Test with Confidence - Precision AC Power for Every Application

Whether you’re designing aircraft systems, developing EV chargers, or a test house, having the right AC source is essential. We supply industry-leading programmable AC power sources that make testing easier, faster, and more accurate.

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Why You Need a Programmable AC Source in AC Product Development

1. Precise Voltage & Frequency Control

• Why: Mains power in the real world isn’t always perfect — voltage can sag or spike, and frequency can drift.
• Benefit: An AC source lets you set the exact voltage (e.g., 90 V, 230 V) and frequency (e.g., 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 400 Hz) you need for testing. This is critical for designing products for multiple markets.

2. Simulating Global Power Conditions

• Why: Different countries have different mains standards (e.g., 120 V/60 Hz in the US vs 230 V/50 Hz in Europe).
• Benefit: You can verify your product works correctly on all intended supply types without leaving your lab.

3. Testing Under “Worst Case” Scenarios

• Why: Real-world mains can be noisy, unstable, or drop below nominal during peak demand.
• Benefit: You can deliberately create brownouts, surges, frequency deviations, or harmonic distortion to see how your design handles them — before your customers experience them.

4. Safety & Compliance Testing

• Why: Many standards (IEC, UL, CE, MIL-STD, DO-160, etc.) require demonstrating performance under specific AC conditions.
• Benefit: A programmable AC source can automatically run these test sequences with reproducible results, saving time and avoiding human error.

5. Product Performance Characterisation

• Why: Some devices behave differently depending on line voltage or frequency (e.g., motor torque, heat generation, efficiency).
• Benefit: You can map performance curves across a range of supply conditions to fine-tune your design.

6. Simulating Power Failures

• Why: Interruptions or flickers can cause resets, data loss, or unsafe shutdowns.
• Benefit: You can program momentary dropouts, phase loss, or recovery ramps to ensure your product handles them gracefully.

7. Isolated, Clean Power for the Lab

• Why: Mains outlets often share noisy loads (e.g., HVAC, fluorescent lights).
• Benefit: Many AC sources regenerate a pure sine wave, reducing noise during sensitive measurements and preventing interference with test equipment.

8. Automation & Repeatability

• Why: Manual testing with a variac or random power glitches isn’t reproducible.
• Benefit: AC sources can be computer-controlled, allowing you to repeat exact test sequences or integrate them into automated test systems.

9. Protecting Your Prototype

• Why: Early-stage prototypes may fail catastrophically if connected directly to the grid.
• Benefit: You can start at a safe, low voltage and gradually ramp up while monitoring current draw to catch problems early.

10. Expanding Beyond Standard Mains

• Why: Some products need to operate in aircraft (400 Hz), ships, or other special environments.
• Benefit: An AC source can generate those non-standard voltages and frequencies for development and validation.

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In our expert opinion a programmable AC source isn’t just a power supply — it’s your product’s passport to the global market and a safety net for your design process.

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How we can help

Pacific Power Source is one of our closest partners that we distribute for in the UK. They have a vast range of AC sources, grid simulators and loads to meet any requirment.