High-Speed DC Load Solves PoL Converter Test Challenges

Intepro Systems announces the EL 2000 HS (high-speed) electronic dc load as the latest addition to its growing family of power system automatic test equipment. EL 2000 HS modules minimize inductance, resistance and noise in fast slew rate dc load testing, for example this 40W unit features 50MHz measurement bandwidth, offers 40A/µs rise time and 20A sinking for sub-1V loads.

The EL 2000 HS Series is a stand-alone 40W load module providing point-of-load (PoL) connections and point-of-use (PoU) for fast slew rate dc loading. Ever-higher switching speeds and lower operating voltages present unique challenges in testing PoL/PoU power conversion systems. In response, the EL 2000 HS load offers a smart on-board load head that minimizes inductance, resistive losses and noise, which pose serious problems with loads using wires to connect the load to the device-under-test (DUT). In addition, the EL 2000 HS is designed for sub-1V testing to meet the demands of low-voltage devices.

The EL 2000 HS’s standalone modular P0U design, along with its smart on-board load head, allows for positioning the load to DUT without the need for customization. The standard load offers four programmable modes of operation: constant current, constant resistance, constant power and constant voltage. All have a 50MHz measurement bandwidth with a 150MS/s, 14-bit digitizer. Measurements include voltage, current, power, noise, settling time and overshoot/undershoot for both V and I.

The standard 20V/20A/40W module can sink 20A with only 0.3V applied to the load head. In constant-current mode the module achieves 40A/µs rise time with a 20A load for high-speed pulse loading when conducting real load simulation of high-bandwidth devices. Ethernet control allows for easy operation by utilizing either Intepro’s PowerStar software package or third-party software.

“The EL 2000 HS electronic load’s smart on-board modular head design minimizes inductance that would otherwise interfere with accurate testing of high-speed load transitions,” said Gerard Sheehan, Intepro's Chief Technical Officer. “By adding the benefits of high-speed control and sampling, Intepro’s electronic loads are able to provide full functionality for your product testing needs.”