DC electronic loads span to 120kW+

The MagnaLOAD product line launches with Magna-Power’s all new distributed DSP architecture, MagnaLINK, featuring digital control loops and an internally developed high-speed product-to-product communication protocol. The MagnaLOAD product line is designed to dissipate DC power during development, manufacturing and validation of DC sources, including: power supplies, DC/DC converters, batteries, solar panels, fuel cells, motors and electromagnets.

The ALx series MagnaLOAD, 1.25 and 2.5kW, utilises conventional linear MOSFET-based dissipative elements, allowing the series to achieve a very wide voltage-current operating range within a model’s maximum power rating. Using the same heat management innovations developed for Magna-Power’s high density programmable DC power supplies, the ALx series’ conservative cooling ensures long product life in environments up to 50°C ambient operating temperature.

The ARx series MagnaLOAD, 7.5 to 45kW+, introduces Magna-Power’s patent-pending Active Resistance Technology, combining a binary switched resistor network in series with linear elements. Used in conjunction with the MagnaLINK DSP controller, the ARx series achieves 16-bit programming and measurement resolution and, as a result of the Active Resistance Technology, at a fraction of the price of traditional electronic loads. In addition to typical voltage, current, power and resistance control modes, the Active Resistance Technology enables the product’s Rheostat control mode, providing direct on-the-fly control of internal binary resistor network, avoiding control bandwidth constraints typically experienced with resistance control modes.

The WRx Series MagnaLOAD, 15 to 120kW+, also utilises Magna-Power’s new Active Resistance Technology in combination with the company’s newly developed internally manufactured microchannel water-cooled heatsinks. Designed for high-power applications where heat-flow control is essential, the WRx series greatly increases power density compared air-cooled alternatives. An integrated solenoid controls the flow of water to avoid condensation. Full power can be achieved using conventional water with water inlet temperatures up to 25°C.

MagnaLINK, Magna-Power’s next gen control architecture, provides a distributed network of DSPs across the major assemblies in its programmable DC products. Beyond Magna-Power’s standard fast transient response and high accuracy programming and measurement, MagnaLINK adds: fully digital control loops, adjustable control gains, programmable slew rates, arbitrary waveform generation, among many new advanced control technologies. Expandability is at the forefront with MagnaLINK, providing buffered digital master-slaving MagnaLINK ports, allowing many units to be added in parallel or series with uncompromised performance and aggregated DC input measurements.

All MagnaLOAD products come standard with front and rear full control (host) USB ports, RS485, dual MagnaLINK ports for digital master-slaving, and a 25-pin D-Sub external user I/O connector with configurable pin mappings; LXI TCP/IP Ethernet and IEEE-488 GPIB interfaces are also available. Many different programming environments are supported via Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI), and provided National Instruments LabVIEW and IVI drivers.