Programmable DC power supplyWith its precise and controllable output, support for automated programming, and complete protection functions, it has become the core equipment for the research and production testing of electronic components, circuit boards, and complete equipment. The following are its typical application scenarios, testing plans, and advantages, with clear steps and easy implementation.
1、 Core application advantages
Compared to ordinary DC power supplies,Programmable DC power supplyHaving irreplaceable advantages in electronic testing:
High precision output: The voltage/current accuracy can reach ± 0.05%, and the ripple noise is as low as mV or even μ V level, meeting the requirements of precision device testing.
Flexible and programmable: Supports LIST/sequence mode, can simulate dynamic changes in voltage/current, and reproduce the actual working conditions of the product.
Automation compatibility: USB/RS485/LAN/GPIB interfaces are standard, which can be connected to ATE (Automatic Test System) to achieve batch testing and automatic data recording.
Improve protection mechanism: OVP/OCP/SCP/OTP and other protection functions can prevent damage to the DUT and the power supply itself during the testing process.
2、 Typical application scenarios and testing plans
1. Performance testing of electronic components
Suitable for parameter verification of standing devices such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, MOSFETs, and sensors.
Test requirement: Provide stable DC voltage and measure parameters such as current and voltage drop of the device at different voltages.
operating steps
Set the power supply to CV (constant voltage) mode and output the target voltage (such as 0-5V for diode forward testing).
Connect the components in series or parallel with the power output terminal and multimeter/oscilloscope.
Gradually adjust the output voltage, record the device current at different voltages, and draw the volt ampere characteristic curve.
For MOS transistors and other devices, the gate voltage variation can be simulated through sequential mode to test the on/off characteristics.
Advantages: Precise control of voltage step, avoiding manual adjustment errors, and improving test consistency.
2. Functional testing of circuit board (PCB)
Suitable for electrical testing and functional verification of circuit boards in fields such as consumer electronics, industrial control, and automotive electronics.
Test requirement: Provide the rated working voltage of the circuit board, detect whether there is a short circuit, leakage, and the working status of each module.
operating steps
Set the upper limit of power supply voltage and current according to the circuit board manual (the current limit is set to 1.2 times the rated current of the circuit board to prevent short circuit and board burning).
Adopting a four wire wiring system (output terminal+Sense terminal) to compensate for line loss and ensure accurate voltage at the circuit board end.
Slowly turn on the power output and observe the current value: if the current exceeds the standard instantly, immediately turn off the output and check the short circuit point; If the current is normal, detect the signals of each module on the circuit board.
For circuit boards that require dynamic power supply, simulate voltage fluctuations (such as unstable grid voltage scenarios) through programming sequences to test the anti-interference ability of the circuit board.
Advantages: Current limit protection can quickly identify short-circuit faults, and four wire wiring improves power supply accuracy.
3. Battery charging and discharging test
Suitable for capacity and cycle life testing of energy storage devices such as lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries, and button batteries.
Test requirement: Simulate charge discharge curves to achieve processes such as constant current charging, constant voltage float charging, and constant current drop point.
operating steps
Set the power supply to CC-CV (constant current constant voltage) mode: During the charging phase, maintain a constant current (such as 0.5C rate) and switch to constant voltage float charging when the voltage reaches the upper limit of the battery.
During discharge testing, it can be paired with electronic loads or use the reverse current absorption function of the power supply (supported by some models).
Set the number of charge and discharge cycles through loop programming, and record the battery capacity degradation for each cycle.
Enable OVP/OCP protection to prevent overcharging and overdischarging from damaging the battery.
Advantages: Automatic switching of charging and discharging modes, precise control of current rate, and support for long-term unmanned testing.
4. Whole machine product aging test
Suitable for reliability verification of finished products such as mobile phones, laptops, routers, industrial controllers, etc.
Test requirement: Simulate the long-term working state of the product, test performance stability and failure rate.
operating steps
Multiple programmable power supplies are connected in parallel or networked to provide rated operating voltage for multiple machines.
Set the power supply to constant voltage mode and enable overcurrent protection to prevent single device failures from affecting the overall testing.
Connect temperature and performance monitoring equipment, run continuously for 24-72 hours, and record the working status of the product.
For scenarios that require simulating extreme voltages, the voltage scanning function is used to test the stability of the product within a range of ± 10% of the rated voltage.
Advantages: Supports multi-channel synchronous control, adapts to batch production line aging testing, and improves testing efficiency.
5. Simulation testing of automotive electronic environment
Suitable for in car navigation ECU、 Simulation testing of working conditions for automotive electronic components such as headlights and sensors.
Test requirement: Simulate battery voltage fluctuations during car startup, idle, acceleration, and braking (such as a 12V battery voltage range of 9-16V).
operating steps
Enter the power LIST sequence mode and set multiple voltage time curves, such as Step 1 (9V/5s) → Step 2 (14V/10s) → Step 3 (16V/3s), to simulate different working conditions of the car.
Connect the automotive electronic components to the power supply and synchronously record the working status of the components at different voltages.
Enable transient response function, simulate voltage transients (such as sudden battery failure), and test the device's impact resistance.
Advantages: Accurately reproduce complex voltage conditions of automobiles, without the need to build a real in car environment, reducing testing costs.
3、 Application precautions
Matching load characteristics: Capacitive loads (such as capacitors and motors) are prone to surge currents when powered on, and a slow start function should be set to avoid triggering overcurrent protection.
Grounding specification: The power output GND should be reliably connected to the ground terminal of the tested component to prevent electrostatic interference with the test results.
Data recording: Upload power data to the computer through a remote communication interface to generate test reports for easy traceability of product performance.
Heat dissipation management: During high-power testing, ensure good heat dissipation between the power supply and the tested component to avoid high temperatures affecting testing accuracy.