In industries such as electronics, automotive, and IT, electronic loads are indispensable devices in the development and design of products like power supply units, server power systems, telecom power supplies, and batteries. Transient response tests on the power supply must be conducted throughout the research, design, and verification phases. By testing the stability of the output voltage during instantaneous changes in different load currents, engineers can verify that the backend system operates without potentially harmful anomalies. Validating the stability of the power supply under real load conditions serves as a cornerstone for ensuring the overall quality of the unit.
Transient response testing is one of the basic testing requirements for power supplies. The traditional approach involves obtaining real waveforms using externally generated "arbitrary waveforms". These waveforms are saved on a computer and sent to the electronic load, either through a data acquisition (DAQ) card or simply by using an arbitrary waveform generator. As can be seen from the figure, this traditional approach requires setting up multiple devices, introducing cumbersome complexity into the testing process. To streamline the procedure and eliminate the need for intricate device and wiring configurations, Chroma electronic loads now come with the "User Defined Waveform" (UDW) feature, allowing users to conveniently tailor the test conditions to their specific requirements.
