Tekpower TP3710A Programmable DC Electronic Load, 150 Watts

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Price: $379.00   

Product Feature

• 150 Watts DC electronic load with programmable PC USB interface, software included
• High accuracy, resolution and precision instrument, calibration certificate included
• Constant current / constant power / Constant resistance mode
• Over voltage / over current / over power / over heat / polarity reversion protection
• LCD display with backlight + AC 120V/220V selectable

Product Description

From the manufacturer:

The Tekpower TP3710A DC electronic load is a compact and affordable instrument that is suitable for both home and industrial use. This programmable DC Electronic Load has a maximum power of up to 150 Watts and can be used with power supplies up to 360 Volts DC and 30 Amps. It comes with both a rotary switch and a numeric keypad which may be used to set up the voltage, current and power. With its reliability and versatility, it's an invaluable and indispensable tool for testing DC power supplies, high-capacity batteries, solar panels and etc, ideal for labs, research institutes, R& D facilities. The TP3710A Programmable DC load also features internal memory, and can be connected to a PC via a USB port with the included software to implement real-time remote control and monitoring.

Main Specifications:

Input voltage: 0 - 360 V
Input current: 0 - 30 A
Input power: 0 - 150 W
Voltage accuracy:
0.000~3.999V� 0.2% + 3mV
4.00~35.99V� �0.2% + 30mV
36.0~360.0V� 0.2% + 300mV
Current accuracy:
0.000~2.999A� �0.2% + 3mA
3.00~30.00A� 0.2% + 30mA
Minimum resolution: Voltage 1mV, Current 1mA
Lowest Conductive Resistance: < 0.08 �
Ripple: < 10mVpp
Dimensions: 8 � X 3 � X 9 ¾ inches
Weight: 10 lbs

� What's in the box:

Tekpower TP3710A Electronics Load
AC power cord
Software CD
USB adapter with cable
Handle bars
Mounting rack
User manual
Certificate of calibration

Tekpower TP3710A Programmable DC Electronic Load, 150 Watts Review

The 3710a offers features costing >=3x more on competitive units. OEM is Array, a Chinese company founded by Taiwanese engineers, so the quality is surprising higher than typical China branded gear. Its also sold as the Gossen-Metrawatt SSL150, as well as lesser brands like CSI, IWH, Protek and Tekpower, often with the model number 3710a imebbed somewhere. Gossen's model suggests they rated this product well enough to put their name on it, and my personal evaluation supports that analysis too. Its compact and portable, easy to run tests on supplies while in the field.

Pros

I confirmed many of its published specs and features through my tests, I ran it on various modes at 90W, over 1 hour, finally load tested it for over 20 hours at 130W. It has 3 modes: constant power, current, and resistance. You can program 10 step sequences in each mode to model variable load conditions with fastest speed of 1 sec per sequence, but you cannot mix modes, e.g. no CC switch to CR switch to CP etc. The slew rate during transition is fast, I haven't measured it fully but its at >= 2A/100ms. With software, you can sample from 100ms to seconds, the software can be set faster than 100ms but the data collection rate is unreliable. The internal power limit is actually set to 200W.

It ships will all accessories needed except high current test leads. The serial-USB converter has bright LEDs that flash proportionate to the baud rate. Its very helpful feedback on data status if you use their bug ridden software

Calibration procedures are available and easy to DIY

The communication protocol is documented to allow users to write their own interface software

There is a driver available for Labview

Materials and build quality is surprisingly high. Array's other products have not been as well built Tekpower TP3646A Programmable & Variable High-Precision DC Power Supply 0-72V @ 0-1.5A with USB Connection. The 3710 and its sister 3711, have essentially no bad reviews and have been around since 2002.

Cons

It has no constant voltage

It has no programmable "transients", step changes in us instead of seconds, nor programmable slew rates

It uses soft keys, no tactile feedback, so a beep is helpful, but my unit screeches rather than beeps at times. This is likely a defective piezo element but its not easy to replace as its integrated into of a module

The rotary switch is too sensitive, you can jerk it and it will be read as valid motion

No remote sensing, voltage drops across cabling in high currents have to compensated for

The faceplate plastic is yellowing from age, and my unit was NIB. It seems to have languished in inventory since it was manufactured in 2010.

The software is best collecting current, voltage, power, and resistance data over time. However, it has too many other bugs to list here. Its best to control the 3710a from the front panel and use software for collecting data only, so the much smaller 'discharge' software downloadable from the Array website is good enough compared to the full suite

It cannot save to CSV but it will send data only to Excel. Software feedback is unreliable, you must check the USB converter LED status lights and the 3710a LCD to insure transmittal of data or command execution. The tiny gauges are set from zero to maximal value but are not re-scalable or re-sizeable, so when using the low end of the scale, say less than 10V or 1A, its barely viewable.

SAFETY: the unit is not CE nor safety organization certified, like TUV or UL. Many big name e-loads aren't either, at most its CE. If Gossen-Metrawatt sells the model, it suggests their engineers have evaluated safety positively, but there are no official tests. I've done my own due diligence and find it safe, too.

Conclusion:

Constant current, power and resistance tests are common basic dc supply parameters, so if these are your only need, the 3710a is cost effective and capable. Typical lab bench eloads begin near $500 BK Precision 8540 Compact DC Electronic Load, 150W, 30A, 60Vand this model has more capability. The 3710a rates 5 stars for hardware living up to its spec sheet, but -1 star due to the software and uncertified safety limits.

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