Engineering teams developing and validating electrified systems are increasingly challenged by the shift from DC-centric testing to AC inverter-based architectures. Traditional test setups often struggle to accurately emulate real-world grid conditions, bidirectional power flow, and dynamic load behavior — leading to longer validation cycles, missed edge cases, and higher risk late in development. In this interview, attendees will learn how inverter-based AC testing can be used to more realistically validate power electronics, EV subsystems, and energy conversion equipment. The discussion will explore common testing challenges, why AC-side testing is becoming critical, and how modern programmable power solutions can help engineers improve test coverage, reduce complexity, and accelerate time to market by aligning test conditions more closely with real operating environments.
Overview
As electrification accelerates across EVs, aerospace, industrial automation, and energy systems, engineers are being pushed beyond traditional DC testing paradigms. Many modern systems rely on inverter-based architectures, where AC generation, conversion, and bidirectional power flow are central to performance and efficiency. Yet, many test strategies lag behind this reality.This interview dives into why AC-side, inverter-based testing is becoming essential and how it addresses limitations of conventional test approaches.
Drawing from real engineering experience, the conversation will explore how programmable power technologies can better emulate grids, loads, and dynamic operating conditions — enabling engineers to uncover issues earlier in development and design more robust systems.Rather than focusing on theory alone, the discussion emphasizes practical considerations: what engineers struggle with today, how test requirements are evolving, and what questions teams should be asking when modernizing their validation strategies. Attendees will walk away with a clearer understanding of how inverter-based AC testing supports higher confidence designs, smoother certification paths, and more efficient development cycles.
Key Takeaways
- Identify when inverter-based AC testing is necessary versus traditional DC or fixed AC approaches
- Evaluate how realistic AC-side emulation improves validation accuracy and reduces late-stage design risk
- Apply best-practice thinking to modernize test setups for inverter-driven and bidirectional power systems
Speaker
Ben Jackson is the current Director, Product Line Management for AMETEK, which includes the brands Programmable Power, VTI Instruments, and IntelliPower. He is an experienced leader in the renewable energy market with a wide range of Electrical Engineering experience, including wireless power design and battery test and analysis. Recently, his focus has been in the solar market with emphasis on solar emulation and grid based interaction and the electric vehicle market to include both automotive and aerospace applications, working with clients to design, setup, test, and manage various battery and powertrain test systems exceeding 2MW.