Configurable test load

An unloaded large transformer should have a low power factor, to see out of phase current?

Not much of a load power-wise, possibly, but it could be OK if you are just trying to get waveforms?

I'm really looking for something that can be programmed to pretend to be a variety of loads.

Diver300 said:

I'm really looking for something that can be programmed to pretend to be a variety of loads.

Click to expand...

They exist depending on how much power you plan to dissipate and how much money you plan to spend. Depending on how much power at how much voltage a Google of Inductive (reactive) and resistive load banks should bring up several manufacturers local to you. Most have "application engineers" who can best point you to a unit which meets your needs. Names like Avtron come to mind and again it depends on your application. Small and portable to they come on a flatbed truck. Resistive, Reactive, Inductive and all of the above fully programmable.

Ron

I'm looking to go to about 4 kW.

I want to be able to simulate various current waveforms. For instance the current taken by a full-wave rectified power supply with no power factor correction, or a thyristor power controlled load.

I found one that could simulate arbitrary current waveforms, but it couldn't simulate inductive loads.

I'll have a look at Avtron.

Something like this?

https://www.chromausa.com/product/programmable-ac-electronic-load-63800/

ChrisP58 said:

Something like this?

https://www.chromausa.com/product/programmable-ac-electronic-load-63800/

Click to expand...

I had seen that, and it look very good for taking arbitrary currents waveforms.

However, it doesn't appear to be capable of simulating an inductive load. The data sheet shows a graph of crest factor vs. power factor. A normal sinewave has a crest factor of 1.41, and at that crest factor, the only power factor available is 1.