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Load Test

For users who would like to test their buck regulators, this page demonstrates a simple load test.

Note

Users who wish to test the maximum parameters of their board should consider using a professional/benchtop DC electric load tester, instead of the variable load kit.

Required Hardware

To test the buck regulator boards, users will need the following hardware:

  • DC Electric Load Tester
  • Power Supply
    • Use a benchtop-style power supply where you can configure the output voltage and see the current draw when loaded.
    • We are using the 80W DC Power Supply (retired product)

Power Supply - 80W DC Switching Mode

 TOL-09291

SparkFun Variable Load Kit

 KIT-14449

Hardware Setup

For this test, the hardware was setup up as follows:

  • Power was supplied to the buck regulator through the soldered barrel jack.
  • The output power from the buck regulator was connected to the variable load kit, through the screw terminal.
  • No heat sink was attached to the buck regulator.


Setup for a basic load test on the AP3429A Buck Regulator Breakout boards.

Test

To perform the test, the power supply was set to provide 4.5V at up to 4A. Meanwhile, the SparkFun variable load kit was configured to draw 0.5A.


A load test being performed on the AP3429A Buck Regulator Breakout board.

Although it is a little hard to see in the picture, the power supply is providing 4.45V with a 430mA current draw to the buck regulator. The variable load kit is drawing 0.49A with the 3.34V output voltage from the buck regulator.