Power Conversion Programmable AC power sources used for development and test applications convert locally available utility power to specific precision AC or DC output formats needed to test or control units under test. This is called “solid state power conversion” as active electronic circuitry is used rather than rotary converters or voltage only transformer. This […]
Single Phase AC Voltage Most of us are familiar with the single phase voltage in our homes provided by the local utility. For the US, this is typically 120V. For single phase voltage, the voltage is expressed as a Line to Neutral voltage between two power conductors (plus a safety ground). The neutral conductor is […]
Power Supplies and Output Power rating versus Voltage As a rule, power supplies are rated for maximum power output only at their maximum output voltage. That means that as the programmed output voltage is decreased, the power output capability decreases proportionally. For example, a 10kW rated power supply with a 0 to 100V voltage range […]
Critical Power Immunity Testing of DC Powered Equipment Reliable operation of on-board electrical equipment under all circumstance is a critical requirement to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. This is true for both AC powered and DC powered equipment. With the continued growth of on-board electrical systems, the amount and types of equipment that […]
Remote Control Computer control of test equipment – including AC and DC power sources – is a critical requirement for building automated test systems (ATE) and to a lesser extend engineering development lab experiments. Key requirements for this type of computer control are: Reliable communication to reduce or eliminate communication errors Data transfer speeds Industry […]
What is the difference between Inrush Current and Peak Current? While inrush current has a peak current value, the term “Inrush Current” is commonly used to describe the current that is required to energize an AC powered device or product when first applying voltage and power to it. This is especially true for inductive loads […]
What are voltage modes? While all programmable AC power sources offer AC output mode, some also provide DC output mode. This may be useful for applications where only DC is required to power an EUT. However, a growing number of power related products are coming on the market than can operate from both AC grid […]
IRVINE, Calif. – Apr. 18, 2017 – Pacific Power Source, a world leader in high-performance AC power sources and power conversion equipment, just released the largest member of its growing AFX Series programmable AC, DC and AC+DC power source family. The new 3900AFX model expands available output power to 90 kVA in AC mode and 90 […]
Irvine, California, April 2017 — Pacific Power Source is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive update of its suite of test routines designed to test both AC and DC products for compliance with Airbus standard ABD0100.1.8, “Electrical and Installation Requirements”. The ABD0100.1.8 test standard is largely based on the DO160, Section 16 standard published by the […]
What is Voltage Distortion? Voltage distortion occurs when an AC output is purely sinusoidal but has small levels of voltage harmonics in addition to the fundamental sinewave frequency. This low level of voltage distortion is often difficult to see on an oscilloscope and requires a power analyzer or harmonics analyzer to quantify. Distortion is typically […]