Recent improvements in switch-mode techniques have enabled power supply units (PSU) to now be developed that have a semi constant power characteristic. As a result this enables higher current at lower output voltages thus improving the flexibility of the unit. The technique however is difficult to apply to a laboratory power supply, which must be able to operate down to zero volts and zero power, and to perform correctly under all load conditions. Laboratory PSU technology is now advancing with solutions such as a semi constant power, technique called ‘PowerFlex’ from Aim TTi. The company has engineered a new approach to semi constant power called PowerFlex Plus. Power supplies using this technique can achieve an output current range in excess of 6:1. New techniques utilising DSP based control to provide non-linear control algorithms, can maintain stability over a wider parametric range. These techniques can also offer faster step load response and better power efficiency. It has also become possible to achieve very low noise and good dynamic recovery performance without the need for a linear final regulator. The new QPX600D from the company is a dual 600watt laboratory PSU, which offers voltage/current combinations from 80V/7.5A through to 10V/50A. Because this model has dual outputs, which can accurately track one another, it is also possible to connect them in series or parallel to provide up to 160volts or 100amps improving the overall power supply capability.
Aim-TTi
