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The New PL Series, from TTi, is a range of laboratory dc power supplies
which offer the benefits of digital technology whilst retaining true
analogue controls for voltage and current.
The new product range replaces the original PL series which has become
the most widely used power supply range within the UK electronics
industry.
In designing the New PL Series, TTi wanted to incorporate the stability
benefits associated with digital control. However, they were also
anxious to ensure that the product would meet customer needs and
expectations.
To ensure this, the company embarked upon a series of interviews with
customers aimed at discovering their preferences, particularly over
front-panel controls. It quickly became clear that, whereas users
understood the benefits of digital control, many saw it as unnecessarily
complicated for adjusting the basic parameters of voltage and current.
Traditional analogue controls were seen as simpler, quicker, and better
fitted for the job.
To solve this dilemma, TTi designed a hybrid system combining true
analogue control knobs with digital internal circuitry. For the user,
the New PL Series operates identically to a traditional analogue
controlled power supply. However, if the user wants the benefits of
digital control, they are instantly available via the S-Lock and V-Span
functions.
The S-Lock function enables the voltage and current settings to be
locked at the press of a button. This transfers control of voltage and
current from the analogue controls to internal digital circuitry. This
offers not just complete security, but exceptional stability as well
with each setting controlled by a high resolution instrumentation
quality DAC.
The V-Span function allows the user to redefine the end-stop values of
the voltage control to create a specific voltage range. When working
with any particular piece of equipment, engineers often require a
voltage source variable over only a narrow range. V-Span enables the
whole 300 degree rotation of the voltage control to cover whatever
voltage range the user requires.
New PL Series uses linear regulation to provide an extremely low rms
noise figure of below 0.4mV with tightly specified pk-pk noise and
common-mode current figures as well. Despite the improvements in high
frequency switcher design, linear regulation still offers the lowest
output noise, the best transient response and the most benign stability
characteristics when driving complex load conditions.
The New PL series achieves an exceptional power density for a linear
regulated power supply by offering up to 90 watts from a case just 107mm
wide (¼ rack 3U). This gives it an unusually small bench footprint
taking up less space on a crowded bench. For rack-mount application, up
to four units can be mounted into a single 3U slot.
Despite its small size and linear regulation, the New PL series
generates relatively little heat through the use of an advanced phase
controlled pre-regulator. This gives it significantly higher energy
efficiency than conventional linear regulated designs, particularly when
supplying lower voltages.
The first models to be launched are three single output power supplies
of 15V/5A, 30V/3A and 60V/1.5A .
The price in the UK is £260.
The approximate International prices is $500.
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