What it is
A family of programmable linear AC power sources rated 500 VA to 3,000 VA, with low noise, THD below 0.5%, and reverse current absorption for inverter and grid simulation testing.
Output covers 0 … 310 Vrms and 45 … 500 Hz, upgradable in the field to 600 Vrms and 999.9 Hz. The linear design delivers highly stabilized output, and the units absorb reverse current, so inverters can be tested against a simulated grid without extra load resistors.
- Four models: APS-7050 (500 VA), APS-7100 (1,000 VA), APS-7200 (2,000 VA), APS-7300 (3,000 VA)
- Output: 0 … 155 Vrms / 0 … 310 Vrms, up to 25.2 Arms and 100.8 A peak
- Frequency: 45.00 … 500.0 Hz
- Field upgrades: 0 … 600 Vrms output voltage and 45 … 999.9 Hz output frequency, without returning the unit
- Low distortion: THD ≤0.5% at 45 … 500 Hz (resistive load)
- Reverse current absorption: 30% of maximum RMS current continuously, 100% within 3 minutes
- Nine measurement functions: Vrms, Irms, F, Ipk, W, VA, PF, Ipk hold, CF
- Simulate, Sequence, and Program modes, plus Ramp control and Surge/Dip control
- ARB mode: seven waveform categories and 20,000 waveform combinations
What it is used for
Some of the use cases for the APS-7000 Series include:
- Inverter testing — simulating the power grid and testing inverter output characteristics, including synchronized phase and frequency
- Voltage and frequency abnormality tests — simulating grid disturbances
- LED industry testing
- Standby mode power consumption tests
- Low-noise input power verification — stereo, video, and audio devices
- Abnormal input power waveform tests — distorted waveform simulation, etc.
What does the APS-7000 Series do?
GW Instek's APS-7000 series programmable AC power sources consist of the 500 VA APS-7050, 1,000 VA APS-7100, 2,000 VA APS-7200, and 3,000 VA APS-7300. The series features power characteristics from its linear structure design, including low noise, low THD, and highly stabilized power output, ideal for product development and verification of input power with low noise requirements, or stereo, video, and audio device applications. Maximum rated voltage is 0 … 310 Vrms, with 25.2 Arms and 100.8 A peak current, and output frequency of 45 … 500.0 Hz. You can conveniently extend output voltage to 0 … 600 Vrms and output frequency to 45 … 999.9 Hz by purchasing options, without sending the equipment back to GW Instek.
One of the popular alternative energy solutions in the market is to use an inverter to convert DC to AC, which is then sent to the power grid or to products that need electricity. For instance, AC produced by a PV inverter is sent to the power grid or to equipment that requires electricity. When simulating the power grid to verify an inverter connected to the grid, general AC power sources cannot withstand the DUT's feedback energy, so additional power consumption resistors are needed to prevent the AC power source from being damaged. By contrast, the APS-7000 series absorbs reverse current, so additional power consumption resistors are not required. The input terminal of the APS-7000 series is isolated from the simulated AC power grid output terminal, so no additional isolation device is needed to protect the DUT.
The APS-7000 series is suitable for simulating the power grid and conducting inverter output characteristic tests, including synchronized phase and frequency. Reverse current and power detected by the APS-7000 series are displayed in red readings to make test observation easier. The series uses Simulate mode and Sequence mode to provide a single step or consecutive power changes, and to simulate the power grid's Voltage Abnormality Test and Frequency Abnormality Test.
More details, please follow APS-7000 series brochure.
Why engineers pick it
- Clean, stable output from a linear design. THD is ≤0.5% at 45 … 500 Hz, with line regulation of 0.1% and load regulation of 0.3% of full scale.
- Grid simulation without extra hardware. The source absorbs reverse current from the DUT: 30% of maximum RMS current continuously and 100% within 3 minutes. The isolated input removes the need for an isolation transformer.
- Built-in power meter. Nine measurement items appear in Standard or Simple display mode, and T, Ipk Hold captures turn-on inrush current with a 1 ms … 60 s delay.
- Expandable in the field. Options extend output voltage to 600 Vrms and frequency to 999.9 Hz without returning the unit to GW Instek.
Which APS-7000 model do I need?
| Model | Power rating | Max. current (rms), 0 … 155 / 0 … 310 Vrms | Max. current (peak), 0 … 155 / 0 … 310 Vrms | AC input |
| APS-7050 | 500 VA | 4.2 A / 2.1 A | 16.8 A / 8.4 A | 115/230 Vac ±15% |
| APS-7100 | 1,000 VA | 8.4 A / 4.2 A | 33.6 A / 16.8 A | 115/230 Vac ±15% |
| APS-7200 | 2,000 VA | 16.8 A / 8.4 A | 67.2 A / 33.6 A | 230 Vac ±15% |
| APS-7300 | 3,000 VA | 25.2 A / 12.6 A | 100.8 A / 50.4 A | 230 Vac ±15% |
The APS-7200 and APS-7300 also provide remote sense, which compensates for voltage drop across the output cables at larger currents.
What test modes does the APS-7000 offer?
- Simulate mode: ten sets that rapidly produce simulated input transients such as power outage, voltage rise, and voltage fall, for example for capacitor endurance tests.
- Sequence mode: ten sets of 0 … 255 steps each, with step times of 0.01 … 999.99 s, to build complex sine-wave sequences.
- Program mode: ten sets, each with 50 memories of 9 steps, with ceiling and floor limits that produce PASS/FAIL results.
- Ramp control: sets output voltage rise or fall speed by time (Tup/Tdn 0.1 … 999.9 ms) or voltage (Vup/Vdn 0.01 … 99.99 Vrms).
- Surge/Dip control: overlaps a surge or dip voltage on the normal output at a specific time.
- ARB mode: sine, triangle, staircase (square), clipped sine, crest factor, surge, and Fourier series synthesized waveforms.
- Power ON output: Sequence, Simulate, and Program can execute automatically after power-on.
When is the APS-7000 the wrong choice?
- Frequencies above 500 Hz without the option. Standard output frequency is 45 … 500 Hz; 999.9 Hz requires the output frequency capacity option (APS-004).
- Output above 310 Vrms without the option. 600 Vrms output requires the output voltage capacity option (APS-003), with reduced current (for example, 6.3 Arms on the APS-7300).
- Hot environments. Operating temperature is 32 … 104 °F (0 … 40 °C).
- Bench installations on the larger models. The APS-7200 weighs approximately 198.4 lb (90 kg) and the APS-7300 approximately 282.2 lb (128 kg).
