これはいったい何？電気工作DIYに超便利な激安の電子負荷についてご紹介します！

Summary

In this video, the host introduces viewers to the incredibly affordable and convenient electronic load devices, a tool not widely known outside of electrical engineering circles but immensely useful for DIY electrical projects. The host reveals a surprisingly cheap find on Amazon, priced around 3300 yen, significantly lower than the typical cost of branded counterparts. The video covers what an electronic load is, how it operates, and its application in testing electrical circuits by simulating real-world loads. Furthermore, the host demonstrates the device's setup, usage, accuracy, and even delves into a teardown to explore its internal components, showcasing its value for DIY enthusiasts seeking cost-effective solutions for their projects.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Introduction to an incredibly affordable electronic load for electrical DIY projects, highlighting its sudden drop in price to about 3300 yen.
• 📬 The electronic load, previously known to the DIY community, has become remarkably cheaper, making it accessible for personal purchase.
• 💻 Explains the utility of an electronic load in electrical engineering tasks, such as testing circuits for proper operation and measuring power supply capabilities.
• 🔌 Compares traditional load solutions like cement resistors and incandescent bulbs to the versatility of an electronic load that allows for adjustable resistance (current settings).
• 🛠 Detailed walkthrough of the electronic load's setup, including its power requirements, connection ports, and initial settings.
• 💡 Demonstrates the electronic load in action, testing it with a stabilized power supply and highlighting its accuracy and cooling fan activation.
• 📓 Discusses the importance of the 4-terminal connection method to minimize measurement errors due to voltage drop across wires.
• 👨‍💻 Offers insights into the electronic load's additional features like cumulative current (mAh) and power (mWh) measurements, and elapsed time display.
• 🔧 Provides an in-depth look at the electronic load's menu options, including voltage and current calibration, overvoltage protection, and the ability to set operational limits.
• 🛡️ Challenges the electronic load's limits by setting it near its maximum capacity, discussing thermal performance and safety shutoff mechanisms.
• 🔩 Concludes with a teardown of the device, revealing its internal components like the MOSFET used for load regulation, and highlights the potential for easy repairs.

Q & A

What is an electronic load and why is it useful in electrical projects?

An electronic load is a device used in electrical projects to consume power from a circuit under test. It's incredibly useful for testing the circuit's performance under various load conditions, ensuring that power sources like generators or batteries can supply sufficient energy, and identifying any potential issues in the circuit before it is deployed in its intended environment.

How has the price of electronic loads changed recently according to the script?

According to the script, the price of electronic loads has significantly decreased, making them very affordable. The presenter discovered an electronic load on Amazon priced at approximately 3300 yen, which is considered exceptionally cheap compared to traditional models that can cost tens of thousands of yen.

What are the traditional methods of creating load in electrical experiments as mentioned in the script?

Traditionally, loads in electrical experiments were created using elements like cement resistors, incandescent bulbs, and stainless steel wires (used as heating elements), which convert electrical power into heat. However, these methods have fixed resistance values and offer limited adjustability.

What advantages does an electronic load offer over traditional load-creating methods?

An electronic load offers the major advantage of allowing for arbitrary resistance settings, essentially letting the user set any desired current value. This flexibility makes electronic loads incredibly valuable for more precise and varied testing conditions, compared to traditional methods with fixed resistances.

What comes included with the electronic load mentioned in the script?

The electronic load mentioned in the script comes in a box with the main unit and an AC adapter for power supply. It operates at 12V and starts automatically when plugged in, without the need for a power switch.

How does the electronic load manage to measure and adjust current and voltage?

The electronic load uses a four-terminal connection method to manage and adjust current and voltage. This method helps reduce the impact of voltage drop across wiring, ensuring more accurate measurements. It also allows for the setting of specific current values and includes features to terminate the measurement based on voltage conditions.

What are some specific features of the electronic load as described?

Specific features include the ability to set a stop voltage (V-STOP) for measurements, adjust current settings in 0.01A increments up to a maximum of 20A, set measurement times, and calibrate voltage and current measurements. It also has over-voltage (OVP), over-current (OCP), and over-power (OPP) protection settings.

What limitations does the electronic load have?

The electronic load is limited to a maximum measurement capacity of 150W. Even though it can technically handle up to 300V/38A based on the MOSFET used, the actual operational limit is governed by its thermal management capability and design, which restricts it to 150W to prevent overheating and damage.

How is the electronic load's performance in terms of accuracy?

The electronic load shows a high level of accuracy, with only a minor discrepancy of 0.02A when compared to the setting value of 3.00A, and voltage measurements that are almost exact to the decimal point. This slight difference can be attributed to voltage drop effects, highlighting the importance of the four-terminal measurement method.

What did the teardown reveal about the internal components of the electronic load?

The teardown revealed that the electronic load primarily uses a high-spec N-channel MOSFET (FQA38N30) capable of handling 300V/38A for load management. Additionally, it contains a shunt resistor (0.01Ω) for current measurement, an operational amplifier (op-amp), and a microcontroller with its identifier removed, likely for control and measurement tasks.