BK 8600 Series Rackmount 3U Programmable DC Electronic Load

Description

The BK 8600 and BK 8600B Series programmable DC electronic loads offer the performance of modular system DC electronic loads in a compact benchtop and rackmount form factor. These models are the 3U version (2U half-rack, and 6U alternatives are also available).

With exceptional transient response times and high 16-bit measurement resolution, their standalone DC loads are the optimal choice for testing and evaluating a wide range of DC sources, including DC power supplies, DC-DC converters, batteries, battery chargers, and photovoltaic arrays.

Engineered for versatility, these DC loads operate in four distinct modes: constant current (CC), constant voltage (CV), constant resistance (CR), and constant power (CW). They can be dynamically configured to provide rapidly changing loads to DC sources, featuring swift load switching times. The robust internal, external, and remote triggering options allow for seamless synchronization of dynamic load behaviour with various events. To maximize efficiency, you can effortlessly save your test parameters in any of the 100 available memory slots, ensuring quick retrieval when needed. All load parameters—voltage, current, slew rate, and width—can be easily adjusted via the front panel or programmed remotely.

The BK 8600 and BK 8600B Series come equipped with standard USB (USBTMC-compliant) and RS232 interfaces for straightforward remote communication, with optional GPIB available on select models (note that GPIB is not included in models with the suffix B, e.g. 86xxB).

To guarantee reliable testing, this series features a power-on system self-test along with a comprehensive suite of protection features, including overtemperature (OTP), overvoltage (OVP), overcurrent (OCP), overpower (OPP), and local/remote reverse voltage (LRV/RRV) protection.

Product Features

Power range: up to 3000 W
Voltage range: up to 500 V
Current range: up to 480 A
Operating modes: CC/CV/CR/CW
Adjustable slew rate in CC mode
Transient mode: up to 25 kHz
List mode function, battery test function, automatic test mode, CR-LED mode
Standard USB (USBTMC-compliant) and RS232 interfaces supporting SCPI commands
GPIB option available on select models
Protection features: OVP/OCP/OPP/OTP, including local and remote reverse voltage (LRV/RRV) protection

Model Comparison

Model	BK 8610 / B	BK 8612 / B	BK 8614 / B	BK 8616	BK 8620	BK 8622
Power	750 W	750 W	1500 W	1200 W	3000 W	2500 W
Operating Voltage	0 – 120 V	0 – 500 V	1 – 120 V	0 – 500 V	0 – 120 V	0 – 500 V
Rated Current	0 – 120 A	0 – 30 A	0 – 240 A	0 – 60 A	0 – 480 A	0 – 100 A

Standard models include USB, RS232, and GPIB interfaces; those with suffix B (e.g. BK 86xxB) only have USB, and RS232 interfaces.

Model		BK 8610 / B	BK 8612 / B	BK 8614 / B	BK 8616	BK 8620	BK 8622
Input Ratings
Input Voltage		0 - 120 V	0 - 500 V	0 - 120 V	0 - 500 V	0 - 120 V	0 - 500 V
Input Current	Low	0 - 12 A	0 - 3 A	0 - 24 A	0 - 6 A	0 - 48 A	0 - 10 A
Input Current	High	0 - 120 A	0 - 30 A	0 - 240 A	0 - 60 A	0 - 480 A	0 - 100 A
Input Power		750 W		1500 W	1200 W	3000 W	2500 W
Minimum Operating Voltage	Low	0.12 V at 12 A	0.36 at 3 A	0.15 V at 24 A	0.36 V at 6 A	0.2 V at 48 A	0.3 V at 10 A
Minimum Operating Voltage	High	1.2 V at 120 A	3.6 V at 30 A	1.5 V at 240 A	3.6 V at 60 A	2 V at 480 A	3 V at 100 A
CV Mode
Range	Low	0.1 - 18 V	0.1 - 50 V	0.1 - 18 V	0.1 - 50 V	0.1 - 18 V	0.1 - 50 V
Range	High	0.1 - 120 V	0.1 - 500V	0.1 - 120 V	0.1 - 500 V	0.1 - 120 V	0.1 - 500 V
Resolution	Low	1 mV
Resolution	High	10 mV
Accuracy	Low	±(0.025% + 0.05% FS)		±(0.025% + 0.025% FS)	±(0.025% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.025% FS)	±(0.025% + 0.05% FS)
Accuracy	High	±(0.025% + 0.05% FS)
CC Mode
Range	Low	0 - 12 A	0 - 3 A	0 - 24 A	0 - 6 A	0 - 48 A	0 - 10 A
Range	High	0 - 120 A	0 - 30 A	0 - 240 A	0 - 60 A	0 - 480 A	0 - 100 A
Resolution	Low	1 mA	0.1 mA	1 mA	0.1 mA	1 mA
Resolution	High	10 mA	1 mA	10 mA	1 mA	10 mA
Accuracy	Low	±(0.05% + 0.1% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.1% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.025% + 0.05% FS)
Accuracy	High	±(0.05% + 0.1% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.1% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.025% + 0.05% FS)
CR Mode
Range	Low	0.02 Ω – 10 Ω	0.15 Ω – 10 Ω	0.01 Ω – 10 Ω			0.03 Ω – 10 Ω
Range	High	10 Ω - 7.5 kΩ
Resolution		16 bit
Accuracy (I>10% of range)	Low	0.01% + 0.08 S (12.5 Ω)
Accuracy (I>10% of range)	High	0.01% + 0.0008 S (1250 Ω)
CW Mode
Range		750 W		1500 W	1200 W	3000 W	2500 W
Resolution		10 mW		100 mW
Accuracy		0.2% + 0.2% FS
Transient Mode (CC Mode)
T1 & T2 *1		20 µs – 3600 s / Resolution: 10 µs
Accuracy		5 µs + 100 ppm
Slew Rate *2	Low	0.001-0.25 A/µs	0.0001-0.1 A/µs	0.001-0.25 A/µs	0.0001-0.1 A/µs	0.001-0.25 A/µs	0.001-0.1 A/µs
Slew Rate *2	High	0.01-2.5 A/µs	0.001-1 A/µs	0.01-2.5 A/µs	0.001-1 A/µs	0.01-2.5 A/µs	0.01-1 A/µs
Readback Voltage
Range	Low	0 - 18 V	0 - 50 V	0 - 18 V	0 - 50 V	0 - 18 V	0 - 50 V
Range	High	0 - 120 V	0 - 500 V	0 - 120 V	0 - 500 V	0 - 120 V	0 - 500 V
Resolution	Low	0.1 mV	1 mV	0.1 mV	1 mV
Resolution	High	1 mV	10 mV	1 mV	10 mV
Accuracy		±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)				±(0.025% + 0.025% FS)
Readback Current
Range	Low	0 - 12 A	0 - 3 A	0 - 24 A	0 - 6 A	0 - 48 A	0 - 10 A
Range	High	0 - 120 A	0 - 30 A	0 - 240 A	0 - 60 A	0 - 480 A	0 - 100 A
Resolution	Low	1 mA	0.1 mA	1 mA	0.1 mA	1 mA
Resolution	High	10 mA	1 mA	10 mA	1 mA	10 mA
Accuracy		±(0.05% + 0.1% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.1% FS)	±(0.05% + 0.05% FS)
Readback Power
Range		750 W		1500 W	1200 W	3000 W	2500 W
Resolution		10 mW		100 mW
Accuracy		±(0.2% + 0.2% FS)
Protection Range (Typical)
OPP		760 W		1550 W	1250 W	3050 W	2550 W
OCP	Low	13.2 A	3.3 A	26.4 A	6.6 A	26.4 A	11 A
OCP	High	132 A	33 A	264 A	66 A	264 A	110 A
OVP		130 V	530 V	130 V	530 V	130 V	530 V
OTP		85 °C
Short Circuit (Typical)
Current (CC)	Low	13.2 A	3.3 A	26.4 A	6.6 A	52.8 A	11 A
Current (CC)	High	132 A	33 A	264 A	66 A	528 A	110 A
Voltage (CV)		0 V
Resistance (CR)		10 mΩ	120 mΩ	6 mΩ	60 mΩ	5 mΩ	30 mΩ
General (Typical)
Input Terminal Impedance		300 kΩ	1 MΩ	300 kΩ	1 MΩ	300 kΩ	1 MΩ
AC Input		110 V/220 V ±10%, 50/60 Hz
Operating Temperature		0 °C to 40 °C
Storage Temperature		-10 °C to 60 °C
Humidity		Indoor use, ≤ 95%
Safety		EN61010-1:2001, EU Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC
Electromagnetic Compatibility		Meets EMC Directive 2004/108/EC, EN 61000-3-2:2006, EN 61000-3-3:1995+A1:2001+A2:2005 EN 61000-4-2/-3/-4/-5/-6/-11, EN 61326-1:2006
Dimensions (W x H x D)		439 x 133.3 x 580 mm
Weight		24.6 kg
Warranty		3 Years
Standard Accessories		User manual, power cord, certificate of calibration
Optional Accessories		TLPWR1 high current test leads

*1 Fast pulse trains with large transitions may not be achievable.
*2 The slew rate specifications are not warranted, but are descriptions of typical performance. The actual transition time is defined as the time for the input to change from 10% to 90%, or vice versa, of the programmed current values. In case of very large load changes, e.g. from no load to full load, the actual transition time will be larger than the expected time. The load will automatically adjust the slew rate to fit within the range (high or low) that is closest to the programmed value.