To make your own voltage-current (V-I) curve tester, you will need to assemble a few key components:
- Power supply: You will need a power supply that can provide a controllable source of voltage and current. This could be a commercial power supply unit, or you could build your own using a transformer, rectifier, and regulator.
- Multimeter: You will need a multimeter that can measure voltage and current. This will allow you to measure the voltage and current at different points in the circuit and plot the resulting V-I curve.
- Test leads: You will need a set of test leads or probes to connect the power supply and multimeter to the device or circuit under test.
- Control interface: You will need some way to control the voltage applied by the power supply and to record the resulting current measurements. This could be a simple manual setup using switches and dials, or you could use a computer or microcontroller to automate the process and record the data.
Once you have these components, you can connect them together as follows:
- Connect the power supply to the device or circuit under test using the test leads.
- Connect the multimeter to the device or circuit under test using the test leads, making sure to set it to measure current.
- Use the control interface to apply a range of voltages to the device or circuit, starting at a low value and increasing gradually.
- Measure the current at each voltage using the multimeter, and record the results.
- Plot the resulting V-I curve using a graphing tool or software.
Keep in mind that this is just a basic outline of the process. There are many details and considerations that will depend on the specific components and setup you are using. For example, you may need to consider factors such as load resistance, measurement accuracy, and temperature stability.
RAS will be able to supply you the equipment and training if you decide to get one. Email us sales@repairsnspares.com for more information.