Programming Speed -- How fast does the output change in response to programming signals
Kepco's RKW 300, 600 and 1500 watt Programmable Series are industrial-grade single-output programmable power supplies which are fully programmable by an external voltage, however they are not fast programmable power supplies. The output voltage can be programmed from from ZERO to FULL SCALE or vice versa but because the RKW are switchmode power supplies, the output change will be on the order of 10 to 100 milliseconds.A switchmode power supply always has an output filter (primarily a series L and a parallel C). The capacitor of that LC filter is the output capacitor for the power supply; it has a substantial value in order to reduce the output ripple. That output capacitor, along with the existing preload and load, determines the power supply output voltage slewing capability.
In fast-programmable linear power supplies the output capacitor is removed and therefore fast output voltage slewing can be achieved. Depending on models, the rise and fall times can be in the range of 10 to 100 microseconds. In switchmode programmable power supplies, the rise and fall times can be 1000 times slower (10 to 100 milliseconds), depending on the size of the output capacitor and whether or not a load is present.
