This application note discusses material effect on skin depth on an electrical conductor such as wire. Skin effect can be defined as the tendency for alternating electric current (AC) to flow mostly near the outer surface of an electrical conductor, and not through the core. The skin effect occurs when frequencies start to increase, and as conduction starts to move from the inner cross section of the conductor toward the outer surface of the cross sectional of the conductor.

QuadTech recently announced the expansion of their programmable power source product line with the new 44000 Series Programmable DC Electronic Loads.

Ideal for testing and evaluation of multi-output AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, Li-ion batteries and power electronic components, the series offers eight different modules with power to 1200W, current to 240A and voltage to 500V. The 44000 Series can simulate a wide range of dynamic loading applications. The waveform’s programmable parameters include: up to 10A/μs slew rate, load level, and duration. Up to 100 sets of system operating status can be stored in memory and recalled instantly for automated testing applications.

Read More About the 44000 Series in the QuadTech Press Release Here.

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QuadTech’s 31000 Series SoftPanel Software allows AC Programmable Power Sources to be easily controlled using point-and-click software screens. The Soft Panels communicate with instruments via RS2323 or GPIB/IEEE Interfaces, which are standard on all QuadTech AC Programmable Power Sources. The Soft Panel Software is easy to install and creates a convenient test environment:

• Program Voltage, Frequency and Current Remotely
• Ability to Store Data to PC
• Create Custom Sequencing to Vary Voltage, Frequency and Duration

Specialized features include Auto Reporting and Custom Sequencing for complex testing requirements such as MIL-STD-704 testing.

To learn more about software designed to help test to standards such as MIL-STD-704, DO-160, ABD0100 and IEC 61000-4, read our application note: Software Simplifies Testing to Military and Aerospace Standards!

QuadTech is currently offering free AC SoftPanel Software with the purchase of any 31000 Series AC Programmable Power Source. Call today!

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Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are widely used in LCD Monitors for residential and commercial lighting, automotive, consumer electronics and large screen displays.  LED power drivers are used to convert AC or DC to a constant current source to power LEDs. 

LED drivers are usually tested with LEDs, using resistors for loading, or using electronic loads in constant resistance (CR) mode, or constant voltage (CV) mode.  QuadTech's NEW LED Driver Application Note discusses the advantages of using an LED simulator for accurate and efficient testing.

Read QuadTech's NEW LED Driver Application Note

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Do you know the difference between a cable and a harness?  Improve your cable testing capabilities and knowledge with QuadTech’s NEW Cable Tester Terms Application Note.

Learn the "cable" jargon with our application note: Cable Tester Terms!

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For medical device manufacturers changing equipment can be a grueling task. The new testers must be verified and validated. Our NEW application note is a 2-part series discussing Verification (part 1) and Validation (part 2). A great read for anyone who needs to verify and validate equipment.

Part 1: Verification

System verification is the process of determining that the equipment meets the specifications as intended by the manufacturer. For safety tester which performs Ground Bond, Hipot and Leakage Current, verification would involve all measurement ranges for each function. Read the rest of the Verification application note here.

Part 2: Validation

The key portion of the validation process is the process itself. All too often manufacturers try to validate the test equipment without a process in place. It is absolutely necessary to have the process nailed down before the validation can occur. Validation is a series of tests to ensure the tester does what it is intended to do. Without knowing what the tester is intended to do, it is impossible to verify it is doing it properly. Read the rest of the Validation application note here.

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Many engineers face the challenge of designing and manufacturing electrical equipment that is used on aircrafts, ships, land vehicles and other aircrafts flying at high altitudes. Most would agree - the most challenges of these is designing and manufacturing equipment used in aircrafts.

Most pieces of equipment on aircrafts use 400 Hz electric power. This helps reduce overall aircraft size and weight, while at the same time, help meet the demand for power on the aircraft. Highly reliable, 400 Hz electric power is used for landing gear, light systems and landing gear, just to name a few. It's imperative the electrical components used in this type of equipment is tested for electrical safety at this frequency.

To learn more, please read QuadTech's Application Note: 400Hz AC Hipot Testing for Aerospace Industry Manufacturers.

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Based on the standard test methods, wet insulation testing of photovoltaic modules consists of performing resistance measurement on the insulation of a panel immersed in a liquid solution bath. A wet insulation test will help identify if there are any defects in the insulation barrier of a solar panel.

To find out more about Wet Insulation Testing read our new application note: Wet Insulation Testing Using QuadTech Hipot Tester.

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QuadTech offers a number of different dielectric cells for measurements on liquids, solid materials, high temperature applications and in process liquid measurements. Many of our LCR meters can be used for a variety of dielectric cell applications.

Visit our dielectric cells page, which has numerous resources on dielectric cell testing. You can also find links to application notes written by QuadTech engineers, like: A Practical Guide to Avoiding Errors in Measurement when using a Rigid Dielectric Cell, Measuring the Dielectric Constant of PVC Compounds, and more.

Visit QuadTech's Dielectric Cell Application Page.

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QuadTech's RMA Service is designed to help customers be greener, improve record keeping and maintain document control compliance. Here are some highlights of the ways we make the process easier for you:

• QuadTech keeps electronic records of customer equipment, maintenance history, certificates, and data for all customer RMA orders.
• Customers can log on and reprint calibration certificates and data as many times as they like - at no extra charge.
• The QuadTech RMA Process automatically notifies customers of units due for calibration by serial number and model number.
• Customers can view calibration and repair history in their account for all calibrated and repaired units.
• Customers can ask questions electronically and search our knowledgebase for a quick response to questions concerning product calibrations and maintenance.

As always, QuadTech Customer Care Representative are available to talk live Mon.- Fri., 8:00 am -5:00 pm ET at 1-800-253-1230.  If you prefer to communicate via email, you can submit questions to customercare@quadtech.com.

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For more information, please contact your US sales rep or International sales rep. You can also visit www.quadtech.com or call (800) 253-1230. QuadTech also offers Leasing Options. Taking your call is the most important thing we do all day!