Using Mini E-Loads To Emulate Fast Slew Rates And High Peak Power Levels

Focus:

Developed to perform transient testing on VRs and server power supplies, miniature e- loads known as slammers (or some variation on this name) generate high-current slew rates and magnitudes. Slammers are available for purchase or you can build them to address your test needs. This article describes the design and operation of one called a microslammer. This particular design addresses the need to test CPU power virus protection. However, variations of this design can be used to test power supplies and bus-bar PDNs. After describing the requirements for the microslammer, the essential elements of its design are explained including methods for determining the maximum current and pulse duration as well as pulse repetition rates that the microslammer can generate, based on the choice of power MOSFET. Methods for operating the microslammer with a laboratory-grade signal generator or a PC control interface are also described. Finally, experimental results are presented that demonstrate the use of microslammer prototypes for testing CPU virus protection.

What you’ll learn:

• How to build a low-cost miniature e-load for testing a CPU’s power virus detection
• How to design miniature e-loads known as slammers for testing transient response of VRMs/VRDs and server power supplies

View the Source

Author & Publication:

Viktor Vogman, Power Conversion Consulting, Olympia, Wash., How2Power Today, Sep 16 2019

This article summary appears
in the HOW2POWER Design Guide.

The Design Guide offers
organized access to
hundreds of articles
on dozens of power conversion
and power management topics.

The Design Guide search results
include exclusive summaries
and accurate "how to" analysis
to help you make faster,
more informed decisions.

Search
for more articles