Load testing of AC output devices such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), and off-grid inverters has traditionally relied on linear RLC loads. However, as industries worldwide grow increasingly energy-conscious, the waste heat generated by linear loads is becoming less and less acceptable. Many R&D and production teams are now seeking more sustainable and efficient AC load test solutions.
For instance, when used for aging and burn-in testing of products like AC EVSE, linear loads suffer from bulky form factors and wastefully dissipate power as heat, requiring additional cooling equipment to keep temperatures under control. This is not only wasteful in terms of energy use but also costly in terms of space and hardware requirements.
Chroma’s new 63800R Series of AC electronic loads addresses this through implementing bidirectional energy recycling technology and high-density design. The 63800R provides users with spatial flexibility by delivering a 15kVA power rating in a 3U chassis, while offering highly efficient energy recycling that feeds up to 89% of the consumed power back to the grid. Used in a production line, a single 63800R unit operating at full load for one year can reduce carbon emissions by about 45.3 metric tons. Besides helping the planet, this also considerably cuts cooling equipment expenses.
The Chroma 63800R is equipped with a complete portfolio of AC load functions and operating modes, including constant current (CC), constant power (CP), and constant impedance (CR), as well as more advanced Rectified and Phase Lead/Lag modes. The instrument can simulate linear, rectified, inductive, and capacitive load characteristics with unmatched accuracy. A single 63800R unit can meet both single-phase and three-phase sources, giving it a cost and space advantage over legacy solutions requiring three separate load units.
Thanks to carefully developed digital control and phase shift algorithms, Chroma 63800R delivers load characteristics that closely correspond to real linear loads. For test applications requiring frequent connection and disconnection of the voltage source (e.g., AC EVSE card-swipe charging), the 63800R provides precise and stable load quality to meet test requirements like AC interruptions and load startups. This solves the long-standing issue of traditional AC loads not being able to respond quickly enough to changes in the AC voltage. Overall, Chroma 63800R Series offers a highly efficient and comprehensive solution for a wide range of AC load test applications.
