The California Instruments Tahoe Series combines intelligence and flexibility with high power to create an advanced platform of AC solutions. Using a state-of-the art SiC power switching architecture and Digital Signal Processing, the Tahoe Series combines a robust, high-power AC/DC source with an advanced power analyzer in a single floor standing chassis.
This easy-to-configure power product covers a wide spectrum of single and multi-phase AC or single channel and multi-channel DC power applications at an affordable cost. With add-on test application routines for military and commercial avionics testing, the Tahoe Series can fulfill your power test requirement.
Features and Capabilities:
- Dual Voltage ranges that support over voltage testing on 480V based systems
- Separate terminal blocks for single phase and 3 phase outputs
- High Power AC and DC Power Source
- Auto paralleling for higher power system expansion
- Single and three phase modes
- Arbitrary & Harmonic Waveform Generation
- Standard LXI LAN, USB, and RS-232, Optional GPIB
- 500uS time resolution for Transients
- Complete avionics test suites
- 15kVA to 1MVA Power Levels
- Intuitive 5” color display for ease of navigation
- Internationally accepted test routines for EMI/EMC, Safety compliance
Simple Operation
The Tahoe Series can be operated completely from its menu driven front panel controller. The full color touch display shows menus, setup data, and read-back measurements. RS-232C, USB and LAN remote control interfaces and instrument drivers for popular ATE programming environments are available. This allows the Tahoe Series to be easily integrated into an automated test system. With the programmable arbitrary waveform generator, the user can generate application specific waveforms, obtain time and frequency domain measurements, and capture actual voltage and current waveforms.
Configurations
The Tahoe Series offers five single chassis configurations: 15kVA, 22.5kVA, 30kVA, 45kVA and 90kVA. For higher power requirements, multi-cabinet models are available. These systems offer Reflex capability, allowing flexible user reconfiguration as needed. This ability to reconfigure the system greatly expands your test coverage and is not commonly found in power systems.
Choice of Voltage Ranges
The Tahoe Series offers dual range 0 - 166V & 0 - 333V line to neutral direct coupled output. These models provide a maximum 3 phase output capability of 287 VAC & 576 VAC line to line respectively. For applications requiring more than 333 V L-N (or 576 V L-L), the optional -XVC440 output transformer provides an additional 0 - 442 V L-N and 0 - 766 V L-L output range for use in AC mode only. For custom applications, the user defined XVC option is available.
High Crest Factor
With support for high crest factor loads, the Tahoe can drive difficult nonlinear loads with ease. Since many modern products use switching power supplies, they tend to pull high repetitive peak currents. The TA30 with a crest factor rating of 4.5, for example, can deliver up to 300 Amps of repetitive peak current (166 V AC range) per phase to handle three phase loads. Refer to the specifications for peak repetitive currents for each model.
Remote Control
Standard RS232C, USB, and LAN, along with optional GPIB remote control interfaces, allow programming of all instrument functions from an external computer. The popular SCPI command protocol is used for programming.
Hardware In the Loop
The External Drive (-EXTD) feature allows external analog signal control of the source while in AC operation, turning the source into a high bandwidth amplifier. Most common applications include hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation of power plants, hybrid electric vehicles, and renewable energy generation and their effect on the utility grid. Combining an HIL simulator with the Tahoe grid simulator results in as little as 100uS delay, meaning the overall solution is real time.
Testing Applications:
- Power Conditioning Equipment Testing
- Avionics and Shipboard Electronics Testing
- Regulatory Compliance Testing
- Manufacturing Line Testers
