Power Supply Test & Automation Solutions
Automated Power Supply Test & Characterization Solutions | LabVIEW & TestStand Experts
At Makkal, we specialize in developing robust and precise automated test solutions for power supplies, power electronics, and battery systems. Leveraging our deep expertise in National Instruments LabVIEW and TestStand, we help manufacturers, R&D teams, and test labs efficiently characterize, validate, and produce high-quality power products. From benchtop units to multi-phase industrial power sources, we ensure accuracy, repeatability, and compliance.
Key Challenges We Address in Power Supply Testing:
Accurate measurement of efficiency, ripple, noise, and transients.
Automated sequencing for regulatory compliance and safety standards.
Integration of diverse instruments (power sources, loads, DMMs, oscilloscopes, power analyzers).
Real-time control and data logging during dynamic load changes.
High-volume production testing for speed and reliability.
Characterization across wide operating ranges (voltage, current, temperature).
Our Expertise in Power Supply Test & Automation:
1. SoftPanel & Automated Control for Specific Power Sources:
APT Power Sources: We have extensive experience developing custom softpanels and automated control interfaces for APT power sources (e.g., APT 1000 Series, APT 3000 Series). This includes intuitive GUIs for manual control, as well as robust LabVIEW drivers and TestStand sequences for fully automated characterization, burn-in, and production testing. Our solutions ensure precise voltage, current, and frequency control, along with comprehensive data acquisition.
Chroma Power Supplies: Makkal excels at integrating and controlling a wide range of Chroma power supplies (e.g., Chroma 62000P Series, 62000H Series, 61500 Series, 6310A/B Series electronic loads) in both single-phase to three-phase configurations. We utilize various communication methods including GPIB, RS232, USB, and LXI/Ethernet to achieve seamless control, synchronization, and data logging for complex test scenarios such as:Grid simulator testing
Inverter/converter efficiency characterization
Harmonic and transient response analysis
Battery charger/discharger automation
2. Benchtop Power Supply Automation:
We provide comprehensive automation solutions for popular benchtop power supplies and SMUs (Source Measure Units) from leading manufacturers. Our expertise includes:Keithley: Automated control and data logging for Keithley 22xx Series (e.g., 2230G-30-1), 2280S Series, 2400 Series SourceMeter instruments. This enables automated I-V curve tracing, power cycling, and precise voltage/current sourcing for component and module testing.
Keysight (Agilent/HP): Integration with Keysight E36xxx Series (e.g., E3631A, E3649A), N6700 Series modular power systems.
Rohde & Schwarz: Automation of Rohde & Schwarz NGM200 Series, NGP800 Series power supplies for multi-channel, high-precision applications.
Tektronix/Keithley: Combined solutions utilizing Tektronix oscilloscopes (e.g., MSO/DPO5000 Series) with Keithley power supplies for synchronized measurements.
3. Comprehensive Power Supply Test Capabilities:
Efficiency & Power Factor Measurements: Automated calculation and analysis of power supply efficiency across various loads.
Load Regulation & Line Regulation Testing: Characterization of output voltage stability under varying load and input conditions.
Ripple & Noise Analysis: Precise measurement and characterization of output ripple and noise.
Transient Response Testing: Automated testing of power supply response to sudden load changes.
Over-Voltage/Current/Temperature Protection Testing: Validation of safety features.
Burn-in & Life-Cycle Testing: Long-duration, automated reliability testing.
Custom Test Sequence Development: Designing complex test flows for validation, compliance, and production.
Data Acquisition, Analysis & Reporting: Robust data logging, custom analysis routines, and automated report generation in various formats (e.g., Excel, PDF).
Why Makkal for Your Power Supply Testing Needs?
Deep NI Expertise: As an NI Consultant Partner, our team comprises Certified LabVIEW Architects (CLA), Certified TestStand Architects (CTA), and other certified professionals.
Proven Track Record: We've helped clients reduce test times by 54% for power supply validation.
Vendor-Agnostic Integration: While we highlight specific instruments, our solutions are designed to integrate with a wide array of power sources, loads, and measurement devices.
Scalable Solutions: From benchtop R&D setups to high-volume production lines, our solutions are built for future expansion.
Ready to Optimize Your Power Supply Testing?
Contact Makkal today to discuss how our LabVIEW and TestStand expertise can transform your power supply test and characterization processes.