Does Your Current Source Have Hidden Limitations?

LEDs, VCSELs, laser diodes, and other devices must be tested at their max capacity for the required amount of time to achieve accurate test data. This is especially true if they are being tested with industry-standard test methods like LM-85’s Single Pulse and Continuous Pulse.

Some current sources and source measure units provide their maximum advertised power in a limited pulse width range, making them useless for the aforementioned test methods.

Let’s look at some examples.

Pulsed Power Comparison – Testing a 300W Device with SpikeSafe and Keithley Current Sources

To test a 300W device properly, you need to power it to its max capacity for a specific duration. First, let’s look at how the power capabilities of the Keithley 2461 match up with the power and pulse width requirements for this test.

Keithley 2461 1000W source provides plenty of power but not in a useful pulse width
The Keithley 2461 (1000W) provides plenty of power but not in a useful pulse width.

Given that this Keithley unit is advertised as a 1000W source, one might expect that the Keithley 2461 has more than enough power to test the 300W device. However, as shown in the graph above, this Keithley unit provides plenty of power, but it doesn’t provide it in a useful pulse width, making it ineffective for both Single Pulse and Continuous Pulse tests.

Let’s overlay the power capabilities of a 10A/100V SpikeSafe Performance Series Current Source for comparison.

10A 100V SpikeSafe Performance Series Current Source has no duty cycle or pulse width limitations allowing it to test with both Single and Continuous Pulse
10A/100V Performance Series Current Source has no duty cycle or pulse width limitations.

SpikeSafe Current Sources provide sustained output power which means that they have no duty cycle or pulse width limitations. This technology ensures that the SpikeSafe Current Source will be able to test the 300W device with both Single Pulse and Continuous Pulse.

Testing the Same 300W Device with a Higher-Power Source

Let’s test the same 300W device but this time, use a higher-power Keithley source (the 2651) to see if it will be able to test the device with either Single or Continuous Pulse.

Keithley 2651 2000W Source faces the same limitations as their 1000W source and cannot test a 300W device with either Single or Continuous Pulse
The Keithley 2651 (2000W) faces the same limitations as the 1000W Keithley source and cannot test a 300W device with Single or Continuous Pulse.

Again, the Keithley unit provides plenty of power, but it doesn’t provide it in the pulse width needed for the test. Neither the Keithley 2461 or the Keithley 2651 will be able to test the 300W device.

As previously mentioned, SpikeSafe Current Sources don’t face the same limitations as Keithley sources. For the sake of completing the example, let’s overlay a 2000W SpikeSafe Current Source on the graph. Note the complete coverage that the SpikeSafe Current Source provides compared to the Keithley source.

Pulsed Power Comparison - 10A 200V SpikeSafe Performance Series Current Source vs Keithley 2651 - Difference in power capabilities is due to SpikeSafe ability to provide sustained output power
10A/200V Performance Series Current Source compared with Keithley 2651. The difference in power capabilities is due to the SpikeSafe’s ability to provide sustained output power.

Get the Power and Pulse Width You Need

When selecting equipment to test your devices, make sure you are getting the power and pulse width that you need. Purchase a current source that has no duty cycle or pulse width limitations and avoid equipment with hidden limitations that will prevent you from properly testing your devices.

learn more about performance series current sources

About Jeff Hulett

Jeff Hulett is the Founder and CTO of Vektrex Electronic Systems, Inc. Because of his vision and leadership, the company grew from a start-up to the market leader. Currently, Hulett is the Chief Architect for Vektrex products placing the highest emphasis on technology and quality. Hulett holds a BSEE from the Illinois Institute of Electronics, and has been awarded four U.S.patents. He is a member of the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and chairs the IESNA LM-80 working group that is focused on LED flux maintenance testing. He has been active in the LED testing and reliability field since 2004.