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Programmable 3-phase AC power supplies generate configurable three-phase power for controlled, repeatable testing. Typical uses include industrial drives, EV power electronics, renewable energy systems, grid-disturbance simulation, quality assurance, and research.

A bidirectional DC power supply can source and absorb DC power, helping engineers emulate battery behavior and test OBC charging, discharge, reverse-flow, and dynamic operating conditions.

A programmable DC power supply should match the device under test’s voltage, current, power, load behavior, accuracy needs, control interface, and protection requirements.

Bidirectional power supplies source power for charging and sink power during discharge in one instrument. This can simplify battery test setups, enable continuous cycling, support regenerative energy flow, and help reproduce changing operating conditions.

Bidirectional power supplies provide controlled power in both directions for EV and HEV test setups. They can emulate batteries and other DC sources while absorbing regenerated energy from inverters, motor drives, chargers, and V2G systems.

Choose a battery simulator when a device must be tested against changing battery behavior, resistance, or fault conditions. Choose a DC power supply when stable, controllable power is sufficient.

Bidirectional DC power supplies support two-way energy flow. Their main uses include EV and component testing, renewable energy storage, microgrids, and R&D validation of power equipment.

Battery cycle life testing repeatedly charges and discharges a cell under defined current, voltage, temperature, and rest conditions. A bi-directional DC supply can both source and sink current, while periodic Reference Performance Tests track capacity and DC internal resistance over time.

At the Tektronix Semiconductor 2026 seminar, alongside technical presentations on semiconductor technologies, attendees had the opportunity to explore and experience live equipment demonstrations featuring the DPO1000, Keithley 4200A-SCS, MSO58B, and EA-PSB 10000 bidirectional DC power supply. Each instrument serves a different measurement purpose, illustrating key technical requirements in semiconductor research and device validation.

Engineers need to develop a deeper understanding of semiconductor physics, device operating principles, signal characteristics, and component-level testing and measurement methods.