DC-DC Converter Testing Fundamentals
Application Notes
DC-DC converters sit at the heart of modern electronics, so testing them well isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical. This application note explains core specifications and how to measure them: input range, output accuracy, line/load regulation, efficiency, transient response, turn-on/off time, ripple/noise, and inrush current. You’ll see the practical test setup—programmable supplies as sources, electronic loads as sinks—plus when to add oscilloscopes and DMMs for higher-speed or higher-accuracy work. We also cover remote sensing, synchronized measurements, bandwidth and sampling considerations, arbitrary waveform generation, and slew-rate control. Finally, we show how Keysight power products and PathWave software streamline configuration, automation, logging, and analysis, culminating in an efficiency-sweep example. The result: repeatable measurements, faster workflows, and trustworthy data you can design around.