Description

The California Instruments 3091LD 3000VA Programmable AC Load is designed to provide precisely controlled, non-linear loads for testing AC power generation equipment such as UPS’s and AC sources. In addition, any active or passive current carrying devices such as switches, circuit breakers, fuses, connectors and power semiconductors can be tested. Traditionally, many of these products are tested using resistive load banks. This approach does not simulate real-world conditions such as switching DC/AC converters found in many AC powered products. This type of conventional testing does not fully exercise the equipment under test (EUT) under worst case operating conditions. High peak currents and low power factor loads can significantly impact the operating characteristics of a UPS or AC power product. The California Instruments 3091LD AC Load can simulate high crest factor and variable power factor load conditions. This provides an effective method of testing AC products against real-world conditions and can significantly increase product reliability. Unless properly exercised, product defects may go undetected until a unit is used at a customer site, resulting in costly field returns.

California Instruments 3091LD Features:

• Multi-mode AC Electronic Load Flexible solution for a wide range of AC power test applications
• 3000 Watt Power Dissipation Master / Auxiliary configurations for higher power and multi phase applications
• 50 to 350 V, 45 Hz to 440 Hz Commercial, Military and Avionics applications
• Programmable Crest & Power Factor Test AC power products for
  real-world conditions
• Built-in Measurements Eliminates the need for additional test equipment in bench or ATE applications
• Remote Control IEEE-488 and RS232C Interface for automated test applications

Front Panel Control
The AC load can be operated from an easy to use, menu driven front panel. Product tests can be performed quickly in an R&D setting by punching up specific load conditions on the front panel and reading the measurement screen of the 3091LD. This fast interactive front panel control mode can be used during a product’s early development cycle to isolate potential performance problems before the product leaves the engineering lab.

Automated Testing
TheCalifornia Instruments 3091LD 3000VA Programmable AC Load can be deployed in ATE test stations using either IEEE-488 or RS232C remote control. The industry standard SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation) protocol is used and instrument drivers are available to ease test software development. The built-in metering functions of the 3091LD AC load can be used to eliminate the need for additional test equipment such as meters, power analyzers and oscilloscopes. This and the reduced size of the California Instruments 3091LD 3000VA Programmable AC Load compared to passive load banks, represents a savings in both cost and rack space.

Power Levels
Each 3091LD is capable of dissipating 3000 W of single phase AC power. For higher power or three phase applications, a 3091LD master unit can be combined with one or more auxiliary units. The master 3091LD unit provides the required consolidated measurements so the test system controller – or the operator – need only interface to the master unit, regardless of the specific configuration. Single, split or three phase configurations can be software configured from the master 3091LD.

Measurement and Analysis
The 3091LD can be used to emulate a wide variety of AC load conditions to support real-world testing and evaluation of UPS and AC source products. Specifically, the following modes can be selected: