Benchtop and high-voltage power supplies

BY SPENCER CHIN
Associate Editor

Today's benchtop and high-voltage supplies provide the currents and voltages for modern testing needs. Their attributes include high-speed programming capability, fast response, and high accuracy to allow high-speed, precision testing. Many of the supplies can be controlled either locally or remotely, allowing automated test setups. A full range of protection features, such as overvoltage and overcurrent protection, are often built into the supplies.

Here are some of the latest benchtop and high-voltage supplies.

Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, CA) has introduced four dc supplies that offer high performance and precision measurements in a one-box solution. The units allow current measurement down to the microampere level and allow high-speed programming with a response time of under 4 ms.

Hewlett-Packard HP 661xC (including 6611C, 6613C, 6614C)
and HP 663xB (including 6631B)

The supplies are designated the HP 6611C (8 V at 5 A), HP 6613C (50 V at 1 A), HP 6614C (100 V at 0.5 A), and HP 6631B (8 V at 10 A). The HP 6611C is priced at $1,395 with availability from stock.

Sorensen (San Diego, CA) unveiled the Pro-T Series of program-mable dc supplies. Available in six models rated from 16 to 160 Vdc, the 10-kW supplies provide a programming speed of 150 ms typical, a regulation of better than 0.1%, and ripple of under 20 mVrms.

Sorenson Pro-T Series

The Pro-T Series accepts a 480-Vac, 60-Hz three-phase input. Through an optional M9C interface, the units offer remote programmability via an IEEE-488.2 or RS-232 bus. Other features include input EMI filtering and automatic voltage/current crossover with front-panel indicators. The supplies are priced from $4,935 with availability from stock.

B+K Precision (Placentia, CA) has three new benchtop supplies that can be controlled from the front-panel keypad or remotely programmed via an IEEE-488.1 GPIB interface. All three supplies include internal software that allows in-the-case calibration.

The dual-output Model 1780 is rated for 144 W with outputs ranging from 0 to 18 Vdc and 0 to 4 Adc, while the 140-W Model 1775 provides dual outputs ranging from 0 to 35 V and 0 to 2 A. The dual-range Model 1770 is rated for 105 W with outputs of 0 to 17.5 or 35 V and 0 to 3 or 6 A.

B & K Precision Model 1775

All of the units provide 12-bit D/A converter accuracy. List prices range from $950 for the Model 1770 to $1,350 for the Model 1780, with availability from stock.

Keithley Instruments (Cleveland, OH) recently unveiled its Model 2303 high-speed precision power supply. Designed for automated testing of telecommunications devices, the supply exhibits a fast transient response and limits voltage droop to less than 200 mV for a large load change. It recovers to within 100 mV of the original voltage in 40 µs or less.

Keithley Model 2303

In addition to output readback capabilities, the supply also has a set of independent digital voltmeter inputs to measure signals from 0 to +20 Vdc. The 45-W supply delivers up to 5 A at 9 Vdc or 3 A at 15 Vdc. It can also sink up to 2 A at 7 Vdc. The supply costs $1,895 with an availability of 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

American Reliance (Arcadia, CA) now offers the PowerDigm Series modular programmable supply. The supply comprises 162 standard linear power-unit selections that can be configured in numerous combinations. Each PowerDigm unit can function as a master controlling up to eight auxiliary channels or as an auxiliary slaved device.

American Reliance PowerDigm Series

Voltages range from 5 to 250 V, power ratings are from 20 to 600 W, and are in 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 rack widths. Designed as a one-box solution, the supply has GPIB and RS-232 interfaces.

Other features include a backlit LCD, 99-point programming, external analog programming, remote sensing, and overvoltage protection. The supply is priced from $795 with an availability of 2 to 3 weeks ARO.

HC Power (Irvine, CA) has announced a series of high-power electronic loads rated at 2,500 W and 500 A max. The L-2500 Series loads test power supplies with output voltages from 1.75 to 80 Vdc. Any number of loads can be run in parallel for higher power requirements.

HC Power L-2500 Series

The loads are available in three versions. The Model L-2501 is a constant-current device, while the Model L-2511 has both constant-current and constant-resistance modes. The four-channel Model L-2514 offers user-selectable constant-current and constant-resistance modes in each of its four isolated, independent load banks.

All the loads include a 3 1/2-digit meter to monitor current, a 10-turn potentiometer, and LED status indicators. List price for the Model L2501 is $3,350 with an availability of 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

Behlman (Hauppauge, NY) has introduced a solid-state frequency converter, the Power Passport, that delivers 1,350 VA of ac power. Measuring 17 (W) x 17 (D) x 3.50 (H) in., the supply is contained in 3 1/2-in. benchtop chassis that converts easily to a rack-mount unit.

Behlman Power Passport

The converter accepts a 120-Vac input and provides a continuously adjustable output voltage of 0 to 135 Vrms or 0 to 270 Vrms at a switch-selectable frequency of 50, 60, or 400 Hz. It exhibits a total harmonic distortion of typically 1% and provides 100% of rated output into any power-factor load. The supply is priced at $1,695 with an availability of stock to 8 weeks ARO.

Trek (Medina, NY) now offers the Model 668B, a high-voltage reference supply with an output voltage of 0 to ±3 Vdc and an output current range of 0 to ±5 mA. Output accuracy is better than 0.015% of full scale.

Trek Model 668B

The supply has nine programmable memory locations to save and recall frequently used output voltage and current settings, which appear on the 16-character LED display. Front-panel pushbuttons select the desired output voltage with 100-mV resolution.

An optional digital communications interface allows remote control via a TTL signal or external switching device. The supply is priced at $3,095 with an availability of 4 to 6 weeks ARO.

Pacific Power Source (Huntington Beach, CA) is offering the 3120TMX one-box test system for testing equipment compliance to IEC EMC requirements. The system comprises a linear ac power source, dual impedance networks, dual analyzers, flicker meters, and test software.

Pacific Power Source 3120TMX

The single-output supply is available in output ratings of 750 VA, 2.5 kVA, and 4 kVA. It has Labview for Windows drivers and is easily set up through a Virtual Instrument screen. The supply is priced from $12,500 with availability from stock.

Kepco (Flushing, NY) now offers a portable version of its nine-channel MST programmable supply. Designated the Sports Utility, the supply comes in a ruggedized housing that provides a selectable 100 to 240-Vac or 28 to 48-Vdc input.

Kepco Sports Utility

The supply comprises nine plug-in 200-W dc modules rated from 0 to 6 V at 0 to 20 A or 0 to 150 V at 0 to 1.2 A. List price is $1,695 per module; the housing costs $3,000. Availability is from stock.

IET Labs (Westbury, NY) has introduced the VI-700, a precision voltage and current source that can be programmed either through its front panel or remotely via a BCD or IEEE-488 interface. The supply provides output voltage ranges of 200 mV, 2 V, or 20 V, with a resolution of 100 µV, 1 mV, or 10 mV, respectively. Output current ranges are 200 µA, 2 mA, or 20 mA, with a resolution of 0.1, 1, or 10 µA, respectively.

The supply has a 31/2-digit front-panel readout with a least-significant digit accuracy of 0.0075% ±0.5 (voltage) or 0.0075% ±0.75 (current). It measures 8.5 (W) x 2.8 (H) x 9.0 (D) in. The supply costs $679 with an availability of stock to 2 weeks ARO.

Mid-Eastern Industries (Bergenfield, NJ) has recently introduced the Model 83B829 linear laboratory supply. The supply provides independent outputs set at either 0 to 40 Vdc at 0.3 A or 0 to 20 Vdc at 0.6 A. Independent 10-turn controls adjust voltage and current. Each output has a 31/2-digit meter, selectable to display output voltage or current, either in high or low ranges.

Specifications include a load regulation of less than 0.01% +3 mV, a line regulation of less than 0.01% +2 mV, and ripple and noise of less than 200 µVrms. The supply measures 31/2 (H) x 121/2 (D) x 81/2 (W) in. and is priced at $1,050 with an availability of 1 to 2 weeks ARO.

California Instruments (San Diego, CA) has introduced an 800-VA power source suited for both benchtop and automated test system applications. The Model 801RP offers programmable dual voltage ranges of 0 to 135 and 0 to 270 V, and a 16 to 500-Hz frequency range. Accuracy is ±1% FS at 50/60 Hz and ±2% FS at 400 Hz.

California Instruments Model 801RP

The unit has front-panel rotary controls and an optional RS-232C or IEEE-488 interface. An LCD readout shows output parameters. The supply measures 3.5 (H) x 16.8 (W) x 22 (D) in. and is priced from $2,695 with an availability of 4 weeks ARO.

Bertan High Voltage (Hicksville, NY) recently unveiled the ARB-30, a benchtop bipolar high-voltage supply with a range of 0 to 30 kV at 0 to 400 µAdc. The compact supply allows remote programming and monitoring and has automatic polarity reversal.

Bertan High Voltage ARB-30

Features include dual independent multiturn potentiometers to control voltage and current, and two 0 to +10-Vdc remote programming inputs. The supply is priced at $2,100 with an availability of 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

Universal Voltronics (Mount Kisco, NY) has revised its BRC series of high-voltage dc supplies. Rated from 2 to 20 kW with voltages from 1 to 200 kV, the supplies now use more efficient and reliable MOSFET and IGBT-based circuits and a revised control architecture. Voltage and current regulation are as tight as 0.01%, and ripple is as low as 0.1% of rated voltage.

The supplies are available with inputs from 115 to 480 V, three phase, and can be controlled at the front panel, the rear panel, or remotely via an analog voltage. The units come in rack-mount, open-frame, or shoebox configurations. Prices range from $4,000 (4-kW unit) to $8,000 (10-kW unit), with availability from stock.

Electro Industries (Chicago, IL) recently introduced its Model 3670 laboratory supply. This supply has a dual-range output of 0 to 18 Vdc at 0 to 7 A or 0 to 36 Vdc at 0 to 3.5 A.

The well-regulated supply allows constant-voltage/constant-current operation with automatic crossover. It has built-in short-circuit and overload protection and can function as a current-regulated power source. The supply is priced at $275 and is available from stock.

Power Ten (Los Gatos, CA) now offers the P70 Series microprocessor-controlled benchtop supply with output voltages from 5 to 600 V and power levels from 2 to 30 kW. The supply has nine nonvolatile memories to store common output setups. An auto-sequencing program provides up to nine settable steps allowing independent programming of output voltage, current, power and step duration. A backlit LCD shows all parameters.

Power Ten P70 Series

The supply provides up to 15 kW in a 51/4-in.-high package and up to 30 kW in a 101/2-in.-package. It can be programmed through the front-panel keypad via 5- or 10-V remote analog outputs, or remotely through an IEEE-488.2 or RS-232 interface. List price is $2,000 with an availability of 8 weeks ARO.

Magna-Power Electronics (Boonton, NJ) has introduced a 150-kW version of its TQ Series supply (see Electronic Products , July 1997, p. 47). The supply is fully programmable via resistance, voltage, current, or IEEE-488 or RS-232 interfaces.

Magna-Power Electronics TQ Series

In addition to remote control of voltage and current, the TQ Series is remotely programmable for overvoltage and overcurrent protection. The supply can be ganged for power ratings to 750 kW and made to operate with a single set of controls. List price is from $26,795 with availability from stock.