FREQUENCY CONVERTERS / AC POWER SOURCE

SELECTION

AC POWER SOURCE/FREQUENCY CONVERTER TYPES:

These are interchangeable terms used in the industry to describe a power supply that produces an AC (alternating current), voltage output, as opposed to a DC (direct current), voltage output. The AC power supply is produced in two different topologies, switching and linear.

Switching AC power supplies                                 

use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology to synthesize an AC waveform. Filtering at the output of the supply shapes and filters the PWM pulses into a clean sine wave. Switching technology offers lighter weight, smaller size, cost savings, and sufficient bandwidth for most applications.

Switching AC power supplies are ideal for the majority of applications, including: avionics development and test facilities, production test of 50Hz, 60Hz & 400Hz products, circuit development , margin testing of frequency & voltage, operational conformance testing and motor testing, to name a few. Different types of avionics and jet engine control systems require testing and simulation over a very wide range of frequencies, 350 to 800Hz.

Linear AC power supplies                                     

use a push-pull amplifier, much like an audio power amplifier. While the linear AC power source is heavier and more costly, it produces the most accurate sine wave with the least amount of distortion. The linear AC power source also provides a much higher bandwidth. This bandwidth is generally needed for very specific testing. The higher bandwidth allows for events to be programmed onto small sections of the sine wave. The linear AC power supply with its very low output noise can be used as a power source for conducted emissions testing at 50Hz, 60Hz and 400Hz. Behlman's linear AC power supplies are standard from 45 to 2,500 Hz and are available up to 10,000Hz.