When Testing a Device at Multiple Voltages - Use an Output LIST
Application Notes
The most common use case for a power supply is to output a single power level. However, when you need to test a device over a range of power levels, consider using an output LIST. An output LIST allows you to specify a series of steps that change the power supply’s output. Each step controls the output for a set length of time before moving on to the next step. An external trigger can also advance steps.
Building the Output LIST
From the front panel, each step in a LIST contains a voltage, current, dwell time, an output trigger signaling the beginning of a step(BOST) or end of a step (EOST). The output LIST, Figure 1, tests the low voltage shutoff of a device. When the voltage is less than 9 V, the device should turn off. An output trigger at the end of the 9 V step triggers an oscilloscope which captures the voltage and current waveform. As a result, the oscilloscope will display the exact voltage when the current waveform reaches zero, verifying the low voltage shutoff level.