The "Smart Home" concept encompasses energy storage systems (ESS), fuel cells, hybrid photovoltaic inverters, and vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging stations, among others. All these AC-output devices require a precise and reliable electronic load for testing, including starting current tests, storage system analysis, and long-term load simulations to ensure system stability.
The market offers numerous electronic loads incorporating basic constant current (CC), constant power (CP), and constant resistance (CR) modes. In addition to these basic models, Chroma's 63800 AC load series, represented by Instrumentos de Medida, SL, also provides an RLC rectified mode implemented via a high-speed DSP to simulate a real RLC load.
Power supplies such as switched-mode power supplies (SMPS) and adapters incorporate bridge rectifiers, which can be connected to uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), isolated inverters, automotive inverters, and AC power devices. The RLC load mode is used to simulate the actual load current of equivalent resistance (Rs) and equivalent inductance (Ls) in series; equivalent capacitance (C) and load (RL) in parallel behind the rectifier bridges, as shown in the diagram.
Typical rectifier bridge.
The user can use a 24-hour appliance load profile to simulate load conditions with the Softpanel application, and the actual waveform can be used to optimize the utilization of photovoltaic generators and storage batteries. As shown in Figure 1, the X-axis indicates time in minutes, while the Y-axis indicates load in watts.
Daily load switching.
The 63800 series electronic loads not only support single-phase testing but are also compatible with three-phase testing. Three 63800 series units can be connected in parallel to provide three-phase operation. Up to five 63800 series units can be connected in parallel, providing 22.5 kW for single-phase operation. Up to 15 units (five per phase) can be connected, providing 67.5 kW for three-phase operation.
