Electronic Load Fundamentals

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What is an electronic load? An electronic load is a test instrument designed to sink current and absorb power out of a power source. Power supplies and electronic loads are complementary test equipment. The power supply tests electronic circuits under specific sourcing conditions. The electronic load tests energy sources or energy conversion blocks with static or dynamic loading. An electronic load tests power sources by emulating a device under test (DUT). Device manufacturers and design engineers use electronic loads to test power devices such as power supplies, DC-DC converters, chargers, adapters, batteries, solar panels, fuel-cells, and more. This paper will explain why engineers use electronic loads instead of a fixed value power resistor and the various DC electronic load operation modes.

Download this paper to understand the fundamentals of an electronic load and how to select an electronic load that best fits your test requirements.