Keysight (Keysight Technologies) has more than 50 years of experience in designing and manufacturing all types of power products and solutions.
The next generation of bench power supplies incorporates consumers’ feedback and Keysight’s engineering knowledge, and design practices, to offer one of the most versatile bench power product families.
Listed below are five tips to help consumers get the most out of Keysight’s E36300 Series bench power supply:
- Connecting to the bench DC power supply,
- Achieving accurate voltage with remote sense,
- Measuring current in amps,
- Tracking DC outputs, and
- Keeping power supplies secure.
Connecting to the DC Bench Power Supply
To start, connect to the outputs of an E36300 Series DC bench power supply, in one of the following two ways –
- Through front-panel binding posts (optional recessed binding posts are available), or
- Through rear-panel screw-type output connectors.
Achieving Accurate Voltage with Remote Sense
Remote sense capability helps deliver accurate voltage at the device under test, when using long wiring
Remote sense capability helps deliver accurate voltage at the device under test (DUT), when using long wiring. In addition, remote sense improves the measurement accuracy.
For example, consumers may need to use their bench DC source to power a development board located in a thermal chamber, using a long wire (20 feet or longer). If not using remote sense and proper cabling, they will not get their programmed voltage at the device under test. For example, consumers may set the voltage to 5 V and only get 4.5 V, at the DUT. This difference is because of the voltage drop (Vdrop) in the output wiring.
Remote sense compensates for voltage drop
Wire resistance and the amount of current that the load requires is the reason for the Vdrop. Remote sense automatically compensates for the Vdrop in the power leads, useful in constant voltage (CV) operation, with varying load impedance or significant lead resistance.
The E36300 Series bench power supply includes remote sense capability, as a standard feature. Consumers can easily enable remote sense, through the built-in internal relays that connect the plus and minus output terminals to the plus and minus sense terminals, without removing jumpers. Please note that they must use the rear output connectors for four-wire remote sense operation.
Wiring tips for remote sense applications
Keysight recommends using a single twisted pair for the output leads and a separate twisted pair for the sense leads. Since the sense leads carry tiny currents, consumers may use a lighter gauge wire. It is important to try to keep the sense leads less than 0.5 Ω per wire (a 20-gauge wire works well). It is also advised to keep the wire pairs as short as possible and less than 50 feet (14.7 meters).
Once the wiring is complete, enable four-wire operation, by pressing Source Settings > Sense 2W / 4W
Once the wiring is complete, enable four-wire operation, by pressing Source Settings > Sense 2W / 4W. The four-wire operation appears above the CV indicator. It is considered a best practice to twist the wires, so as to reduce lead inductance and noise pickup.
In the test example, Channel 1 is set up for two-wire operation, using a single twisted pair. Channel 2 is set up for four-wire operation, using a twisted pair for the output leads and a separate twisted pair for the remote sense leads.
Measuring Current in Amps
Making current measurements using a bench power supply is easy to do. Current bench power supplies require no external equipment, such as digital multimedia, current shunt, or wiring, so the setup is much simpler, thereby eliminating potential errors.
Measurement accuracy is specified and the current measurements appear in amps, on a large displays setup. Additionally, the setup requires no voltage-to-current conversion. Low measurement range is the default setting on Keysight’s E36312A and E36313A models. In order to change the measurement range, users can select - Utilities > Test Setup > Lower Range (On / Off ).
Tracking power supply outputs
The E36300 Series from Keysight provides 0 to ± 25 V tracking outputs. In track mode, voltages from Channel 2 and Channel 3 track each other, by varying the symmetrical voltages required by operational amps and other circuits that need positive and negative voltages.
Consumers can configure the bench power supply for + 5 V and +5 V tracking DC outputs, by enabling track mode
For example, consumers can configure the bench power supply for + 5 V and +5 V tracking DC outputs, by enabling track mode. They can then use the front-panel voltage knob or the numeric keypad to adjust the output voltage of both Channel 2 and Channel 3.
Consumers need to note that while Channel 2 and Channel 3 are independent electrically, they track their voltage setting. Track mode is available on the E36312A and E36313A models. To enable track mode, they need to select - Output Settings > Operation Mode > Mode Tracking.
Keeping the power supply secure
Consumers can keep their power supply secure against unauthorized or accidental setting changes, by locking the front-panel keypad, knobs, and buttons. To do this, they need to press and hold the Lock / Unlock soft key for a few seconds, so as to lock the front panel. In addition, they can lock the bench power supply to the test bench, using the built-in Kensington security slot feature.
The E36300 Series bench power supply with low output ripple / noise and accurate voltage / current measurements, lets users test with confidence. They can power multiple voltage buses with clean, reliable power and view voltage, and current on all outputs, simultaneously.