Operation
Setting Up the Output
With the POWER switch on (
l
) and the
output off the output voltage and current limit can be
accurately preset using the VOLTAGE and CURRENT controls; the left-hand meter shows the set
voltage and the right-hand meter shows the set maximum current.
When the
output switch is switched on, the ON lamp lights; the left-hand meter now shows
the actual voltage and the right-hand the actual load current.
Constant Voltage
The output voltage is adjusted using the coarse and fine VOLTAGE controls; the CURRENT
control sets the maximum current that can be supplied.
Constant Current
If the load resistance is low enough such that, at the output voltage set, a current greater than the
current limit setting would flow, the power supply will automatically move into constant current
operation. The current output is adjusted by the CURRENT control and the VOLTAGE controls
set the maximum voltage that can be generated.
The CC lamp lights to show constant current mode.
Instantaneous Current Output
The current limit control can be set to limit the continuous output current to levels down to 10mA.
However, in common with all precision bench power supplies, a capacitor is connected across the
output to maintain stability and good transient response. This capacitor charges to the output
voltage and short-circuiting of the output will produce a current pulse as the capacitor discharges
which is independent of the current limit setting.
Protection
The output has intrinsic short-circuit protection and is protected from reverse voltages by a diode;
the continuous reverse current must not exceed 3 Amps, although transients can be much higher.
Connection to the Load
The load should be connected to the positive (red) and negative (black) output terminals. Both
are fully floating and either can be connected to ground.
Series or Parallel Connection with Other Outputs
The outputs of the power supply are fully floating and may be used in series with other power
supply units to generate high DC voltages up to 300V DC.
The maximum permissible voltage between any terminal and earth ground (
) is 300VDC.
WARNING!
Such voltages are exceedingly hazardous and great care should be taken to shield
the output terminals for such use. On no account should the output terminals be touched when
the unit is switched on under such use. All connections to the terminals must be made with the
power switched off on all units.
It should be noted that the unit can only source current and cannot sink it, thus units cannot be
series connected in anti-phase.
The unit can be connected in parallel with others to produce higher currents. Where several units
are connected in parallel, the output voltage will be equal to that of the unit with the highest output
voltage setting until the current drawn exceeds its current limit setting, upon which the output will
fall to that of the next highest setting, and so on. In constant current mode, units can be
connected in parallel to provide a current equal to the sum of the current limit settings.
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