Software for Power Supplies and Test Systems

Software for programmable power supplies and test systems enables precise control, monitoring, automation, and simulation of electrical test processes. It allows voltage, current, power, sequences, and application-specific models to be configured centrally, supporting reproducible testing in development, laboratory, production, and automated test equipment (ATE).

The ET System software portfolio includes LAB ETS Control for controlling and monitoring compatible ET System DC power supplies, NS81000 battery simulation software for reproducing battery voltage, state of charge (SOC), and internal resistance, and NS91000 PV-array simulation software for generating photovoltaic current-voltage characteristics under defined operating conditions.

Typical applications include automated voltage and current sequences, long-term monitoring, battery and energy-storage testing, photovoltaic inverter validation, parameter variation, and reproducible device-under-test (DUT) profiles. The appropriate software is selected according to the connected hardware, required simulation model, test sequence, communication interface, data acquisition, reporting requirements, and integration into the complete test system.

How to Select Software for Power Supplies and Test Systems

Selecting suitable control or simulation software starts with the connected hardware and the test task. Determine whether the software is required for general device control, battery simulation, photovoltaic simulation, automated sequences, monitoring, or integration into a complete test system.

• General power-supply control: Choose LAB ETS Control when compatible ET System DC power supplies must be configured, monitored, and operated from a PC. Typical tasks include setting voltage and current, monitoring measured values, and running automated test sequences.
• Battery simulation: Choose NS81000 battery simulation software when a compatible bidirectional DC power supply must reproduce battery voltage, state of charge, internal resistance, and charging or discharging behaviour.
• PV-array simulation: Choose NS91000 PV simulation software when current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic modules or arrays must be reproduced. Check the required parameters, irradiation and temperature profiles, and applicable test procedures.
• Hardware compatibility: Verify that the software supports the exact device series, firmware version, voltage and power configuration, operating mode, and number of connected units. Compatibility should also be checked for parallel or master-slave systems.
• Simulation models: Determine which physical or mathematical models are required. Battery testing may require SOC, open-circuit voltage, internal resistance, and charge/discharge curves. PV testing may require configurable I-V curves, irradiation, temperature, and maximum-power-point parameters.
• Sequences and automation: Check whether voltage, current, power, time, ramp, loop, pause, trigger, and conditional sequence functions are available. The required sequence length and timing resolution should match the application.
• Monitoring and data acquisition: Define which measured values must be displayed, recorded, and exported. Relevant values may include voltage, current, power, resistance, energy, SOC, temperature, and application-specific parameters.
• Interfaces and communication: Verify the supported communication interface, network configuration, addressing, command protocol, and connection stability. Also check whether several devices can be controlled and synchronized simultaneously.
• Data export and reporting: Determine whether test data must be exported for analysis, quality assurance, customer documentation, or traceability. Check the available file formats, reporting functions, timestamps, and metadata.
• User management and reproducibility: For production environments, check whether test configurations, parameter sets, recipes, and user permissions can be stored and protected against unintended changes.
• System requirements and maintenance: Verify the supported operating system, computer requirements, software licence, update process, language versions, backup options, and compatibility with future firmware updates.
• Integration into automated test systems: If the software must exchange data with a PLC, HIL system, database, test executive, or higher-level control software, check the available API, drivers, communication protocols, trigger functions, and synchronization options.
• Safety and manual control: Check how output enable, protection limits, emergency shutdown, communication loss, and manual intervention are handled. Safety-relevant limits should remain active independently of the software whenever possible.

The software can be combined with programmable DC power supplies, bidirectional DC systems, electronic loads, and measurement equipment. For application-specific automation, ET System develops complete solutions through test system integration. For support with selecting suitable software and hardware, contact our technical sales team.