EL63150B electronic load - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2014, 03:39:41 pm
content: Has anyone got or used one of these loads? What is the build quality like and how well do they work?Anyone suggest any alternative at about the same price?Thankshttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151093067923?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

author: LaurenceW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2014, 04:11:18 pm
content: Hmm, well, you don't tell us what your requirements are, so it's hard to know if this load will meet them!Looks pretty bottom-of-the-market, certainly Chinese no-brand stuff. It might even work - you won't know until you've bought it. What about support or repairs? You can probably forget anything from the manufacturer. The UK dealer*may* offer some support, you'd have to ask.But I notice several omissions that would rule it out for me, but my requirements may well differ to your own.I doubt those front panel terminals will confortably sink 30A!!Only 60V top? that's too low. If you are, or get into, power amps, that won't be enough to test power supplies.No battery discharge mode? If you are, or get into, any hobbies that use rechargeable cells, you won't be able to derive their Ahr ratings easily.No PC connection? You wont be able to log data, or see/plot trend lines (on discharging batteries, for one). You wont be able to set complex loads, that change in time (eg, ramps). something about memories on this device, but they will be hard to use.No constant power mode - useful if you are testing or mimicing switched mode power supplies (these draw MORE current the lower their input voltage, in an effort to maintain a constant output power). It claims to SHOW power consumed, but not to be able to set it.Buttons look puny. A knob, labelled "Control Area"? Hmm, Chinglish.Finally, really no real information! Where is the link to the user manual? Is there even one??So, not something I'd be looking to swap two hundred notes of my own money for! But to reiterate - it may be suitable for your current needs, I cannot say. But what if your requirements grow??Having said all that, I've not seen anything (new) that's anything better at the price. These are not "mass market" items like power supplies, and so are more expensive as a result. £200 is not a lot for a low-volume instrument. So it can never by high quality. But if all you want is to set it to (say) a load of 10A to test power supplies, then, well, it just might do that fine.More money, of course, but I'd suggest the functional gap between this 63150b and thishttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Maynuo-M9811-Programmable-LED-DC-Electronic-Load-0-150V-0-30A-200W-/281124077149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41744cfe5dis worth the extra.I have a bigger Maynuo load, myself, and do rate it. But to reiterate, if these more expensive loads contain features that you are convinced you do not, and will not, ever need, then these may just be a waste of £300+. For me, the cheaper instrument would merely be a waste of £200. Which is better!?!

author: London Lad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2014, 02:38:49 pm
content: Thanks for the very detailed reply.I hear all you say and agree 100%I'd love to stick with HP / Fluke etc for all my test gear but of course, in reality, have to make price point decisions a lot of the time.I'm not really sure what I want it for but often find myself using resisters and lamps etc for loads and thought an electronic load would be useful.I have PC controlled battery maintenance kit so it wouldn't get used for that.I'm happy to upgrade later if I find it useful, but I hate buying poor quality construction. Test gear of limited spec is one thing but limited reliability is totally unacceptable.I'll think on :-)