News - Component Test

DC Power Supplies for High Voltage and Solar Array Applications

20 August 2014 - B&K Precision introduced three new models of high power programmable DC power supplies, models PVS10005, PVS60085, and PVS60085MR. The new PVS Series delivers output power up to 5.1 kW with excellent regulation, low noise, and fast transient response times. All models provide a unique built-in solar array simulator (SAS) function to generate photovoltaic I-V curves.

Offering high power density in a compact 2U form factor, these DC power supplies are especially suitable for high voltage testing up to 1000 V, motor inverter testing, and solar array testing applications.

To maximize solar power efficiency, a solar inverter’s MPPT algorithm must be tested under various irradiance conditions. With the optional SAS software application, PVS Series users can easily simulate solar arrays under different weather conditions during a day to validate the effectiveness of the solar inverter. The SAS software allows for a variety of I-V curve input parameters (Voc/Isc/Vmp/Imp/FF/FFv/FFi) along with user-definable irradiance profiles and a custom 1024-point voltage and current table. This software can also monitor and log real-time voltage, current, power, MPPT efficiency, and average MPPT efficiency.

Users looking to replace multiple supplies on a bench or rack can benefit from model PVS60085MR, which offers multi-ranging operation up to 3 kW. This model shares the same voltage and current ranges of the PVS60085 (600 V, 8.5 A) and automatically recalculates voltage and current limits. Furthermore, users can select model PVS10005 for high voltage testing up to 1000 V at 5 A. Unlike other high power supplies that require a 3-phase AC line input, these power supplies only need a single-phase mains connection.

Front panel features for the PVS Series include a bright VFD display, protection LED indicators, and numerical keypad with rotary control knob and cursors for setting output levels quickly. Each model provides internal memory storage to save and recall up to 100 instrument settings.

For programming, the power supplies provide a list mode function, an external analog programming and monitoring interface, and standard USB, RS-232, GPIB, and LAN interfaces supporting SCPI commands. Remote control software is also available for front panel emulation, generation and execution of test sequences, and logging measurements via a PC. Users can integrate this application software with NI’s Data Dashboard app to create custom dashboards on smartphones and tablets for additional monitoring functions.

PVS Series models include comprehensive protection features: overvoltage (OVP), overcurrent (OCP), overpower (OPP), and overtemperature (OTP) protection, along with constant voltage-to-constant current (CV-to-CC) and constant current-to-constant voltage (CC-to-CV) foldback protection modes. All models are backed by a 3-year warranty.

Available immediately, the PVS10005 and PVS60085 list at a price of $4,790, the PVS60085MR lists at $3,980, and the SASPVS software lists at $295.

www.bkprecision.com/