To begin with, when we first build a circuit and apply an electric current to it, a quite common experience is for us to find that it doesn’t work, and ask ourselves why not. We then set about checking and rethinking the circuit configuration and components, but can’t quite find a cause that seems to fit. What are the key points that we should be questioning in those kinds of situations? That is the main topic of this article.

If you’re an engineer and you’re reading this, you probably have experience with taking things apart or repairing them. I remember taking apart my prized toy train as a young boy. One time I even dismantled my father’s radio, only to get in trouble when my father found out. I was eventually put in charge of fixing gadgets around the house when they broke, which only caused my penchant for dismantling things to escalate even further. In my teens I was sometimes even asked to repair hi-tech devices like televisions, microwaves and VCRs, despite having no hope of success. All I remember is that I really enjoyed taking things apart. I loved the feeling of suspense when taking the cover off a device to find out what was inside. (Readers are warned that removing the cover of an appliance will generally void the warranty.)

In this column I will share some of my experiences with product design. But first, a quiz: what do Rose’s Lime Juice, stir-fry seasoning and 2-in-1 shampoo have in common?

In this article I will discuss applications for the PBZ series bipolar power supply. One question I get asked a lot about the PBZ series is whether multiple units can be linked in series. The engineer in me is ashamed to have to tell my clients, “unfortunately, no”. However, while referred to as “power supplies”, the PBZ series are effectively a range of power amplifiers. I tried to come up with an elegant solution for boosting their power output. (Readers who are familiar with audio equipment might be able to tell where I’m going with this.)

This is the third instalment in a series covering fun facts and applications for electronic loads.

We refer to regulated AC power supplies as being “CFCV”, or “constant voltage, constant frequency”. Unlike most devices in their class, which operate on a fixed volts-per-hertz ratio, Kikusui’s regulated AC power supplies for device testing allow output parameters to be varied at will.

Welcome to the second instalment of “DC Power Supply Secrets”, a series in which I share engineering hacks and fun facts about DC power supplies.

In this column, I’ll explain what causes transformers to produce current spikes, and how to configure testing equipment to prevent such spikes from arising.

This feature offers some tips and tricks on using DC power supplies within the scope of ensuring safe use, although they are not mentioned in the Operation Manuals.

When you discover an error in your design, what do you do? The reasonable response is to first inform your boss. However, while it would be nice if apologizing for the mistake was all you needed to do in these situations to make things right again, in reality, the job doesn’t end there─you will always be required to implement some kind of solution, or otherwise deal with the aftermath of your mistake. If you are able to debate the issue with your superiors or the more experienced engineers on your team, they should come up with the best way to solve the problem, or at least the solution most acceptable to those concerned.

The Inconvenient Truth about Electronic Loads The main modes of operation available on Kikusui electronic loads are set forth in Figure 1. * Generally, the user selects the mode best suited to the device under test or the object of testing. *Some models also offer a constant current and voltage mode (CC+CV) and a constant…

Using a DC Regulated Power Supply to Perform Constant Current Discharge Testing The standard procedure for performing discharge testing on batteries is to use an electronic load. However, when performing constant-current discharge at high current levels, your electronic load needs to have a commensurately high input rating. If, for example, you want to discharge a…