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3 Advanced Electronic Load Measurements with the Multicomp Pro DC Load - Workbench Wednesdays 71

On Workbench Wednesdays, James walks you through several advanced electronic load measurements using the Multicomp Pro MP710258 electronic load. It lets you simulate an IoT device’s power profile from sleep to transmitting; you can also see how fast a DC-DC converter recovers after a large load step; and finally it can even help characterize how long a battery will last based on an application’s discharge rate.

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

Bill of Material:

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit
MP710259 DC Electronic Load, 300 W, Programmable, 0 V, 120 V, 30 A Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
MP710258 DC Electronic Load, 150 W, Programmable, 0 V, 120 V, 30 A Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
Test Lead Set, Banana Plug Stackable, Alligator Clip, Banana Plug, Hook Clip, 60 VDC, 5 A Multicomp Pro 1 Buy Now
 

  • Hi, I am hoping to use the MP710259 in CV mode to act like a shunt regulator in a battery / battery charger setup. The idea is to configure the load to a 29.5V setpoint with full current delivery capability, should the voltage increase above this setpoint.

    I am concerned about the quality of the manual and was hopeful that you have used the load in this mode and could clarify set up.  It would be used in static mode. 

    The idea would be to connect it in parallel to a battery on a cycler.  The battery in question will open an internal contactor when it wants to disconnect.  If this is done while we're charging, the abrupt change in loading creates a voltage overshoot on the cycler output. We can observe improvement with as little as a 1A load.  However, it is undesirable to have a load current connected all the time.  Since we only want current in an overvoltage condition, this electronic load would provide the load necessary to clamp the current, but only during the voltage overshoot.

    We charge at 28.5V at variable amps (55-90A).  When the battery disconnects itself, the cycler voltage goes as high as 60V before cutoff (when unloaded).  We are hopeful this solution will provide the suppression we are looking for. 

    Can you help with the instrument setup?

    Thanks in advance.

  • Nice episode.

    Too bad the unit does not permit you to set up a computer to control the features remotely.

    Question, did the unit have the ability to go back and review the settings you entered before you turned it on?

    Also, did it have an edit feature or did you have to go back and completely reenter the settings?

  • Also, here's a link to the GitHub repo with the efficiency SCPI code I used in the video:

    https://github.com/baldengineer/bald-efficiency

  • Here's the STL of the little banana adapter doodad I printed. It falls over, but it kinda works.

    banana adapter v4.stl