EPIC
STABLEOne application for curve tracers, source picoammeters and power analysers.
EPIC provides a single Windows application for controlling CTL curve tracers and SPA source picoammeters. Both instrument families share the same plot engine, cursor system, CSV export and session-file format.
There is no paid licence and no per-seat dongle. Updates remain free for the lifetime of the instrument. Every release includes a documented SCPI interface, enabling measurements to be integrated directly into external scripts and automation systems.
- Multi-trace plotting with interactive cursors, slope and ratio measurements
- Automatic switching to classic curve-tracer display when a CTL503 is connected
- Real-time and historical trend viewing with configurable time axes (seconds, UTC or local)
- Simultaneous display of direct and calculated measurements (RMS, resistance, power factor, etc.) with independent formatting
- Dedicated oscilloscope module with deep memory, specialty triggering and timeline scrubbing
- DFT and FFT spectrum analysis with a full 50-harmonic table and multiple unit options
- Multi-instrument experiment design supporting Electron Plus instruments and selected third-party devices
- Pre-loaded experiment templates that load in seconds and can be customised for laboratory requirements
- CSV export and portable JSON session files that round-trip cleanly on any platform
- Intelligent PNG capture that retains full experimental context and automatic file naming
- Documented SCPI interface for external control and automation
- Free software updates for the lifetime of the instrument - no licence or dongle required
OVERVIEW
EPIC is Electron Plus’s universal instrument application and framework. When we began development of headless instruments more than fifteen years ago it quickly became clear that many control and display elements should be common, and that headless instruments should take full advantage of large modern displays together with the essentially unlimited processing power and storage available on a host computer.
The current generation of EPIC (version 26.xxx onwards) is a ground-up rewrite. Maintaining compatibility with every previous generation of instrument is important to us and with every new generation of EPIC we have been able to improve performance of existing devices.
A core architectural principle is to define each instrument (CTL503, SPA100 and others) as a thin driver accompanied by a companion JSON file. Custom modules within EPIC then manage data storage, event replay, live measurement display, oscilloscope and graph plotting, sequence control (including curve tracing), predefined calculations and extraction of useful experimental data.
ARCHITECTURE
The Multi-Trace Buffer (MTB) sits at the centre of the architecture. It is served by a lightweight asynchronous measurement-centric data bus based on ZeroMQ (ZMQ), the same messaging technology employed by CERN on the Large Hadron Collider. This design stores large volumes of data while retaining full context - units, timing, instrument source and related metadata - and simplifies both import from and export to external systems such as remote instruments, cloud storage or network-attached storage.
The Graph module provides simple, intuitive controls for viewing trends in both real-time and saved data. Typical examples include current traces from an SPA100 Source Picoammeter or changes in total harmonic distortion recorded by a CPA10 Power Analyser. The primary axis is normally time in seconds, but a single click switches the display to UTC or local time.
A secondary sub-graph shows the entire session data and allows the operator to scrub through the record and zoom on events of interest. Markers may be placed live on significant events, and both auto-ranging actions and any pauses introduced by the user are indicated graphically. When a CTL503 Curve Tracer is connected, the module automatically detects the axis contents and switches to a classic curve-tracer display; a further single button selects the graph type appropriate to the device under test.
Measurements may be either direct (instantaneous voltage or current) or calculated (RMS, resistance, power factor and similar quantities). An essentially unlimited number of measurements can be displayed simultaneously. Colour, size and numeric format (decimal places or scientific notation) are independently adjustable for each reading.
The Scope module presents a classic oscilloscope display with application-specific triggering modes, straightforward manual controls and intelligent auto options for channel settings, vertical scaling and time-base. Deep memory is provided, together with convenient timeline scrubbing. The module is used primarily with the CPA10 Power Analyser.
The Spectrum module offers both DFT and FFT analysis. DFT mode is intended for harmonic analysis of power waveforms, while FFT mode provides a wider spectral view with conventional spectrum-analyser controls. A dedicated table lists all fifty harmonics, with results available as percentage, dBc, dBW or linear units (volts, amperes or watts). Multiple channels may be displayed simultaneously.
These modules operate on data held in the Multi-Trace Buffer and share the same export and session-file mechanisms. Common PNG and CSV export functions format and save the current view or data set. An intelligent file-naming system automatically generates names that preserve maximum experimental context.
The experiment-design page supports multiple instruments, including third-party devices such as digital multimeters and power supplies. Typical recent applications include simultaneous recording from three SPA120 dual-source picoammeters with custom labels and automatic remote storage, and the use of two CPA10 power analysers to perform efficiency calculations during battery-charger testing.
Pre-loaded experiment setups are supplied as standard for all instruments. They can be selected within a few seconds and are readily customised for specific laboratory requirements — for example, adjusting measurement display sizes for clear viewing across a laboratory bench.
Downloads
Current EPIC releases, firmware, drivers and sample code for the supported instruments are available below. Earlier builds remain accessible for reference here.