Specializing in the design and manufacture of high quality, cost-effective test and measurement products for over 50 years

Products: DC Electronic Loads

 
DC Electronic Loads are suitable for testing and characterizing a wide range of DC power sources, such as DC power supplies, batteries, fuel cells, solar cells and other power components. Unlike passive resistive loads, Electronic DC Loads can operate under multiple modes such as Constant Current (CC), Constant Voltage (CV), Constant Power (CW) and constant resistance (CR) and offer a wide variety of voltage/current ranges.

The 8500 series of DC loads allow all parameters to be set from the front panel or programmed remotely, via RS-232 or USB interface. Dynamic behaviors can be simulated using the built-in transient generator and versatile triggering options allow the dynamic load behavior to be synchronized with other events.
 
 

B&K Precision: Electronic Load Model #8500 Model #8502 Model #8510 Model #8512 Model #8514 Model #8518 Model #8520 Model #8522 Model #8524 Model #8526 Model #8540

 Select a Term   >> Baudrate
CC
CP
CR
CV
CW
Internal Resistance
Low Voltage Characteristics
OCP
OVP
Remote Sense
Slew Rate
TTL
Term Definition
Baudrate  A parameter variable defined by a user, it is used to set the speed of data transition when interfacing via RS232 serial port to a PC. It is measured in bits per second (bps). Typical baudrates are usually: 2400bps, 4800bps, 9600bps, 19200bps, 38400bps, 57600bps, 115200bps. 
CC  Abbreviation for constant current, which is the most common mode of operation in any type of DC electronic loads. When a DC electronic load is setup in this mode, it sinks a current value, usually defined by user, constantly. This mode is often used in battery testing and analysis. 
CP  Abbreviation for constant power, it is a mode of operation found in DC electronic loads. When set to it, the load will draw a constant amount of power based on the user's selection, from any power source connected to the load. 
CR  Commonly known as constant resistance, is a common mode of operation in a DC electronic load. Under this mode, a DC load acts like a resistor set at a fixed value. 
CV  Stands for constant voltage. It is a frequently used mode of operation in a DC electronic load when testing power supplies. When set, it will draw a set voltage to its terminals. 
CW  See CP. 
Internal Resistance  This term is used often to model the reactions of a battery in electric circuitry. The inside of a battery is considered an internal resistance, in which increases overtime as the battery discharges. 
Low Voltage Characteristics  Often indicated as part of the specification or as a graph, it illustrates a DC electronic load's ability to produce maximum current at minimum voltage. It is used as a performance measure of a DC load for low voltage, high current applications. 
OCP  Abbreviation for Over Current Protection. It is the maximum current limit allowed before going in to OCP mode to protect both the instrument and the device under test. 
OVP  Abbreviation for Over Voltage Protection. It is the maximum voltage limit allowed before going in to OVP mode to protect both the instrument and the device under test. 
Remote Sense  Ensures that the voltage at the load is the same as the power sources set voltage. The remote sense feature compensates for any voltage drop between the source and the DC electronic load. 
Slew Rate  Defined as the rate that corresponds to the speed of a DC electronic load's response to changing current. Generally, it is measured by allowing the DC electronic load to draw current from 0 to its rated current and measuring the steepness of the slope between 10% and 90% of this change on a current graph over time. 
TTL  In some instruments, TTL logic is used for the serial port to transmit signals between instruments to PC interface. TTL logic levels are typically based upon a certain voltage level of a power supply. In most cases, this voltage is 5 volts. Depending on the voltage, different signals are transmitted via serial port.