How to Perform DC-to-DC Converter Testing

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DC Power Analyzer
+ DC Power Analyzer
DC Power Analyzer
+ DC Power Analyzer

Streamlining DC-to-DC converter testing with a DC power analyzer

Critical metrics for DC-to-DC converter testing include efficiency, load and line regulation, power supply rejection ratio analysis, transient response, ripple, and turn-on time. Performing these tests on DC-to-DC converters typically requires multiple test instruments, such as a digital multimeter (DMM), a power supply, an electronic load, and an oscilloscope. Ideally, the DMM, power supply, and electronic load are integrated into a single DC power analyzer instrument since these instruments need synchronization to perform measurements accurately.

To characterize the DC parameters of the DC-to-DC converter, you need to connect the device between the power source and the electronic load to sink the converter’s current. Next, you measure the voltage and current across the input and output to get the input power and the output power to determine efficiency, load and line regulation, and power supply rejection ratio. You use an oscilloscope to analyze the AC parameters of the DC-to-DC converter, including ripple, start-up time, and transient response.

DC-to-DC converter testing solution

DC-to-DC converter testing requires a DMM, power supply, electronic load, and an oscilloscope. The Keysight DC power analyzer is a four-slot modular power supply that integrates the DMM, power supply, and electronic load into a single synchronized solution. The integrated power supply and electronic load modules function as a source and sink, respectively, for DC-to-DC converter testing. The modules measure current and voltage so that you can make calculations such as efficiency, load and line regulation, and power supply rejection ratio with one instrument. A Keysight general-purpose oscilloscope measures the AC parameters of the DC-to-DC converter like ripple, start-up time, and transient response.

Furthermore, Keysight BenchVue software provides the framework for developing simple automated tests to completely characterize the DC-to-DC converter without writing any code, saving you time.

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