Initially, electronic loads were merely a specialized product for testing DC power supplies. After all, they help reveal a power supply’s reaction to various load conditions. However, things seem to be taking a different direction thanks to what modern tech offer.
No wonder the popularity of a DC electronic load seems to be increasing as more electronic devices convert and store energy. Actually, they are now relied upon in testing more sources of DC, including batteries, solar panels, DC-DC converters, LED drivers, and fuel cells.
That being said, this simple guide touches on the uses of electronic loads. Read on to uncover more!
Test a Power Supply’s Ability to Limit Current
When there is a fault condition, power supplies include a current limiting protection circuit. This is aimed at making sure it better protects the supply itself and connected equipment. When leveraging an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) power supply, you should remember that the performance in this regard is right for the intended application.
For those who might not know, there are three types of current limits. They include conventional current limiting, power supplies that can transition between constant voltage (CV) to constant current (CC) and fold-back current limiting power supplies. The first two tend to be very similar in function, differing only in the extent of regulation in the constant current region.
Testing the Transient Response at a Power Supply
The vast majority of power supplies leverages a voltage regulation circuit to provide a constant voltage. In some instances, however, the load might excess the circuit’s sheer ability to maintain a constant voltage. For this reason, transient voltage spikes can manifest.
To quantify the transient response, be sure to set the load so that the power is supplying full output voltage with a current that’s half the supplies maximum. You should then suddenly increase the load to force the power to supply to provide maximum current, before decreasing the load to restore the power supply to half capacity.
We all agree a DC electronic load is a vital tool for testing and evaluating the performance of DC power sources in various applications. For those who want the best grid simulator or a DC electronic load, then you should look no further than TME systems. Visit their official website to see what they offer different industries before making this all-important purchase decision.