Opinion on electronic DC loads

[crmaris]

I am thinking to buy one and start the update of my program to support them.

Has anyone worked one of the below loads?
1) Array 3700 series (http://www.array.sh/yq-3700e.htm)
2) Beich CH8710 series (http://www.tronovo.net/tronovo_Product_3208894.html)

The second has more features (remote sense, transient testing!! etc.) and costs only 40-50$ more (550$ for the 300W one from Ebay, shipping included - custom taxes not included :( ) but looks a little cheap construction compared to the Array ones.

[crmaris]

I decided to go with Array 3700 series since Beich ones looked very cheap (judging from photos).

In 2-3 weeks I will have an Array 3711 (300W) in my hands so I will be able to tell you how good it is. My plan is to buy sometime 5 or 6*3711 (1500 - 1800W) for +12V and 3*3710 (3*150W) for 5V, 3.3V and 5VSB (yeah I know, big money. About 4400 euros!! So I will need lots of time to raise that sum).

Their communications protocol looks easy so I will have no problem to modify my program to control them.

[shovenose]

yeah the chinese (or whatever it was, i had to use google translate), looked plasticy and lame.

[crmaris]

Array is also Chinese but looks more solid and they are sold all over the world (EU, USA etc.) while the Beich are sold only in China (and are cheaper from Array).

Also PC Perspective uses relabelled Array DC loads (CSI3711A and CSI3710A) for quite a long time now so they must be good.

[crmaris]

Control/Monitor program of the Arrays (nearly complete). I need nine of them (6*300W & 3*150W).

http://www.thelab.gr/gallery3/var/albums/Articles/Articles-Pictures/Faganas-ATE-Program/Test_24-11-10_110111.jpg?m=1290589381


http://www.thelab.gr/gallery3/var/albums/Articles/Articles-Pictures/Faganas-ATE-Program/Test_24-11-10_110121.jpg?m=1290589383


http://www.thelab.gr/gallery3/var/albums/Articles/Articles-Pictures/Faganas-ATE-Program/Test_24-11-10_110201.jpg?m=1290589378

[shovenose]

arent those things darn expensive? but let us know how they work when you get them, because maybe theyre cheap enough i can start out and buy ONE :)

[crmaris]

here in Greece the 3711 costs about 530€ (including shipping). I didn't ordered from Ebay because with the custom taxes I would pay about the same amount and I wouldn't have any guarantee.

For now I ordered one and if I find it ok for my needs then I will order the rest (not at once of course!)

With the help of my program I can do great things with them. This is the main reason I chose them (because they are programmable).

[shovenose]

is that software as easy to use as it looks? that looks really nice.

on ebay it looks like about $510 new with 1yr-waranty. how many do you need? like 3 only? does it have oscilloscope output?

[crmaris]

its easy to use but very hard to code it :)

I need 9 total :( Also they do not have output for oscilloscope but I can easily made one. Further you need a relay to switch on/off the PSU (I will use a usb relay controlled by the same program).

[Zero82z]

crmaris, I hope you have a good day job where those talents of yours are put to good use :).

[crmaris]

http://www.thelab.gr/gallery3/var/albums/Articles/Articles-Pictures/Electronic_Loads/IMG_4284_small.jpg


http://www.thelab.gr/gallery3/var/albums/Articles/Articles-Pictures/Electronic_Loads/IMG_4288_small.jpg


http://www.thelab.gr/gallery3/var/albums/Articles/Articles-Pictures/Electronic_Loads/IMG_4287_small.jpg

Next month if all goes ok I will get another two. Still I will have a long way till I buy all of them (9!!) but if I manage to raise this sum of money then I will have a very capable PSU testing platform (and fully software controlled).

[crmaris]

crmaris, I hope you have a good day job where those talents of yours are put to good use :).

Thanks very much for your good words! In my regular job I mostly deal with electronic repairs, communications etc. and almost no coding. However the good thing with my job is that I have plenty of free time to do my hobbies (and programming is one of them :) )

[shovenose]

could you please supply a picture of the back/sides...tyvm