Axiomet, Aim-TTi and B&K Precision solutions:
Specialist equipment for operating electronic devices constitutes a vital part of the TME product catalogue. This product range also includes electronic loads with various power ratings and features.
Although electronic loads are devices with a very wide range of applications, they are utilised almost exclusively in professional settings. They are primarily applied in electronic equipment design and testing processes. They have also been deemed indispensable for quality control operations in the electric engineering industry, where they are used for repeatable, precise and controlled test performance. Such a wide range of applications results in a wide assortment of products being available, as precision electronics service technicians require loads demonstrating different capabilities (and sizes) than manufacturing facilities. Therefore, this article presents an overview of the product range available at TME, i.e. products offered by three different brands, varied both in terms of parameters and prices.
This article covers the following issues:
- Affordable low-power solutions
- Functional units demonstrating a wide range of capabilities
- Electronic loads for labs and manufacturing facilities
Axiomet solutions
Electronic loads offered by Axiomet include affordable devices with 150 W and 300 W power ratings. These units are designed primarily to work with low-power consumer electronic equipment, mobile device batteries, etc. Nevertheless, in addition to current rating limitations, these products demonstrate a full range of functionalities required for conducting complex tests. These include: constant current, voltage, resistance and power modes, battery discharge programme and short-circuit simulation mode. They can also run in an instantaneous operation mode, which involves switching between two setpoints (using an external trigger or internally generated signal). During operation, such a load protects the connected power supply source from damage in line with adjustable parameters. Such products come with a 10-record memory plus the option of being remotely controlled via a serial interface (RS232).
AX-EL300W
A compact size is one of vital advantages of products offered by Axiomet
LD400
Backlit graphic LCD display ensures interface legibility.
Aim-TTi loads
The Aim-TTi LD400 series devices are characterised (as the name suggests) by the 400 W maximum power rating, although they are capable of reaching even 600 W during 60-second periods. Therefore, they are extremely useful for testing a wide range of energy sources, batteries, solar cells, power supply modules, inverters, etc. One of their advantages is the capability of operating at very low voltages (below 0.5 V) and currents as low as 80 A at 2 V DC, which is particularly important when testing precision electronic equipment such as stabilisers and filters. Similarly to Axiomet units, the LD400 series equipment facilitates obtaining variable loads oscillating between two setpoints with adjustable edge time and frequency ranging from 0.01 Hz to 10 kHz. It is particularly important while simulating circuits of controllers supplying additional consumers (e.g. motor drivers, illumination system controllers, pulse converters). Note that the wide parameter range is obtained while maintaining high measurement resolution, i.e. 1 mA, 1 mV and 1 mW (accuracy equal to 0.1% for voltage and 0.2% for current). Additionally, these units come equipped with the Current Monitor analogue output designed to observe the current strength variation curve using an oscilloscope. A large, backlit LCD display enhances the comfort of using an Aim-TTi device.
B&K Precision electronic load series
B&K Precision specialises in designing professional solutions ranging from loads for lab equipment to units designed to operate manufacturing quality control systems. The TME product catalogue includes a wide assortment of such solutions, i.e. small, table-mounted devices and high-power rack-mounted units. All of them come with a wide range of functionalities and a high degree of automation, which ensures comfortable working conditions and the repeatability of test results.
BK8540 model
8550 series
8500/B series
BK8610
8600/B series
The B&K Precision product capabilities are best illustrated by the 8600 series characteristics. The power rating of the devices in this group reaches 6 kW. They facilitate programming multi-stage tests and storing their results, including various voltage, current and increase rate values. Each step within a programmed sequence has an adjustable length (at least 20 µs), and a single list of steps may include 84 items. Settings can be made via the front panel interface (with a clear, legible display) or remotely via a serial interface (RS232), USB or GPIB (IEEE-488 parallel bus). Connectors located on back panels make it possible to connect a switch, trigger switch or strength sensor (0–10 V DC proportional signal at the BNC connector). Obviously, these devices come with integrated safety circuits, self-testing functionalities and a range of other convenient solutions. Simultaneously, they ensure high precision of measurements taken via 16-bit A/C converters with guaranteed resolution of 1 mV and 0.1 mA. Such extensive and automated functionalities fully meet production process requirements and help ensure consistent quality of equipment manufactured.
Text prepared by Transfer Multisort Elektronik Sp. z o.o.
