Key Features at a Glance

• Compact 2U half-rack form factor
• CC / CV / CR / CW operating modes
• Transient mode up to 20 kHz in CC mode
• Front-panel remote sense
• OVP / OCP / OPP protection
• Adjustable voltage and current slew rate
• Direct USB-flash data logging of V, I, and P
• RS232 and handler interface standard; battery test software included

In summary: The B&K Precision 8550 Series consists of two compact 2U half-rack programmable DC electronic loads — the 175 W 8550 and the 350 W 8551 — delivering CC, CV, CR, and CW operation, transient operation up to 20 kHz, and a built-in battery discharge test mode. The 8550 Series brings performance-tier features to a value price point.

What is the 8550 used for?

The 8550 Series is used for general-purpose evaluation of DC power supplies, DC-DC converters, batteries, battery chargers, and photovoltaic arrays. Built-in functions include sweep test, load regulation, and protection limit test, making the series well-suited to power-supply characterization on the design bench and in incoming inspection.

Who chooses this instrument?

Engineers select 8550 when they need real list-mode programming, slew-rate control, OVP/OCP/OPP protection, and front-panel remote sense in a small form factor — without paying for the higher performance tiers. The handler interface available on these loads also supports light production test integration.

8550 Series loads deliver ±(0.05% + 0.05% F.S.) CC-mode accuracy, 0.1 mA / 1 mA CC resolution, transient mode up to 20 kHz, adjustable voltage and current slew rate, and direct USB-flash data logging of voltage, current, and power. RS232 and handler interfaces are standard.

The 8550 Series is positioned as a cost-effective alternative to the performance tier — appropriate for educational labs, smaller R&D groups, and incoming-inspection stations where a 150 V × 30 A or 60 A capability covers the bulk of bench DUTs.

Accessories Supplied

• Power cord (regional)
• Quick-start guide / user manual
• NI-certified LabVIEW driver (download)
• PC operating software (download)
• Battery test software (download)

Product Core & Specifications

The 8550 is the 175 W member of the 8550 Series in a compact 2U half-rack chassis. The instrument operates in CC, CV, CR, and CW mode with ±±(0.05 + 0.05% FS) CC-mode accuracy, 0.1 mA low / 1 mA high CC resolution, and 1.5 V minimum operating voltage at full scale. Built-in capabilities include sweep test, load regulation test, and protection limit test — all of which are commonly used in power-supply incoming inspection. Direct data logging to USB flash is supported.

Specifications

Calibration Options

Select one calibration option for this unit:

• No Calibration Required (factory new)
• NIST Traceable
• NIST Traceable with Full Data
• ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited

This webpage was written by a human with an A.I. 'Intern', which may contain errors. Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.