Keysight Labs | Stress Testing a Cheap DC-DC Converter @KeysightLabs | Uploaded March 2021 | Updated October 2024, 18 hours ago.
Line regulation & load regulation tests with an electronic load
Register for Keysight University Live & See today's winners here ► bit.ly/KULive2 ◄
Subscribe: bit.ly/KLabs_sub
Keysight University Live is happening now! Wondering what it’s all about?
This online event for engineers features tips, tricks, and prizes that will make you an engineering legend. Enter now for daily chances to learn and win test gear.
Learn tips & tricks, hear from industry experts, and get a sneak peek at never-before-seen test gear. You could also win more than $300,000 in oscilloscopes, RF, and bench equipment – you don’t want to miss this!
We will have fresh talks, interviews, and drawings each day this week on the Keysight University Live web page, and each Tuesday 23-March to 27-April.
Twitter: @DanielBogdanoff:
twitter.com/DanielBogdanoff
twitter.com/Keysight
Helpful Links:
The electronic load we used:
keysight.com/us/en/products/dc-electronic-loads/el30000-series-bench-electronic-loads.html
The power supply:
keysight.com/us/en/products/dc-power-supplies/bench-power-supplies/e36300-series-triple-output-power-supply-80-160w.html
Keysight Bench Facebook page:
facebook.com/keysightbench
Keysight RF Facebook page:
facebook.com/keysightrf
EEs Talk Tech Electrical Engineering podcast:
eestalktech.com
youtube.com/KeysightPodcasts
Check out our blog:
bit.ly/KeysTechBlogs
00:00 Cheap Amazon DC-DC converter test
00:17 Testing line regulation of a DC-DC converter
01:07 Testing DC-DC converter load regulation and recovery time
01:52 How well did the cheap DC-DC converter perform?
We’re going to test this cheap Amazon converter and see if it actually meets its rated spec. We’ll test line regulation and a load regulation which are essential DC to DC converter tests – You have to know how your converters holdup under non-ideal conditions to make sure your designs work. Let’s start with line regulation.
A line regulation test measures the change in output voltage while decreasing the line voltage, or the input voltage. This device should convert an input of 11-24V into a stable 5V output. We’re going to test it and see how well it holds up!
Our power supply provides the input power, and this electronic load will draw a constant current from the output. We can see on our load that the 5 V output from the USB port barely changes while the line voltage ranges from 24 V to 16 V. However, if the line voltage drops to 12 V, the converter can no longer regulate the output voltage, and it starts to drop. It was spec'd at 12 V minimum, but It looks like they might have exaggerated the ratings a little bit.
Line regulation is an easy, but important test – you absolutely want to know how your device holds up under a load and with varied inputs.
Our converter held up pretty ok, but the line regulation test showed us that the minimum input voltage probably should be rated a little higher. Both these tests give you good idea of how your converters handle real-world situations. Use a line regulation test to see how your converter holds up to a varying input, and a load regulation test to see how it handles changing loads
Today we’re measuring load regulation and recovery time of this power converter!
Load regulation measures the change in output voltage as output current increases. This converter should provide a constant voltage while this electronic load toggles to a higher current. A built-in oscilloscope with markers can measure the change in the output voltage.
There are two common measurements you’ll want to make on your converter. The first is load regulation, which is the difference in voltage under various loads. The second is the recovery time, which measures how long it took the output to get to its recovery voltage.
Using this information, you can determine if the converter you are using will hold up to your device’s requirements and function properly, or if you need a more robust system.
I’m also giving away an electronic load and power supply as part of Keysight University Live, you can still sign up using this link – we’re also talking Quantum electronics if you want to come geek out with me – I’ll see you over there.
Check out our blog:
bit.ly/KeysTechBlogs
#AmazonElectronicsTest #CheapAmazonTest #CheapElectronicsTest #LoadRegulation #LineRegulation #ElectronicLoad #PowerSupply #electronics #electricalengineering #Powerengineering #DCDCconverter #DCDCRegulatorTest #DCDCconvertertest #powertesting
Line regulation & load regulation tests with an electronic load
Register for Keysight University Live & See today's winners here ► bit.ly/KULive2 ◄
Subscribe: bit.ly/KLabs_sub
Keysight University Live is happening now! Wondering what it’s all about?
This online event for engineers features tips, tricks, and prizes that will make you an engineering legend. Enter now for daily chances to learn and win test gear.
Learn tips & tricks, hear from industry experts, and get a sneak peek at never-before-seen test gear. You could also win more than $300,000 in oscilloscopes, RF, and bench equipment – you don’t want to miss this!
We will have fresh talks, interviews, and drawings each day this week on the Keysight University Live web page, and each Tuesday 23-March to 27-April.
Twitter: @DanielBogdanoff:
twitter.com/DanielBogdanoff
twitter.com/Keysight
Helpful Links:
The electronic load we used:
keysight.com/us/en/products/dc-electronic-loads/el30000-series-bench-electronic-loads.html
The power supply:
keysight.com/us/en/products/dc-power-supplies/bench-power-supplies/e36300-series-triple-output-power-supply-80-160w.html
Keysight Bench Facebook page:
facebook.com/keysightbench
Keysight RF Facebook page:
facebook.com/keysightrf
EEs Talk Tech Electrical Engineering podcast:
eestalktech.com
youtube.com/KeysightPodcasts
Check out our blog:
bit.ly/KeysTechBlogs
00:00 Cheap Amazon DC-DC converter test
00:17 Testing line regulation of a DC-DC converter
01:07 Testing DC-DC converter load regulation and recovery time
01:52 How well did the cheap DC-DC converter perform?
We’re going to test this cheap Amazon converter and see if it actually meets its rated spec. We’ll test line regulation and a load regulation which are essential DC to DC converter tests – You have to know how your converters holdup under non-ideal conditions to make sure your designs work. Let’s start with line regulation.
A line regulation test measures the change in output voltage while decreasing the line voltage, or the input voltage. This device should convert an input of 11-24V into a stable 5V output. We’re going to test it and see how well it holds up!
Our power supply provides the input power, and this electronic load will draw a constant current from the output. We can see on our load that the 5 V output from the USB port barely changes while the line voltage ranges from 24 V to 16 V. However, if the line voltage drops to 12 V, the converter can no longer regulate the output voltage, and it starts to drop. It was spec'd at 12 V minimum, but It looks like they might have exaggerated the ratings a little bit.
Line regulation is an easy, but important test – you absolutely want to know how your device holds up under a load and with varied inputs.
Our converter held up pretty ok, but the line regulation test showed us that the minimum input voltage probably should be rated a little higher. Both these tests give you good idea of how your converters handle real-world situations. Use a line regulation test to see how your converter holds up to a varying input, and a load regulation test to see how it handles changing loads
Today we’re measuring load regulation and recovery time of this power converter!
Load regulation measures the change in output voltage as output current increases. This converter should provide a constant voltage while this electronic load toggles to a higher current. A built-in oscilloscope with markers can measure the change in the output voltage.
There are two common measurements you’ll want to make on your converter. The first is load regulation, which is the difference in voltage under various loads. The second is the recovery time, which measures how long it took the output to get to its recovery voltage.
Using this information, you can determine if the converter you are using will hold up to your device’s requirements and function properly, or if you need a more robust system.
I’m also giving away an electronic load and power supply as part of Keysight University Live, you can still sign up using this link – we’re also talking Quantum electronics if you want to come geek out with me – I’ll see you over there.
Check out our blog:
bit.ly/KeysTechBlogs
#AmazonElectronicsTest #CheapAmazonTest #CheapElectronicsTest #LoadRegulation #LineRegulation #ElectronicLoad #PowerSupply #electronics #electricalengineering #Powerengineering #DCDCconverter #DCDCRegulatorTest #DCDCconvertertest #powertesting
