A programmable DC power supply is a DC power supply that uses digital or encoder input and non-potentiometer to adjust voltage and current. High-power programmable DC power supplies are widely used in metallurgy, chemistry and science. So how is it applied in life? First of all, it has:
Tracking function-In some programmable power supplies, there is a function of inter-channel linkage, namely tracking function.
The tracking function means that all outputs are controlled at the same time, and by keeping the voltage consistent with the pre-set voltage, they all obey unified command. For example: If voltage 1 changes from 10V to 12V, voltages 2 and 3 will change from 5V to 6V, and voltage 4 will change from 20V to 24V. However, if the maximum current of one of the outputs in the leading position has a limit value, and when the output current reaches the limit value, all other output currents in the subordinate position will also enter the current limiting state at the same time.
If an electronic fuse is installed in the device, the output that reaches the limit value will be disconnected, and then all other outputs in the subordinate position will be disconnected.
SENSE mode-compensation for the resistance of the wire itself In normal mode, the voltage is directly loaded on the load through the wire to keep the load voltage stable.
Since the load current will produce a voltage drop on the connecting wire, the actual load voltage should be equal to the power supply output voltage minus the voltage drop. If the power supply is set to output 3.3V/1A, assuming that the resistance of the output line is 0.3 ohms, a 0.3V voltage drop will be formed on the wire, and the actual voltage reached will become 3.0V, which is enough to cause the powered unit to not work properly.
Similar to the four-wire measurement method when measuring resistance with a multimeter, we need to compensate for the wire voltage drop. To this end, the SENSE terminal can be used to directly measure the voltage across the load.
Since the current in the SENSE wire is very small, the voltage drop generated can be ignored, that is, the voltage sensed by the power supply device is actually the real load voltage, so that the power supply device will increase its output to make it equal to the sum of the wire voltage drop and the required load voltage, thereby realizing the compensation for the wire voltage drop and making the load truly obtain the set voltage value. In addition, some power supplies have added a readback function to compensate for the resistance of the wire itself.
Arbitrary waveform power supply - Some programmable power supplies have arbitrary waveform editing capabilities, that is, waveforms that vary with time, that is, they are generated by fixed pairs of voltage and time interval parameters and lists, which can generate user-definable waveforms in the low frequency range.
The frequency of this signal is determined by the time interval between each point. Arbitrary signals are generated in digital form and are quite simple to define. Usually, an arbitrary waveform signal can include various amplitudes of different sizes, which can be processed one by one to generate periodic repetitive waveforms.
These programmed waveforms can be single pulses or repetitive continuous waveforms. The programmed output voltage can also be externally modulated. Signals can be freely defined within the range allowed by the instrument specifications and can be stored in the instrument. Such signals can be defined through RS-232, IEEE-488 or USB interfaces.
Modulation - Some programmable power supplies have external modulation capabilities. Using the terminals on the rear panel, two sets of outputs can be modulated. Regardless of the power, the distortion of the linear output components is very low to facilitate external modulation.
With these functions, we can use it better. It is mainly used in automotive electronics, battery testing and other sectors, and sometimes also involved in aerospace and military fields. Thanks to its efficient operating speed and multiple protection functions, it will be safer and more reliable to use.
