Keysight Technologies E36300 Series User manual

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APPLICATION NOTE
Practical Tips For Getting the Most
Out of Keysight’s E36300 Series
Bench Power Supplies
Introduction
Keysight has more than 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing
all types of power products. The next generation of bench power supplies
incorporates your feedback, our engineering knowledge, and design practices to
bring you one of the most versatile bench power product families. This application
note provides practical tips to help you get the most out of Keysight’s E36300A
Series bench power supplies. It also introduces you to several convenient features
that are now available in E36311A, E36312A, and E36313A bench power supplies.
Please note that some of features are not available on the E36311A model.
We will cover the following topics:
• Connecting to your bench DC power supply
• Achieving accurate voltage with remote sense
• Measuring current in amps
• Tracking DC outputs
• Enabling high voltage capability
• Enabling high current capability
• Documenting test setups and measurements
• Keeping power supplies secure
Connecting to your DC bench power supply
To start, connect to the outputs of a E36300 Series DC bench power supply
in two ways – through convenient front panel binding posts (optional recessed
binding posts are available), and through rear panel screw type output connectors.
See Figures 1 and 2.
The next generation of
bench power supplies
offers new features that
will help you increase
measurement accuracy,
and keep power supplies
consistent and secure.

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Figure 1. Front panel binding posts (max size 14
American Wire Gauge (AWG). A = 20A max current,
B = 15A max current
Achieving accurate voltage with remote sense
Remote sense capability is very useful for delivering accurate voltage at the device
under test (DUT) when using long wiring. In addition, remote sense improves your
measurement accuracy.
For example, you may need to use your bench DC source to power a development
board located in a thermal chamber using a long wire (20 to 30 feet or more). If you do
not use remote sense and proper cabling, you will not get your programmed voltage
at the DUT. For example, you may set the voltage to 5 volts and only get 4.5 V at the
DUT). This is due to the voltage drop (Vdrop) in the output wiring; wire resistance and
the amount of current that the load requires is the reason for the Vdrop. Remote sense
automatically compensates for the Vdrop in the power leads which is useful in constant
voltage (CV) operation with varying load impedance or significant lead resistance.
The E36300A series bench power supplies include remote sense capability as a
standard feature. You can easily enable remote sense through the built-in internal relays
which connect + and - output terminals to the + and - sense terminals without having to
remove jumpers. Please note that you must use the rear output connectors when using
4-wire remote sense operation.
Figure 2. Rear panel (Channel 1 example)
12A max current (accepts wire sizes from
12 to 30 AWG)
AB
+ – –S
+S
Twist leads
+ –
Load
12 A
connector
Insert wires
Tighten
screw
Locking
screw

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Figure 4. Enable 4-wire operation using Source Settings > Sense 2W/4W
Once the wiring is complete, enable 4-wire operation by pressing Source Settings
> Sense 2W/4W. The 4-wire operation appears above the CV indicator in the
screenshot above.
Wiring tips for remote sense applications
We recommend that you use a single twisted pair for the output leads and a separate
twisted pair for the sense leads (see Figure 3). Since the sense leads carry very small
currents, you may use a lighter gauge wire. Try to keep the sense leads less than 0.5 ohm
per wire (a 20 gauge wire works well). Keep the wire pairs as short as possible and less
than 50 feet (14.7 meters).
Figure 3. Use a single twisted pair for output leads and a separate twisted pair for sense leads
+ – –S
+S
Twist leads
+ –
Load
12 A
connector
12 A
connector
+ – –S
+S
Twist leads
+ –
Battery
Twist pair
With 2-wire sense With 4-wire sense

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Figure 5. Twist wires to reduce lead inductance and noise pick-up
It is a best practice to twist your wires to reduce lead inductance and noise pickup.
In the test example in Figure 5, Channel 1 is set up for 2-wire operation using a single
twisted pair. Channel 2 is set up for 4-wire operation using a twisted pair for the output
leads and a separate twisted pair for the remote sense leads.
Measuring current in amps
Making current measurements using a bench power supply is now very easy to do.
Today’s bench power supplies require no external equipment such as digital multimedia
(DMM), current shunt, wiring, etc., so the setup is much simpler, thereby eliminating
potential errors. Measurement accuracy is specified and the current measurements
appear in amps on a large display. The setup requires no voltage to current conversion.
Low measurement range is the default setting on Keysight’s E36312A and E36313A
models. To change the measurement range press Utilities > Test Setup > Lower Range
(On/Off).
Figure 6. Current measurement using a bench power supply
For measurement specifications please see the E36300 Series Data Sheet, literature
number 5992-2124EN.

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Tracking power supply outputs
The E36300A series provides 0 to ± 25 V tracking outputs. In track mode, voltages from
Channel 2 and Channel 3 track each other by varying the symmetrical voltages required
by operational amps and other circuits that need positive and negative voltages.
For example, you can configure your bench power supply for + 5 V and +5 V tracking
DC outputs by enabling track mode. Use the front panel voltage knob or numeric
keypad to adjust the output voltage of both Channel 2 and Channel 3. Please note that
while Channel 2 and Channel 3 are independent electrically, they now track their voltage
setting. Track mode is available on the E36312A and E36313A.
To enable track mode, press Output Settings > Operation Mode > Mode Tracking; see
Figure 7 below.
Figure 7. Tracking DC outputs voltage
Enabling high voltage capability in two easy steps
You may enable higher voltage by using the built-in auto-series mode with the E36312A
or E36313A in two easy steps, without external connectors or jumpers.
Step 1. Connect wires as they appear in Figure 8
Step 2. Enable series mode
Outputs 2 and 3 will now connect in a series to create a single DC output and single
measurement channel up to 50V and 2A. Channel 2 is the “master”. You can easily
control the output voltage and current setting using the front panel voltage and current
knobs or the numeric keypad.

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Figure 8. Wire connections enable higher voltage
Enable auto-series operation by pressing Output Settings > Operation Mode > Mode
Series. The large display indicates a series connection as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9. Channel 2 controls the series combination
Enabling high current capability in two easy steps
You may enable higher current capability using the built-in auto-parallel mode with the
E36312A or E36313A in two easy steps, with no external connectors or jumpers.
Step 1. Connect your wires as they appear in Figure 10
Step 2. Enable parallel mode
This configuration allows outputs 2 and 3 to connect in parallel to create a single DC
output and single measurement channel up to a 25 V and 4 A. Now Channel 2 becomes
the “master” that enables control of the output voltage and current settings through
front panel voltage and current knobs, or the numeric keypad.
+ –
+ –
+ –
Twist leads
Load

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Figure 10. Set-up that enables higher current capability
Enable auto-series operation by pressing Output Settings > Operation Mode > Mode
Series. The large display indicates a series connection as shown in Figure 9
Figure 11. Channel 2 is the “master” that controls the parallel combination
Documenting your test setup and measurements
With the E36300A series bench power supplies, you can easily capture screenshots, save
them using the default screenshot filename (screenshot.bmp - date/time stamped), or
rename them to a more meaningful filename. Press Manage Files > File Name >) to save
files easily to a USB thumb drive to document your test setup and measurement results.
+ –
+ –
+ –
Twist leads
Load

Page 8
This information is subject to change without notice. © Keysight Technologies, 2019 - 2021, Published in USA, December 3, 2021, 5992-2472EN
Find us at www.keysight.com
Learn more at: www.keysight.com
For more information on Keysight Technologies’ products, applications, or services,
please contact your local Keysight office. The complete list is available at:
www.keysight.com/find/contactus
Figure 12. Capture screenshots and save using default screenshot filename
Keeping your power supply secure
You can keep your power supply secure against unauthorized or accidental setting
changes by locking the front panel keypad, knobs, and buttons. Press and hold the
Lock / Unlock soft key for a few seconds to easily lock the front panel. In addition,
lock the bench power supply to your test bench by using the built-in Kensington
security slot feature.
Conclusion
The E36300A series bench power supply with low output ripple/noise and accurate
voltage/current measurements, you can test with confidence. Power multiple
voltage buses with clean, reliable power, view voltage and current on all outputs
simultaneously.
We hope this application note has offered you a few practical tips and techniques to
help you get the most out of a E36300A series DC bench power supply.
Learn more about the E36300 Series DC bench power supply.