TEST AUTOMATION: How to test today
Our solutions: For more efficient inspection and testing
To be competitive, testing processes need to be automated. Not only can automatic tests be performed faster than manual tests, automatic tests are generally more effective and comprehensive than manual tests. One reason for this is that operating errors are excluded during automatic tests. In addition, the tests are carried out in the same way every time and the electronically recorded test data is available for immediate analysis. Power sources and electronic loads are important components of any automatic test equipment (ATE) system. They need to be accurate, reliable and easy to integrate into your ATE system.

EA Elektro-Automatic's product lines of DC power supplies, electronic loads and bidirectional power supplies have features that help automate test processes and perform more effective tests. EA's PSI, EL, ELR and PSB product series can deliver up to 2000 V, have autoranging and integrated arbitrary waveform and function generation. This flexibility allows EA to generate or reduce the power required to simulate real-world conditions and ensure that automatic test systems operate reliably and efficiently.

Products used in test automation:

• DC Bidirectional programmable DC power supplies
• Programmable DC Electronic Laboratory Power Supplies
• Programmable DC electronic loads Conventional and Regenerative

Autoranging restorations are more flexible than traditional auto-test restorations
With a wide range of electronic devices and systems, programmable DC power sources are an essential tool in testing product development and production testing. For example, functional tests often require exposing the device under test (DUT) to a wide operating voltage range. In some cases, the DUT also absorbs constant power under variable input conditions. Common examples are DC motor drives and regulated DC/DC supplies.

In such circumstances, the ability of the programmable DC source to deliver an increased current at reduced output voltage is valuable. This capability is called "autoranging". DC supplies without autoranging often require oversizing or using multiple supplies to test the DUT under varying input voltage conditions.

EA Benefits:

• Output voltage up to 2000V
• Power output up to 30 kW
• High power density
• Digital control
• Low EMC
• Experience in industry

Regenerative loads reduce test costs
Switching power supplies used in data centers, industrial plants, medical devices and other critical applications are typically subjected to burn-in operation under full load over a longer period of time. This is intended to eliminate early failures and ensure reliable operation over the rated service life of the power supply. The traditional method of performing these tests uses relatively inexpensive resistive load banks that convert output power into heat. Consequently, the energy costs of performing the burn-in far exceed the output power of the tested power supplies.

However, by using regenerative electronic loads (ELRs), energy costs can be drastically reduced by up to 93% by directing the load power back to the utility. Other advantages of power dissipation are the lower heat generation, so that fewer and smaller cooling fans are required. This drastically reduces the audible noise. In addition, there is a higher power density compared to typical air-cooled loads, resulting in 2-3 times less rack or table space.

EA Benefits:

• Power dissipation up to 120 kW
• High power density
• Regenerative Load Technology
• Digital control interface
• Low EMC
• Experience in industry

One interface for any application or topology
Each automatic test application has its own challenges. That's why it's important to have a wide variety of digital interface options. For example, when testing a large system, such as an aircraft, a test system can be quite far from the control computer. For this application, you may want to equip your power supply or electronic load with an Ethernet interface.

For a production application, an interface to a programmable logic controller (PLC) can be important. For this application, you can prefer a Profibus or Profinet IO interface. In some cases, you may also want to upgrade an older ATE system. For these applications, you may need an RS-232 or GPIB interface. Basically, whatever your ATE needs, EA can provide the right remote control interface.

EA Benefits:

• Industrial quality applications: CAN, CANopen, Profibus/Profinet IO
• Applications with high data speed: CAN, CANopen, Ethernet, ModBus TCP, Profibus/Profinet IO
• Long Distance Applications: Ethernet, , ModBus TCP
• Laboratory applications: USB
• SCPI support: Ethernet, ModBus TCP, RS232, GPIB
• Legacy applications: RS232, GPIB

Better testing of batteries with bidirectional power supplies
Testing battery-powered devices can be difficult because battery performance varies from device to device. Once the batteries are discharged, you need to interrupt the tests until they are recharged. However, you can use EA's bidirectional power supplies to simulate a charging or discharging battery during an automated test. This allows testing under different battery conditions without having to wait for a battery to be charged or discharged to a certain state of charge. In addition, we offer battery simulation software for Windows PCs.

EA Battery Simulator can control one or more EA-PSB 10000 power supplies to simulate standard lead-acid (AGM) and lithium-ion batteries in series or parallel for a variety of battery-related tests. The user can set the battery parameters for a test. As soon as a test is started, it runs automatically. The combination of a bidirectional power supply and this software eliminates the need to use a battery bank for testing, while providing a wide range of test voltages and charge/discharge currents that are reliable and repeatable.

EA Benefits:

• Bidirectional
• High power density
• Battery Simulation
• Arbitrary Waveform and Function Generator
• Voltage models up to 2000V
• Low EMC
• Experience in industry
• Plug-and-play parallel connection up to 2 MW

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Power Electronics “made in Germany
EA Elektro-Automatik GmbH & Co. KG is Germany’s leading manufacturer of laboratory power supply, high-performance power supplies and electronic loads. In 1974 Helmut Nolden founded the company with the vision to develop highly qualified power supply systems for all applications.