven't found what you're looking for, take a look—you may have simply missed a spoiler somewhere.


I'll start with the usual description of the packaging, but there's not much to show here, so I'll keep it brief.
The device arrived in a cardboard box, with some extra accessories inside as well.


The package included:
The electronic load itself
A power supply in a small separate box
Load connection cable
USB-RS232 TTL converter


They also included this little brush for some reason, although I think it ended up in the box by accident.
Oh well, I'm sure it'll come in handy for something.


It's worth mentioning that the device is sold in two package options.
Standard —
Device
Power supply
Load connection cable
USB-RS232 TTL converter

Basic
Device
Load connection cable

The basic version is cheaper, at $50.06 ($47.51 with a coupon), but it doesn't include the power supply or the USB-RS232 TTL converter.
The second option is suitable for those who already have a power supply and don't need a computer connection (or already have a converter) and don't want to pay extra.

I chose the full package because if I'm going to review it, I want to get as much information as possible.
That's why my package included a power supply. It comes in a separate small box.


Unfortunately, the power supply has a plug with flat pins. The 220 V cable is very short, about 0.5 m, while the 12 V cable is 1 m long.
The label tells us that the power supply is rated for 4 A at an output voltage of 12 V.
To be honest, that label really disappointed me at first. You usually see labels like this on ultra-budget power supplies :(
The output connector is 5.5/2.1, so there probably won't be any trouble connecting a different power supply, since this is one of the most common connector types.


The load connection cable and USB-RS232 TTL converter are packed separately.


Since the device has a proper four-wire load connection, the package includes a matching cable.
The cable has terminals on one end and alligator clips on the other.
The alligator clips are medium-sized and the quality is perfectly decent.
Each clip has two wires: a thick one for the power connection and a thin one for measurement.
The cables are about 50 cm long.
A USB–RS232 TTL converter is also included. Don't let the miniUSB connector fool you: it's just a connector, and its pins carry RS232 TTL.
The cable is about 1 m long.


The only documentation included was this little piece of paper. I don't know what it says; I could only make out the model name and production date. There's nothing on the back.
There was no CD included, or even a link to the manufacturer's website.
As they say, find the software wherever you can :(


The device is built into a power supply enclosure. My regular readers have probably seen power supplies in enclosures like this before.
The only visible difference is probably the protective film, which, as it turned out, is there for a reason.
The enclosure is an unusual and somewhat original choice. On the one hand, it's a bit crude; on the other, it's simple and sturdy. At least it's hard to damage while traveling.


We peel off the film and discover that the enclosure is made of polished aluminum. I haven't come across power supplies like this before. This feature adds practically nothing, but it does look nice.


The top panel has a display and four buttons.
A brief description of the buttons
1 — Turns the active mode on or off. The unit has no power switch of its own, so it starts working as soon as power is connected. This button starts or stops a test. You have to hold it down for about 2 seconds, presumably to prevent accidental presses.
2 — Selects the operating mode and what is shown on the display. This button lets you navigate the menu and select the parameters you want to change. Press and hold to enter the menu; press briefly to move through it.
While the unit is running in active mode, you can only switch the type of parameters displayed; access to the menu is locked.
3, 4 — Increase/decrease the selected parameter. Honestly, I’m amazed at how stubbornly Chinese engineers put the + button on the left and the minus button on the right.


And here’s the other side of that beautiful case, both literally and figuratively.
The thing is, fingerprints show up really well on this kind of case. The surface on the left is a little matte—that’s where I grabbed it with my fingers and tried to rub them off.


All the connectors are on the right side. They are:
1. Terminal block for connecting the load cable.
2. Power input connector
3. Mini-USB connector with RS232 TTL pins.


Since I already had a rough idea of what the device could do, I was more interested in what was inside, so I opened it up as soon as I got it.


A little about the controls and standalone operation.
When switched on, the screen displays the model name, firmware version, manufacturer, and date (most likely the firmware release date).
The device then enters standby mode. If nothing is connected, the display shows only zeros.


The device has control buttons and a display. This lets you operate it without a computer, but unfortunately, the available functionality is limited.
For example, when using a computer, you can change the discharge current without interrupting the discharge. This isn't possible in standalone mode.
And, of course, the graphing function is a big deal, and that's obviously not available in standalone mode.

The top line shows the operating mode, the voltage at the device terminals, and the load/charging current.
The bottom line has two formats. First it shows the On or Off status, then the time or power, followed by the capacity in mAh or mWh.
When connected to a computer, the bottom line displays -PC-.
Hold down the SET button to open the menu, where you can select the operating mode:
constant-current discharge, constant-power discharge, or charging.
You can also set all the necessary current/power/voltage/operating time/automatic mode parameters in this menu.

By the way, the device “remembers” all the most recent settings, including those made in the computer software, as you'll see in the photos.


Although the device can operate standalone, I find it much more convenient to control it from a computer.


I'll wrap up my look at the software here and move on to testing the device.


We can say the main part is done: we took it apart, had a look, warmed it up, measured it, and put it back together.
Now we can move on to the extras.


And finally, a little about how this device performs in real-world use.
I mentioned that the device can measure the internal resistance of batteries. Unfortunately, I don't have any instruments to check how accurately it does this, but the results look plausible. I compared the readings for two batteries from the previous review, one with protection and one without; the difference in the readings was roughly equal to the internal resistance of the protection circuit.

The test can be performed at different currents.
1.2 — ICR18650 — 32A without a protection board, tested at 1 A and 10 A.
3. — High-current battery tested at 10 A
4. — I wanted to test a 12 V battery here, but alas, it politely told me to get lost :(


Example test —
Charge at 1.6 A to 4.35 V, stopping when the current drops to 0.16 A
Discharge at 3.2 A down to 2.8 V
Charge at 1.6 A to 4.35 V, stopping when the current drops to 0.16 A


1-minute pause
Charge at 1 A to 4.20 V, stopping when the current drops to 0.11 A
1-minute pause
Discharge at 5.2 A down to 2.8 V
1-minute pause
Charge at 1 A to 4.35 V, stopping when the current drops to 0.11 A


Here's an example of testing a lithium battery with a protection board and seeing it trip.
The test used a battery from this review. The graph shows a voltage spike of about 8 V at the moment the battery protection cuts off charging.


Single charge of the battery at 1.6 A to 4.35 V, stopping at 0.16 A.


Single discharge of the battery at 3.2 A down to 2.8 V.


That wraps up the tests and inspection. Time to move on to the summary.
Pros
Extensive functionality
Proper four-wire load connection
Can measure battery internal resistance, albeit with some limitations.
Sturdy, neatly built construction.
Two configuration options available
Can be fully controlled from a computer, with device operation graphs recorded
Discharge current up to 10 A at power levels up to 60 W.
Good current calibration and excellent voltage calibration right out of the box
A good power supply is included in the full package.

Cons
The charger’s PWM controller overheats at currents above 4.2 A, though the fix is very simple.
The charger’s PWM controller has no headroom.
Some software issues.
A fuse on the load connection would be useful.
No overtemperature protection.

My take: I like this device. In fact, I liked it even before ordering it and writing this review, but looking at pictures and reading the specs is one thing; getting your hands on it is quite another.
I got exactly what I wanted. The charger’s PWM controller heating was disappointing, but even more disappointing was that, despite the simple modification, it’s still better not to run it at 100%. I’d limit the charging current to 4.5 A.
The good calibration was a pleasant surprise. An error of up to 1% when measuring current is pretty good.
I really liked using it with a computer. Yes, there are some issues, but the fact that several software versions already exist suggests the manufacturer is working on it. The device firmware date also shows that the device software is being updated. The program menu includes a firmware update tab, although it’s inactive, which suggests the manufacturer plans to release updates.
The design is certainly unusual, and the appearance takes some getting used to, but there are also versions in a neater enclosure.
I think that with a little tinkering, you can get an excellent device for testing batteries, power supplies, and plenty of other useful applications.
I’d like to have a CV mode during discharge, essentially the equivalent of a high-power parallel voltage regulator. This function could be implemented entirely in software with the current hardware. Perhaps the manufacturer will add it someday.

That’s about it. I’m sure I forgot to mention or show something, so I’ll be happy to answer any questions.


The product was provided by the store for review.