Ametek PMC BOOSTER Series User manual

PMC BOOSTERs
Hardware Manual
P/N

Table of Contents
SINGLE BOOSTER, PMC BOOSTER5A or PMC BOOSTER 10A ........................................................................3
INSTALLATION...........................................................................................................................................3
CONNECTIONS ..........................................................................................................................................4
Single Booster –Connections at the Booster, Analog Cables...............................................................6
Single Booster –Connections at the Booster, Digital Cable .................................................................7
Single Booster –Connections at the Cell .............................................................................................. 9
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF and THERMAL MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................10
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF........................................................................................................................ 10
THERMAL MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................................10
VERSASTUDIO SETTINGS.........................................................................................................................11
CHECKOUT PROCEDURE.......................................................................................................................... 12
PARALLEL BOOSTERS, USE FOR EVEN HIGHER CURRENTS .........................................................................14
Connections ............................................................................................................................................14
Boosters in Parallel –Connections at the Potentiostat Leads (WE, CE, GND)....................................14
Boosters in Parallel –Connections at the Cell ....................................................................................14
Boosters in Parallel –CheckOut Test ......................................................................................................15
KEY SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................................................................................15

Demanding applications may even require a higher current than is available as standard on the different
models of PMC potentiostats. The PMC BOOSTER is available in two different versions –the PMC
BOOSTER 5A and PMC BOOSTER 10A.
SINGLE BOOSTER, PMC BOOSTER5A or PMC BOOSTER 10A
INSTALLATION
The PMC BOOSTER (PMC BOOSTER5A and PMC BOOSTER10A) both install into the PMC Chassis (P/N
PMC CHS08A). No tools are required for this installation. It is recommended to turn power off to the
chassis before installation of the PMC Booster. The booster occupies 2 slots of the chassis. The cable
lengths are sufficient that the BOOSTER does not have to be installed into the slot adjacent to its
associated PMC Channel.
After using the guides to slide the PMC BOOSTER into the chassis, tighten the 4 thumbscrews to figure-
tight levels.

CONNECTIONS
The cell cable from the PMC potentiostat is used as both the voltage measurement and a current
booster interface cable. This can be either the one supplied with the PMC potentiostats (P/N 223945,
4-mm banana connections) or the version that splits the voltage and current leads at the potentiostat
connector (P/N 234626)
The voltage measurement is made directly from the potentiostat channel. Therefore, its connections to
the cell and specifications are not impacted. The SENSE (gray) and REFERENCE (white) connect at the
cell as described in the Basic Cell Connections:

However, the current carrying leads and ground now connect to the PMC BOOSTER.
SIGNAL OUT / MALE BANANA
SIGNAL IN / FEMALE BANANA JACK
Working Electrode (Green) of Cell Cable
WE (Green) input on PMC BOOSTER
Counter Electrode (Red) of Cell Cable
CE (Red) input on PMC BOOSTER
Ground (Black) of Cell Cable
LO (Black) input on PMC BOOSTER

Single Booster –Connections at the Booster, Analog Cables
From the CELL connection of the PMC BOOSTER; connect the provided cable.
From the POTENTIOSTAT cell cable (P/N 234626 or 223945) to the PMC BOOSTER
Working and Counter electrodes are labeled. These connect from the Booster to the cell and provide a
path for current measurement.

Single Booster –Connections at the Booster, Digital Cable
Connect the cable pictured below from the ‘AUX’ connector on the PMC BOOSTER to the ‘AUX’
connection on the PMC Channel.
The PMC Booster takes advantage of the digital signals (TTLs) from the PMC channel. Importantly the
Firmware of the system uses advanced logic to control the ENABLE/DISABLE of the PMC BOOSTER.
Users are not required to set actions to send the TTL; so long as the booster is connected and assigned
through the software –both converted in detail later in this document.
One purpose of these digital control signals is to ENABLE the PMC BOOSTER when the cell is under
control. This is during all actions, expect those ran in Open Circuit Mode. Open Circuit actions do not
measure the current. As such, the BOOSTER is not required and will not ENABLE.
The other purpose of this function is to shutdown the potentiostat if the PMC Booster overloads. The
booster has a more restricted voltage range than the core potentiostat; in order to supply higher current
at similar power. Therefore, on a voltage overload the booster shutdown prior to the PMC channel.
This advanced logic communicates a PMC Booster shutdown –voltage or thermal –to the potentiostat;
which then terminates the experiment.
With all cabling in place and the unit powered, it will look as it does in the picture below.

Single Booster –Connections at the Cell
Connections at the cell are recommended to be made in 4-terminal mode, with distinct connections for
the voltage and current terminals. This configuration minimizes contact resistance from the leads. The
picture shows the voltage leads being closest to the device under test and the current lead on the
outside. The device under test here is a 0.1 Ohm resistor 25W (P/N 738190). In testing larger currents,
a device should be selected that is low impedance to avoid voltage overloads –here 10 Amps on 0.1
Ohms will generate 1 V. Also, the thermal capacity of the resistor should be considered: 10A and 1V will
generate 10W, sufficiently below this resistor.
As with all instrumentation, it is recommended to be disconnected from the device under test both
when not being controlled as well as during system power OFF and ON.
4-Terminal Measurement connections of PMC and PMC Booster at the Cell

2-Terminal Measurement connections of PMC and PMC Booster at the Cell
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF and THERMAL MANAGEMENT
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF
When dealing with large currents, safety dictates that an easily accessible shutdown switch is available.
The PMC BOOSTER has shut a shutoff as the large button labelled “STOP”. If this button is pressed, the
cell switch opens which terminates the experiment and any current being supplied to the cell.
If this button is pressed, it must be rotated and pulled back out to engage the booster again.
THERMAL MANAGEMENT
A fan is installed on-board of the PMC BOOSTER. If the temperature of the booster rises to a sufficient
level, this fan will start to help dissipate this heat. The airflow of the PMC CHS08A is designed in such a
way to properly ventilate the most extreme conditions. Therefore, in typical test conditions this fan will not
be active.
If the fan starts, it will stop when the temperature returns below the temperature threshold.

VERSASTUDIO SETTINGS
Starting with VersaStudio 2.43.3; there is a BOOSTER.INI file that allows users to select parameters for
different models of boosters. This file lives at C:\My Data\VersaStudio\Settings\Boosters.ini
A published Technical Note gives complete details on this process.
Here is an example for the PMC BOOSTER10A
<Booster2>
Name=PMC BOOSTER10A
Ein=1
Eout=1
Iin=1000
Iout=1000
FixedRange=0.2
MaxPosCurrent=10
MaxNegCurrent=10
MaxPosVolts=6
MaxNegVolts=1
BoosterType=PMC
</Booster2>
This is selected ON/OFF in the software through Tools Options Instrument Booster drop-down
box.

It is then recommended, though often not required, to CLOSE and REOPEN VersaStudio.
The Status Bar in VersaStudio will also show:
The Instrument Properties will show the Current Range as FIXED to the range determined by the
BOOSTER. For these PMC BOOSTERs that is 200 mA.
This INI file adjustment then scales all currents and, if applicable, voltages correctly.
CHECKOUT PROCEDURE
Using a 100 mOhm resistor such as described earlier in this document; the PMC Channel and Booster
combination should be able to successfully execute the following test and give these representative
results.

If these tests are ran with a larger resistor, for example a 1000 Ohm resistor, not enough voltage can be
supplied to reach the currents that would require the booster.

PARALLEL BOOSTERS, USE FOR EVEN HIGHER CURRENTS
PMC Boosters can be operated in parallel to achieve even higher currents, up to 20Amps.
Connections
These connections require special cabling that is not delivered as standard. Contact the factory for the
Part Numbers associated with the cabling for this configuration.
In principle, the current-carrying leads (Working and Counter) and Ground from the single poteniostat are
connected to a Y-cable and then to the CE, WE, and GND connections on both boosters.
Boosters in Parallel –Connections at the Potentiostat Leads (WE, CE, GND)
Boosters in Parallel –Connections at the Cell

Boosters in Parallel –CheckOut Test
They following test was ran with the 0.01 Ohm resistor as before. Because of this, only 20 mV needs to
be applied to generate 20 Amps of current.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
PMC BOOSTER5A
PMC BOOSTER10A
Highest Current Range
+/- 5 A
+/- 10 A
Compliance Voltage
-1 V to + 6 V
-1 V to + 6 V
EIS Bandwidth
300 kHz
300 kHz
Data Acquisition Rate
Defined by Potentiostat
PMC-2000 is 1000 kS/sec (1 µs)
PMC-1000 is 500 kS/sec ( 2 µs)
Defined by Potentiostat
PMC-2000 is 1000 kS/sec (1 µs)
PMC-1000 is 500 kS/sec ( 2 µs
Connectivity
Installs into 2-slots of the PMC
CHS08A chassis
Installs into 2-slots of the PMC
CHS08A chassis
Field Upgradeable
Yes
Yes