Specifications

R
7
Connect power supplies in
series or parallel for higher output
Tip
6
Connecting two or more power
supplies in series (Figure 1) provides
higher voltages, but observe these
precautions:
Never exceed the floating voltage
rating of any of the supplies.
Never subject any of the power
supplies to negative voltages.
Program each power supply
independently. If two supplies are
used, program each one for 50% of
the total output voltage. If three
supplies are used, program each
supply for about 33% of the total
output voltage. Set the current limit
of each supply to the maximum that
the load can safely handle.
Connecting two or more power
supplies in parallel (Figure 2)
provides higher currents, but again,
observe these precautions:
One unit must operate in constant
voltage (CV) mode and the other(s)
in constant current (CC) mode.
The output load must draw enough
current to keep the CC unit(s) in
CC mode.
Program the current limit of each
unit to its maximum value and
program the output voltage of the CV
unit to a value slightly lower than the
CC unit(s). The CC units supply the
maximum output current that they
have been set to and drop their
output voltage until it matches the
voltage of the CV unit, which supplies
only enough current to fulfill the total
load demand.
The Agilent N6700 supplies have
a grouping function that virtually
parallels outputs. Output channels
can be configured or “grouped” to
create a single output with higher
current and power capability.
Figure 1: Connecting units in series
Figure 2: Connecting units in parallel
Power supply
#1
Power supply
#2
Power supply
#3
E
L
= E
M
+ E
1
+ E
2
E
2
E
1
E
M
+
+
+
E
L
R
L
I
L
= I
M
+ I
1
+ I
2
I
2
I
1
I
M
I
L
R
L
Power supply
#1
Power supply
#2
+
+
Power supply
#3
+