Elektro-Automatik EA-EL 9500-08 T 400W – Programmable Electronic DC Load, 400W/500V/8A

• Power: 400W
• Voltage: 500V
• Current: 8A
• Touch screen
• Function generator

The Elektro-Automatik EA-EL 9000 T are programmable DC loads with an easy-to-use touchscreen and built-in function generator. The EA-EL 9000 T are available in three power ratings, as shown below:

(1 Minimum DC input voltage to supply for the load to achieve the max. input current

All models support the four regulation modes constant voltage (CV), constant current (CC), constant power (CP) and constant resistance (CR). The core of the control circuit is a fast microprocessor that provides helpful features, including a true function generator with common functions such as sine, rectangle or triangle waves, as well as an arbitrary function. The color TFT touch panel offers the intuitive manual operation, similar to smartphones and tablet computers.

Response times during the control of the devices via analog or digital interface have been improved by ARM processor-controlled hardware, compared to older electronic load series.

Display and handling​

Set values and actual values of input voltage, current and power are clearly represented on the graphic display. The color TFT screen is touch-sensitive and can be intuitively used to control all functions of the device with just a finger.

Set values of voltage, current, power or resistance can be adjusted using the rotary knobs or entered directly via a numeric pad. To prevent unintentional operations, all operation controls can be locked.

Battery test

For purposes of testing all kinds of batteries, such as for example constant current or constant resistance discharging, the devices offer a battery test mode. It counts values for elapsed testing time and consumed capacity (Ah) and energy (Wh).

Data recorded by the PC during tests with EA Power Control can be exported as Excel table in CSV format and analyzed later in MS Excel or similar tools and even visualized as a discharge diagram.

For a more detailed setup, there is also an adjustable threshold to stop the battery test on low battery voltage, as well an adjustable maximum test period.

Power derating

The devices of the EA-EL 9000 T series are equipped with thermal derating in order to avoid overheating when operating in the maximum power range. The lower the ambient temperature and the better the cooling, the higher the power that the load can take. The nominal intake power before the de-rating starts is defined at 25°C ambient temperature.

For remote control, there is by default a USB interface port available on the rear of the devices. As an option, a 3-way system can be installed by the user simply by plugging an electronic board, which holds a USB, an Ethernet and an analog interface.

Another USB port, located on the front side, is intended for USB sticks in order to load and save functions and user profiles.

Windows users can profit from the free software “EA Power Control”. It offers a feature called “Sequencing”, where the device is controlled through a semi-automatic table in CSV format. This table represents a simple test procedure and can be created and edited in MS Excel or other CSV editors and then imported into the software tool.

This software also allows for the control of up to 20 units at once with an optional feature called “Multi Control” (licensed, not free of charge).

A galvanically isolated analog interface can be installed optionally and subsequently, located on the rear of the device. It offers analog inputs to set voltage, current, power and resistance from 0…100% through control voltages of 0 V…10 V or 0 V…5 V. To monitor the DC input voltage and current there are analog outputs with 0 V…10 V or 0 V…5 V. Also, several inputs and outputs are available for controlling and monitoring the device status.

All models within this series include a function generator that can generate typical functions, as displayed in the figures below and apply them to either the input voltage or the input current. The generator can be completely configured and controlled by using the touch panel on the front of the device, or by remote control via one of the digital interfaces.

The predefined functions offer all necessary parameters to the user, such as Y offset, time/frequency or amplitude, for full configuration ability.

In addition to standard functions, this base generator can be used for the creation and execution of complex sets of functions, separated into up to 99 sequences. These can be used for testing purposes in development and production. The sequences can be loaded from and saved to a standard USB flash drive via the USB port on the front panel, making it easy to change between different test sequences.

A fictional example of a complex function (40 sequences) as it can be realized with the arbitrary generator. The function can be created on the device or externally and then loaded or saved: