Load Testing and Recording?

[Inferno0032]

Hey guys,

I would like to test a power supply, and am looking for a good budget method that will yield decent results for reading an recording/measuring loads for load testing.

Thanks!
Inferno

 

[jonnyGURU]

You can build your own load tester like crmaris's: http://www.thelab.gr/forumdisplay.php?f=122

Or like Grace's: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/index/18/power-supplies.html

Or you can buy an entry level TechRed TR-368 or SunMoon SM-268 for about $1500 if you know someone in Taiwan (the U.S. reps mark up the load testers with 100 percent markup), or a higher end SunMoon, like an SM-8800, for about $3000. Go the Chroma route and you could spend almost $10K.

 

[Inferno0032]

You can build your own load tester like crmaris's: http://www.thelab.gr/forumdisplay.php?f=122

Or like Grace's: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/index/18/power-supplies.html

Or you can buy an entry level TechRed TR-368 or SunMoon SM-268 for about $1500 if you know someone in Taiwan (the U.S. reps mark up the load testers with 100 percent markup), or a higher end SunMoon, like an SM-8800, for about $3000. Go the Chroma route and you could spend almost $10K.

Thanks, that's what I was looking for, but I was wondering if they had a guide somewhere that shows how it was done and/or which parts are needed?

Thanks alot!

 

[jonnyGURU]

You'd have to ask them. The equipment has to be pretty accurate. As it is, my SunMoon SM-8800 has certificates of accuracy from an independent lab. I didn't want to take a chance with the equipment being inaccurate. Then again, if you make your own you could always confirm your accuracy by double checking every load with a highly accurate clamping ammeter...

 

[mikeford]

I suspect what would work well would depend on to what end the testing was being done?

Way before I spent a lot of money I think I would try building something, and using standard bench equipment like a scope etc., data input module for a PC.

Other than some kind of benchmarking, very appropriate for reviews, I would not be using a bunch of load resistors, or at least not exclusively. I would want to see responses to real world loads, devices that switch on and off or change current demands rapidly and measure how well the PS accommodates and regulates voltages during the changes.

OTOH a burn in rack for QC would work fine with VERY basic resistor loads and monitors.

 

[Inferno0032]

I realize this is far from an ideal objective measuring technique, but if you were to load your system components to 100 percent load, how would you go about measuring the voltages during idle and then load? Would you need a 20+4 pin splitter to measure the voltage coming off the various rails?

Thanks

 

[bryanl]

Loads can be provided by MOSFETs controlled by D/A converters, and currents can be read across sense resistors or by linear Hall effect sensors connected to A/D converters. There are USB interface chips, but don't rule out using sound cards and parallel ports.