The difference between a successful validation run and a week of phantom bug hunting often lies in the quality of your DC source. Here is how to select the right tool.
01.Decoding Noise Specs (PARD)
Manufacturers often bury the noise specification. You are looking for PARD (Periodic and Random Deviation).
- Generic Industrial: 100mVpp (Not suitable for logic)
- Standard Lab: 10-20mVpp (Acceptable for power rails)
- Precision Grade: < 2mVpp (Required for ADCs/Sensors)
02.Linear vs. Switching
Do you need a heavy Linear supply? Not necessarily. Modern switching supplies with Remote Sensing content can compensate for load line drops, and their high-frequency noise is easily filtered by on-board capacitance.
03.The Connectivity Factor
For automated test racks, USB/LAN control is non-negotiable. Ensure the power supply supports SCPI commands for easy integration with LabVIEW or Python scripts.
SOURCING NOTE: AUTOMATION STANDARD
To simplify our Python validation scripts, our lab standardizes on variable DC power supply units that share a unified command set across all voltage ranges (30V-600V).