Supported power supplies

pypsucurvetrace has built-in support for different PSU models. Support for other PSUs can be added on request.

Choosing suitable PSU models for your curve-tracing setup will mainly depend on the voltage and current ranges as well as the set and readback resolution required for your DUT tests:

  • Testing power transistors requires a high-power PSU that can output 100 W or more, while a data resolution of 10 mV and 1-10 mA may be more than sufficient.

  • Testing small-signal transistors requires a high-resolution PSU that can set and read voltages and currents at small increments of about 10-100 μV and 10-100 μA, while the power will be 1 W or less.

  • Testing vacuum tubes also benefits from good low-current resolution, but typically requires high-voltage PSUs (or multiple PSUs connected in series).

The list below describes the PSU models that are supported by pypsucurvetrace, and how to configure them in the curvetrace_config.txt file.

BK Precision

pypsucurvetrace supports the BK Precision 9120A and 9185B models, which both provide 0.01 mA current readback resolution. The 9120A is very suitable for testing small-signal transistors, because it provides 0.1 mV voltage readback resolution with a max voltage of 32 V. The 9185B is suitable for high-voltage devices like electron tubes, because it provides a maximum output voltage of 610 V (with 0.3 V voltage readback resolution).

Configuration of the 9120A in curvetrace_config.txt:

TYPE = BK

Configuration of the 9185B in curvetrace_config.txt:

  • For high voltage range (up to 610 V, max. current 350 mA):

    TYPE = BK9185B_HIGH

  • For low voltage range (up to 400 V, max. current 500 mA):

    TYPE = BK9185B_LOW

Korad / RND

Korad make cost-effective power supplies which make for a flexible all-purpose test setup. The Korad PSUs are sometimes also available from RND brand.

pypsucurvetrace has built-in support for the following models:

  • Tested / confirmed: KA3005P, KWR103

  • Untested / unconfirmed: KA3003P, KD3005P, KA3010P, KA6002P, KA6003P, KA6005P, KD6005P

Configuration in curvetrace_config.txt:

TYPE = KORAD

Riden / Ruiden

Riden / Ruiden offer power supply modules and accessories that allow building very cost-effective power-supply units with high power output and, at the same time, good voltage and current resolution.

pypsucurvetrace has built-in support for the following models:

  • Tested / confirmed: RD6006P, RD6012P

  • Untested / unconfirmed: RD6006, RD6012

Configuration in curvetrace_config.txt:

TYPE = RIDEN

The RD6012P unit needs special configuration to select the current range and resolution:

  • For 6 A current range and 0.1 mA resolution:

    TYPE = RIDEN_6012P_6A

  • For 12 A current range and 1 mA resolution:

    TYPE = RIDEN_6012P_12A

Saluki / Maynuo

The Saluki / Maynuo / Hopetech PSUs are designed for electronic testing and lab work. They are more expensive than some of the other units on this page, but some of their specs exceed those of the more cost-effective units. In particular, the Saluki SPS831 / Maynuo M8831 / Hopetech HT6831 M8831 offers high readback resolution of 0.1 mV and 1 µA, which makes this PSU unit very suitable for testing of low-power duts.

pypsucurvetrace has built-in support for the following models (Saluki model numbers):

  • Tested / confirmed: SPS831

  • Untested / unconfirmed: SPS811, SPS812, SPS813

Configuration in curvetrace_config.txt:

TYPE = SALUKI

Voltcraft PPS

The Voltcraft PPS models have been around for a long time and have served as cost-effective general-purpose PSUs on many work benches. They were used in the first steps in the development of pypsucurvetrace.

pypsucurvetrace has built-in support for the following models:

  • Tested / confirmed: PPS11360, PPS16005, PPS11810

  • Untested / unconfirmed: PPS11603, PPS13610, PPS11815

Configuration in curvetrace_config.txt:

TYPE = VOLTCRAFT

The Voltcraft PPS power supplies use a Silabs CP2102 USB/serial interface. In stock condition, the Silabs interface of all Voltcraft PPS power supplies always use the same ID. If your setup involves multiplie Voltcraft PPS units, their serial interfaces therefore show up at the same virtual file node under /dev/serial/by-id/ (usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_0001-if00-port0 or similar). In order to simultaneously use more than one PPS unit, you may use the virtual file nodes under /dev/serial/by-path/ instead. However, you may also reconfigure the Silabs interfaces to use unique IDs. This using the cp210x-cfg program:

  • Download the cp210x-cfg code:

    svn co https://github.com/DiUS/cp210x-cfg.git

  • Install USB library stuff needed to compile the cp210x-cfg code:

    sudo apt install libusb-1.0-0-dev

  • Compile the cp210x-cfg program:

    cd path/to/cp210x-cfg/
make

  • Display HELP information for cp210x-cfg, and make sure you understand how the program works:

    ./cp210x-cfg -h

  • Make sure only one Silabs CP210x interface is connected (the PPS unit one you want to reconfigure), then show its information:

    ./cp210x-cfg

  • Change the serial ID of the device (don’t mess this up!):

    ./cp210x-cfg -S 0002

  • Plug in the other PPS device and make sure that both serial interfaces now show up separately at /dev/serial/by_id:

    ls /dev/serial/by-id/
usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_0001-if00-port0
usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_0002-if00-port0