Series EL Operating Curves

Download Operating Curves for all models

The constant voltage (CV) boundary starts at rated voltage and near zero current. As source current increases, voltage stays constant until a point is reached at which the rated power dictates that increasing current must have a corresponding decrease in voltage: this is the start of the constant power (CP) boundary. Once source current increases to the rated current of the model, this is the start of the constant current (CI) boundary, where current stays at the rated value while source voltage decreases until the load reaches itls minimum resistance. This is the start of the constant resistance (CR) boundary, where decreases in source current or source voltage must decrease the available power.

Model 5K-400-420 may be operated at any given input condition that is within the red line boundary shown above. For example: If a 300 Volt source is to be tested with a Model 5K-400-420, select the 300 Volt line (blue) and note the range of current allowable along that line. In this example, the load may be operated in CV mode at currents from near zero to a maximum of 16.6 Amperes @300V.

Overload Capacity Short term overloads (spikes) from the source being tested may go beyond the rated continuous capacity of the EL load. These short term spikes can be absorbed as illustrated in the Overload Capacity graph shown at the right. Kepco’s EL load features programmable Peak Pulse Power that allows a spike load to be put on the source.