Keysight E3633A, User Manual

Page: 185 / 205

Tutorial 7
Keysight E3633A and E3634A User’s Guide 185
Figure 7-5 shows the operating modes of the output of the Keysight E3633A and
Keysight E3634A power supplies. The operating point of one supply will be either
above or below the line R
L
= R
C
. This line represents a load where the output
voltage and the output current are equal to the voltage and current setting. When
the load R
L
is greater than R
C
, the output voltage will dominate since the current
will be less then the current setting. The power supply is said to be in constant
voltage mode. The load at point 1 has a relatively high resistance value (compared
to R
C
), the output voltage is at the voltage setting, and the output current is less
than the current setting. In this case the power supply is in the constant voltage
mode and the current setting acts as a current limit.
Figure 7-5 Output Characteristics
When the load R
L
is less than R
C
, the output current will dominate since the
voltage will be less than the set voltage. The power supply is said to be in
constant current mode. The load at point 2 has a relatively low resistance, the
output voltage is less than the voltage setting, the output current is at the current
setting. The supply is in constant current mode and the voltage setting acts as a
voltage limit.