The numeric keys and rotary knob provide a convenient interface for setting the operating mode and desired current, voltage, and resistance levels quickly
and precisely.
Rear panel
Cooling fan
RS232
interface
USB
interface
GPIB interface
I/O terminal block
External trigger, external analog programming,
external input On/Off control, voltage fault pin,
and remote sense terminals
Line voltage selector
2
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Programmable DC Electronic Loads
8600 Series
u
Models 8610, 8612, 8614, 8616, 8620, 8622 (3U)
Front panel
Power
switch
Bright dual-line display
The 8600 Series display shows both measured
input values and set parameters simultaneously.
Operating
mode keys
Cursor Function
keys
keys
Numeric
keypad
Rear panel
Input
terminals
Current monitor BNC output
Outputs a 0-10 V signal that follows
0-full range of the input current.
RS232
USB
GPIB Line voltage AC line
interface interface interface selector
input
Cooling fan
External trigger, external analog programming, external input
On/Off control, voltage fault pin, and remote sense terminals
I/O terminal block
Input fuse
holder
u
Models 8624 & 8625 (6U)
6U form factor models use the same front panel
interface as the 3U models
3
The rear panel configurations of 6U and 3U models are identical,
however the number of fans installed varies by model
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Programmable DC Electronic Loads
8600 Series
Flexible operation
List mode
A
Transient operation
A
Automatic test mode
CV 3 V
Trigger
A level
CC 1 A
pass
B level
fail
CR 2 Ω
pass
CW 0.5 W
pass
0
1 2
3 4
5
Steps
6
7
8
t
Slew Rate
t
1s
0.5 s
1.5 s
2.5 s
List mode lets you generate more complex
sequences of input changes with several different
levels. Up to 7 groups of list files can be saved.
Each list can contain up to 84 steps with a
minimum width time of 20 µs per step.
Transient operation enables the module to peri-
odically switch between two load levels. A power
supply's regulation and transient characteristic
can be evaluated by monitoring the supply's out-
put voltage under varying combinations of load
levels, frequency, duty cycle, and slew rate. Tran-
sient operation can simulate these conditions.
Low voltage operation
The 8600 Series can operate at low voltages for applications such as fuel cell and solar cell testing.
I
720
8625
The 8600 Series can execute multiple test
sequences in automatic test mode. Up to 100
different sequences can be linked to run steps of
various operating modes and loading conditions.
Each sequence can also be programmed with
upper and lower limit Pass/Fall criteria. When
applied in production testing, you can easily
judge whether the test parameters of your devices
are within the specification limits and adjust your
process according to the Pass/Fail verdict.
600
8624
CR-LED mode
480
8620
I
≈
Current (A)
240
8614
Io
Rd
≈
Vd
120
100
90
60
30
0
1
2
8600
8601
8612
8610
8622
Vo
V
Figure - LED I-V Curve
8616
8602
Vd = Forward voltage of the LED
Rd = LED's operating resistance
Vo = Operating voltage across the LED
Io = Operating current across the LED
Use the load's unique CR-LED operating mode
to test LED drivers. This function allows users to
configure the LED's operating resistance and for-
ward voltage along with the voltage range (same
as CR operation) to simulate the loading behavior
of typical LEDs.
Voltage (V)
3
4
5
V
Typical minimum operating voltage at full scale current
8600
1.1 V
4
8601
1.1 V
8602
4.5 V
8610
1.2 V
8612
3.6 V
8614
1.5 V
8616
3.6 V
8620
2V
8622
3V
8624
1.8 V
8625
1.8 V
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Programmable DC Electronic Loads
8600 Series
Remote control and programming
Powerful communication interfaces
The 8600 Series provides standard GPIB, USB,
and RS232 interfaces for remote communication.
These interfaces offer SCPI and USBTMC
standard communication protocols to control
your electronic load from a PC.
External analog programming and
monitoring interface
In addition to front panel and remote interface
control, current values can also be programmed
with an analog control signal. The electronic
loads can be externally controlled from zero to
full scale with a 0-10 V input signal. A BNC
output is available on the rear for monitoring
the current with a 0-10 V output signal.
Voltage-on (Von) latch operation
V
Application software
Battery test function
1.8
1.6
1.4
Volts
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
Typical battery discharge curve
Von
Level
t
A
Load Sink
Current
Hours
Rise Rate
A/µs
t
PC software is provided for front panel emulation,
generating and executing test sequences, or
logging measurement data without the need to
write source code. Additionally, this application
software integrates with NI Data Dashboard for
LabVIEW apps, which allows users to create a
custom dashboard on a tablet computer or
smartphone to remotely monitor 8600 Series
DC loads via this PC software.
n
Remote
monitoring on iOS, Android or
The built-in battery test function uses CC mode
to calculate the battery capacity using a fixed
current load discharge. Users can specify cut-off
voltage level, capacity level, and time stop
conditions.
Control the input turn on state for the DC
electronic load by configuring the Von latch
function. This can be used to start and stop
discharging of a battery or other power source
at a specified voltage level.
Windows 8 compatible tablets or
smartphones via NI Data Dashboard for
LabVIEW apps
n
Log
voltage, current, and power values with
transient operation and list mode
an unlimited number of external list
timestamp
n
Run
programs remotely
Built-in rise and fall time measurement
8600 Series display
n
Create
files to be executed from PC memory
Adjustable slew rate
Oscilloscope display
A
Slew Rate
t
The 8600 Series can measure the rise or fall time from a specified start and stop voltage level of the
measured input without the need for an oscilloscope. This function can also be used as an internal
timer to count how long the input has been enabled.
5
In CC mode, users can control the rate or slope
of the change in current in a transient response
test. Set the slew rate to as slow as 0.001 A/ms or
