wanptek-controller 0.2.0

Desktop controller for Wanptek DC power supplies via USB/serial (Modbus RTU)

Wanptek PSU Controller

Desktop application to control a Wanptek DC power supply via USB / serial port. Compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux.

Features:

• Display voltage, current and power in real time
• Adjust voltage and current setpoints
• Enable or disable the output
• Enable or disable OCP (over-current protection)
• Plot measurement history in a live graph window
• Alarm sound on over-current trip (optional)

Interface

The application uses a customtkinter interface with:

• An LCD-style main display
• Two adjustment knobs
• A button bar for Menu, Graph, Lock, OCP and Output control

The window is fixed at 280 × 310 pixels.

Requirements

• Python 3.10 or later with tkinter available (tested up to Python 3.14)
• A compatible Wanptek DC power supply
• A USB-to-serial adapter recognised by your OS

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Installation

Recommended — via pipx (all platforms)

pipx installs the application in an isolated environment automatically, with no need to manage a virtual environment manually.

Install pipx first:

# Windows
winget install pipx

# macOS
brew install pipx

# Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt install pipx

# Fedora
sudo dnf install pipx

Then install and run the application:

pipx install wanptek-controller
wanptek-controller

Update:

pipx upgrade wanptek-controller

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Alternative — via pip with a virtual environment

If you prefer pip, use a virtual environment to avoid conflicts with system packages:

python -m venv ~/.venv/wanptek
source ~/.venv/wanptek/bin/activate   # macOS / Linux
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1          # Windows (PowerShell)
pip install wanptek-controller
wanptek-controller

To launch the application later:

source ~/.venv/wanptek/bin/activate && wanptek-controller   # macOS / Linux

Or add an alias to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc):

alias wanptek='source ~/.venv/wanptek/bin/activate && wanptek-controller'

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From source

Clone the repository and install in a virtual environment:

git clone https://github.com/flkoliv/sw-wanptek-psu.git
cd sw-wanptek-psu
python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate      # macOS / Linux
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1  # Windows (PowerShell)
pip install -e .
wanptek-controller

Optional — alarm sound

An alarm sound plays when over-current protection trips. This requires pygame, which is not installed by default.

To enable it:

# pipx
pipx install "wanptek-controller[sound]"

# pip
pip install "wanptek-controller[sound]"

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Platform notes

Windows

• Install Python 3.10 or later from the official installer and make sure tcl/tk and IDLE is checked
• If PowerShell blocks script execution: Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
• Serial ports appear as COM3, COM4, ...

macOS

• Install Python and tkinter via Homebrew:

  brew install python-tk
  

• Serial ports appear as /dev/cu.usbserial-XXXX or /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART

Linux

• Install Python and tkinter:

  # Debian / Ubuntu
  sudo apt install python3 python3-venv python3-tk pipx
  
  # Fedora
  sudo dnf install python3 python3-tkinter pipx
  

• Add your user to the dialout group to access the serial port:

  sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER
  

  Reboot or log out and back in for the change to take effect.
• Serial ports appear as /dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyACM0, ...

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First-time setup

On first launch:

1. Click Menu
2. Select the serial port connected to your power supply
3. Select the Modbus device address
4. Select the baud rate (default: 2400)
5. Click Save

The application will then attempt to connect automatically. The status is shown next to the LED indicator (bottom of the knob panel).

Settings are saved to ~/.wanptek_controller/param.

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Usage

Main display

Shows:

• Output voltage
• Output current
• Output power
• OCP status
• Output status

Buttons

• Menu — open the serial configuration dialog
• Graph — open the measurement history window
• Lock — enable or disable software control of the setpoints
• OCP — toggle over-current protection
• OUT — enable or disable the PSU output

Voltage / current adjustment

When Lock is active:

• The knobs become interactive
• New values are sent to the power supply

When Lock is inactive:

• The knobs display the current setpoints read-only

Graph

The Graph window shows the last 10 minutes of:

• Voltage
• Current
• Power

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Project structure

wanptek_controller/
├── __init__.py      — version metadata
├── __main__.py      — module entry point
├── main.py          — application entry point
├── PSUModel.py      — state and persisted settings
├── PSUController.py — Modbus communication and control logic
├── PSUView.py       — graphical interface
├── images/          — icons and logo
└── ressources/      — fonts and sounds
main.py              — development shim (calls wanptek_controller.main)
run.pyw              — GUI launcher (no console window on Windows)

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Troubleshooting

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'tkinter'

Your Python installation does not include Tk.

• Windows — reinstall Python with tcl/tk and IDLE checked
• macOS — brew install python-tk
• Linux — sudo apt install python3-tk (or sudo dnf install python3-tkinter)

PowerShell blocks Activate.ps1 (Windows)

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

Serial port permission denied (Linux)

sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER

Reboot or log out and back in for the change to take effect.

Application does not connect

• Check that the correct serial port is selected in Menu
• The connection status is shown next to the LED — read the message for details
• Default baud rate is 2400 — adjust in Menu if your device uses a different rate
• Make sure the power supply is switched on
• Check the USB-to-serial cable and driver (CH340, CP210x, FTDI...)

Graph window does not open

The graph only opens once at least one measurement has been received.

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License

See LICENSE.