Atec Agilent-N8900 Series - Manual (Page 2)

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Autoranging output – does the job of multiple power supplies
The N8900 power supplies’ autoranging output characteristic makes it much
more flexible than rectangular, or traditional, output characteristic power sup-
plies because they expand the power curve, giving the user more voltage and
current combinations in one power supply. It’s like having many rectangular
power supplies in one. For example, the 1000 V, 30 A, 10 kW model is capable
of 1000 V and 10 A at 10 kW as well as 333.3 V and 30 A at 10 kW. If it were a
rectangular output, the specifications would be 1000 V, 10 A, 10 kW. At 333.3 V
it would only be able to output 3.3 kW, not the 10 kW of an autoranging output.
Figures 1 and 2 show a graphical representation of this example.
Figure 1. Autoranging output characteristic
Easy front-panel operation
Using the front panel controls, you have complete access to all of the N8900
features via the extensive menu system. You can either use the voltage and
current knobs or enter your settings via the keypad. You can also set protection
settings, power-on states, and other features. The output voltage, current, and
power can be displayed simultaneously, and annunciators at the bottom of the
display show power supply status and operating modes. You can lock the front
panel controls to protect against accidental power-supply parameter changes.
Device protection
To safeguard your device, the N8900 Series power supplies provide over-
temperature, over-current and over-voltage protection to shut down the power
supply output when a fault condition occurs.
Figure 2. Rectangular output characteristic
Voltage
Current
1000 V
10 A 30 A
333.3 V
10 kW
constant-power
curve
Rectangular (traditional) output characteristic
Voltage
Current
1000 V
10 A
333.3 V
10 kW
3.3 kW