Technical Specifications
82100-0043 Issue 2A
AIM & THURLBY THANDAR INSTRUMENTS
TSX Series
High Power Laboratory DC Power Supplies
350/360 watts, standard and bus programmable
OUTPUT SPECIFICATIONS
Operating modes: Constant voltage or constant current with
automatic crossover.
Voltage range: 0V to 35V (TSX3510/TSX3510P).
0V to 18V (TSX1820/TSX1820P).
Current range: 0A to 10A (TSX3510/TSX3510P).
0A to 20A (TSX1820/TSX1820P).
Overvoltage protection: 10% to 110% of max. output voltage.
Setting resolution: 10mV, 10mA.
Load regulation: <0.01% of max. O/P for 90% change.
Line regulation: <0.01% of max. O/P for 10% change.
Output impedance: <1mWin constant voltage mode.
>5kWin constant current mode.
Ripple & noise: <1mV RMS typical in constant voltage.
<3mA RMS typical in constant current.
HF common mode noise: Typically <3mV RMS, <10mV pk.
Transient load response: <20us to within 50mV of set level for
90% load change.
Temperature coefficient: typically <100ppm/oC.
Overvoltage protection
delay: <200us.
Protection functions: Overvoltage trip
Regulator overtemperature
Sense miswiring.
Status indication: Output On lamp
Constant voltage mode lamp
Constant current mode lamp
Trip message on display.
Output terminals: 4mm output terminals at front, screw ter-
minals for output and sense at rear.
Output protection: Full forward and reverse protection via
OVP and diode clamp.
METER SPECIFICATIONS
Meter types: Separate 4 digit meters for voltage and
current with 12.5mm (0.5") LED displays.
Meter resolutions: 10mV, 10mA.
Meter accuracies: Voltage ±(0.2% + 1 digit)
Current ±(0.5% + 1 digit).
GENERAL
Input voltage range: 220V to 240 volts ± 10% or 110 to 120
volts ± 10%, 47 to 63Hz.
Installation Category II.
Power requirement: 600VA max.
Electrical safety: Complies with EN61010-1.
EMC: Complies with EN61326.
Temperature: +5oC to +40oC operating, 20% to 80%
RH, -40oC to +70oC storage.
Cooling: Silent fan-less convection cooling.
Size: 210 x 130 x 350mm (WxHxD)
(half rack width x 3U height).
Weight: 5.0kg (TSX versions).
5.5kg (TSX-P versions).
Options: Rack Mounting kit.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS (standard versions)
Voltage setting: Via single rotary controls for coarse and
fine control.
Current setting: Via single turn semi-logarithmic rotary
control.
Overvoltage setting: Via screwdriver adjustable preset poten-
tiometer.
Output On/Off: Latchinh push-push switch operating
electronic power control.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS (P versions)
Voltage setting: Direct keyboard entry or quasi-analogue
rotary control.
Current setting: Direct keyboard entry or quasi-analogue
rotary control.
Overvoltage setting: Direct keyboard entry.
Output On/Off: Push button control with indicator lamp
operating electronic power control.
Note: all voltage and current levels set via the keyboard are displayed
on a separate 0.3" 4 digit display. This entry preview system ensures
that the user can observe the value entered before it is effected thus
avoiding possible error. The display is also used for setting additional
functions and for displaying watts.
Additional keyboard functions:
Increase or decrease voltage or current in user-selectable steps
(delta mode). Store/recall voltage, current & OVP levels from
non-volatile memory (25 memories). Set digital interface type
(RS232 or GPIB), set baud rate, set address.
DIGITAL INTERFACES (P versions)
RS232:
Variable baud rate, 9600 baud maximum, 9 pin D connector
(male). Fully compatible with standard RS232 or TTi address-
able RS232 system (ARC).
IEEE-488 (GPIB): Conforming with IEEE488.1 & IEEE488.2.
Bus Functions: Set voltage; set current; set OVP; set output
On/Off; read output voltage/current.
Setting resolution: Voltage - 10mV; Current - 10mA.
Setting accuracy: Voltage - ±(0.1% + 10mV);
Current - ±(0.2% + 20mA).
Response times:
Interface - <15ms (single command);
PSU - Depends on Load conditions, typically 150ms to within
0.1% of final value (except for voltage reduction with low load
current which will be longer).
Readback resolution: Voltage - 10mV; Current - 10mA.
Readback accuracy: Voltage - ±(0.1% + 1 digit);
Current - ±(0.5% +1 digit).
Operating software:
Software for operating the PSUs under GPIB or RS232 control
is available including a Labwindows* driver and ARC-TALK
software for a PC.
Models Voltage/Current Power
TSX1820 TSX1820P 18 volts, 20 amps 360 watts
TSX3510 TSX3510P 35 volts, 10 amps 350 watts
Designed and built in Europe by:
Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd. operates a policy of continuous development and
reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice. * Labwindows is a trade-
mark of National Instruments Corporation.
Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd.
Glebe Road, Huntingdon. Cambs. PE29 7DX United Kingdom (UK)
Tel: +44 (0)1480 412451 Fax: +44 (0)1480 450409
Email: info@aimtti.com Web: www.aimtti.com
the TSX series of high output DC power supplies
power with precision & simplicity
The standard & P
versions
The TSX series represents the state of
the art in high output PSU design.
A wide range of voltage-current output
combinationswillbecomeavailablewith
power levels of 360 Watts and more.
Each output combination is available in
two versions: with conventional ana-
logue controls (TSX) and with program-
mable controls (TSX-P).
Linear post regulation for
unrivalled performance
The heart of all TSX series PSUs is an
innovative regulator design which com-
bines switch mode pre-regulation with
linear post-regulation.
The pre-regulator uses specially devel-
oped techniques to dramatically reduce
the capacitance between input and out-
put thus eliminating the high levels of
common-mode noise normally associ-
ated with switch mode PSUs.
Thelinearpost-regulatorcombinesvery
low levels of output noise with excellent
load regulation and transient response.
The result is performance comparable
with a pure linear design.
Compact and lightweight
The hybrid regulator design provides a
PSU which is both smaller and lighter
than competitive products.
The high thermal efficiency also means
that the PSUs are silent in operation
since fan cooling is unnecessary *.
Bench or rack mounting
The attractively styled casing takes up
verylittlebench space and incorporates
a tilt bail to angle the front panel when
required.
Thecaseis halfrack width(3Uheight),an
optional rack-mount kit is available.
Output terminals are fitted at both front
and rear.
*Note that in rack environments with
limited ventilation fan cooling may be-
come necessary.
Constant voltage or
constant current operation
AllTSXseriesPSUscanoperateinboth
constant voltage and constant current
modes with automatic crossover and
automatic mode indication.
35V-10A & 18V-20A variants
High power levels in a compact & lightweight casing
Bench or rack mounting, front & rear terminals
Very low noise, excellent transient response
CV & CI operation with automatic crossover
ComprehensiveprotectionincludingvariableOVPtrip
High setting resolution, remote sense terminals
High accuracy digital meters, current meter damping
Silent fan-free operation
High accuracy metering
All versions incorporate high resolution
digitalmetersforbothvoltageandcurrent.
V and I levels can be set to high accu-
racy prior to connection to the load and
the limit settings can be checked at any
time.
A damping switch for the current meter
enables the average value of rapidly
changing currents to be read.
Full overvoltage protection
All versions incorporate a fully variable
OVPtriptoprotectagainstregulatorfail-
ure.
The output is fully protected and other
protection functions include regulator
overtemperature,andsensemiswiring.
The standard versions
Thestandard TSX versionsofthe series
incorporate conventional analogue con-
trols for precision with simplicity.
Coarse and fine voltage controls offer
fastsettingwithhighsettingresolutionat
all levels while a semi-logarithmic cur-
rent control provides resolution com-
mensurate with the current level.
Fan-free operation means that these
PSUs add no noise to the bench-top en-
vironment.
These PSUs are ideally suited to gen-
eral purpose applications in many tech-
nology areas.
power with programmable versatility
The P versions
The TSX-P versions represent a major
step forward in PSU design.
They combine a wealth of “ease of use”
orientated keyboard functions with full
remote programmability.
The result is the most comprehensive
and versatile PSU control system avail-
able anywhere.
A third display for clarity &
safety
To provide additional data and to avoid
any possibility of ambiguity or error an
auxiliary display is incorporated.
All keyboard entries appear on this dis-
play for inspection before they are ac-
tioned by pressing the “confirm” key.
This failsafe system avoids such possi-
bilities as setting 25 Volts instead of 2.5
Volts as could occur on other less care-
fully designed systems.
The auxiliary display is also used to set
and display a variety of useful informa-
tion.
Keyboard or
quasi-analogue control
Voltage and current levels can be en-
tered directly from the keypad to a reso-
lution of 10mV or 10mA giving
unparalleled speed and precision.
Alternatively a rotary control can be
used to set voltage or current in a man-
ner simulating a conventional analogue
control.
Watts display for added
convenience
Whennot being usedfor other purposes
the auxiliary display shows the output
power in Watts (Volts x Amps).
Delta-mode control
Voltages and currents can be stepped
up and down by a fixed increment set
fromthekeyboard. Thisfacilityisinvalu-
able for repetitive testing where, for ex-
ample, the effect of 1% changes in
voltage need to be observed.
The delta increment is clearly shown on
the auxiliary display.
Non-volatile storage of
multiple settings
25 non-volatile memories are provided
for storing frequently used settings.
Each store holds a voltage, current and
OVP setting.
This facility is particularly useful in re-
petitive testing situations within produc-
tion, development or inspection areas.
Part of an extensive
PSU range
TTi is one of the world’s foremost pro-
ducers of laboratory power supplies.
If the TSX series
doesnotmeetyour
needs, then one of
our other PSU se-
ries probably will.
Therangeincludes
single, dual and tri-
ple output models
with power levels
from 15 watts up to
around 1kW.
Full bus control, GPIB & RS-232
The P versions incorporate both GPIB
(conformingto IEEE-488.1& .2)andad-
dressable RS-232 (ARC) interfaces as
standard.
The ARC system allows up to 32 instru-
ments to be “daisy-chained” together
and to be individually addressed and
controlledusinga single RS-232 port on
a computer.
Buscontrolledfunctionsincludesetvolt-
age, set current, set OVP, set output
on/off, read voltage, read current.
Keyboard setting of all parameters
Rotary and delta (step) control of V and I
Watts display, non-volatile storage of 25 settings
Fully programmable with bus readback of V and I
GPIB (.2) & addressable RS232 (ARC) interfaces
the TSX series of high output DC power supplies
power with precision & simplicity
The standard & P
versions
The TSX series represents the state of
the art in high output PSU design.
A wide range of voltage-current output
combinationswillbecomeavailablewith
power levels of 360 Watts and more.
Each output combination is available in
two versions: with conventional ana-
logue controls (TSX) and with program-
mable controls (TSX-P).
Linear post regulation for
unrivalled performance
The heart of all TSX series PSUs is an
innovative regulator design which com-
bines switch mode pre-regulation with
linear post-regulation.
The pre-regulator uses specially devel-
oped techniques to dramatically reduce
the capacitance between input and out-
put thus eliminating the high levels of
common-mode noise normally associ-
ated with switch mode PSUs.
Thelinearpost-regulatorcombinesvery
low levels of output noise with excellent
load regulation and transient response.
The result is performance comparable
with a pure linear design.
Compact and lightweight
The hybrid regulator design provides a
PSU which is both smaller and lighter
than competitive products.
The high thermal efficiency also means
that the PSUs are silent in operation
since fan cooling is unnecessary *.
Bench or rack mounting
The attractively styled casing takes up
verylittlebench space and incorporates
a tilt bail to angle the front panel when
required.
Thecaseis halfrack width(3Uheight),an
optional rack-mount kit is available.
Output terminals are fitted at both front
and rear.
*Note that in rack environments with
limited ventilation fan cooling may be-
come necessary.
Constant voltage or
constant current operation
AllTSXseriesPSUscanoperateinboth
constant voltage and constant current
modes with automatic crossover and
automatic mode indication.
35V-10A & 18V-20A variants
High power levels in a compact & lightweight casing
Bench or rack mounting, front & rear terminals
Very low noise, excellent transient response
CV & CI operation with automatic crossover
ComprehensiveprotectionincludingvariableOVPtrip
High setting resolution, remote sense terminals
High accuracy digital meters, current meter damping
Silent fan-free operation
High accuracy metering
All versions incorporate high resolution
digitalmetersforbothvoltageandcurrent.
V and I levels can be set to high accu-
racy prior to connection to the load and
the limit settings can be checked at any
time.
A damping switch for the current meter
enables the average value of rapidly
changing currents to be read.
Full overvoltage protection
All versions incorporate a fully variable
OVPtriptoprotectagainstregulatorfail-
ure.
The output is fully protected and other
protection functions include regulator
overtemperature,andsensemiswiring.
The standard versions
Thestandard TSX versionsofthe series
incorporate conventional analogue con-
trols for precision with simplicity.
Coarse and fine voltage controls offer
fastsettingwithhighsettingresolutionat
all levels while a semi-logarithmic cur-
rent control provides resolution com-
mensurate with the current level.
Fan-free operation means that these
PSUs add no noise to the bench-top en-
vironment.
These PSUs are ideally suited to gen-
eral purpose applications in many tech-
nology areas.
power with programmable versatility
The P versions
The TSX-P versions represent a major
step forward in PSU design.
They combine a wealth of “ease of use”
orientated keyboard functions with full
remote programmability.
The result is the most comprehensive
and versatile PSU control system avail-
able anywhere.
A third display for clarity &
safety
To provide additional data and to avoid
any possibility of ambiguity or error an
auxiliary display is incorporated.
All keyboard entries appear on this dis-
play for inspection before they are ac-
tioned by pressing the “confirm” key.
This failsafe system avoids such possi-
bilities as setting 25 Volts instead of 2.5
Volts as could occur on other less care-
fully designed systems.
The auxiliary display is also used to set
and display a variety of useful informa-
tion.
Keyboard or
quasi-analogue control
Voltage and current levels can be en-
tered directly from the keypad to a reso-
lution of 10mV or 10mA giving
unparalleled speed and precision.
Alternatively a rotary control can be
used to set voltage or current in a man-
ner simulating a conventional analogue
control.
Watts display for added
convenience
Whennot being usedfor other purposes
the auxiliary display shows the output
power in Watts (Volts x Amps).
Delta-mode control
Voltages and currents can be stepped
up and down by a fixed increment set
fromthekeyboard. Thisfacilityisinvalu-
able for repetitive testing where, for ex-
ample, the effect of 1% changes in
voltage need to be observed.
The delta increment is clearly shown on
the auxiliary display.
Non-volatile storage of
multiple settings
25 non-volatile memories are provided
for storing frequently used settings.
Each store holds a voltage, current and
OVP setting.
This facility is particularly useful in re-
petitive testing situations within produc-
tion, development or inspection areas.
Part of an extensive
PSU range
TTi is one of the world’s foremost pro-
ducers of laboratory power supplies.
If the TSX series
doesnotmeetyour
needs, then one of
our other PSU se-
ries probably will.
Therangeincludes
single, dual and tri-
ple output models
with power levels
from 15 watts up to
around 1kW.
Full bus control, GPIB & RS-232
The P versions incorporate both GPIB
(conformingto IEEE-488.1& .2)andad-
dressable RS-232 (ARC) interfaces as
standard.
The ARC system allows up to 32 instru-
ments to be “daisy-chained” together
and to be individually addressed and
controlledusinga single RS-232 port on
a computer.
Buscontrolledfunctionsincludesetvolt-
age, set current, set OVP, set output
on/off, read voltage, read current.
Keyboard setting of all parameters
Rotary and delta (step) control of V and I
Watts display, non-volatile storage of 25 settings
Fully programmable with bus readback of V and I
GPIB (.2) & addressable RS232 (ARC) interfaces
Technical Specifications
82100-0043 Issue 2A
AIM & THURLBY THANDAR INSTRUMENTS
TSX Series
High Power Laboratory DC Power Supplies
350/360 watts, standard and bus programmable
OUTPUT SPECIFICATIONS
Operating modes: Constant voltage or constant current with
automatic crossover.
Voltage range: 0V to 35V (TSX3510/TSX3510P).
0V to 18V (TSX1820/TSX1820P).
Current range: 0A to 10A (TSX3510/TSX3510P).
0A to 20A (TSX1820/TSX1820P).
Overvoltage protection: 10% to 110% of max. output voltage.
Setting resolution: 10mV, 10mA.
Load regulation: <0.01% of max. O/P for 90% change.
Line regulation: <0.01% of max. O/P for 10% change.
Output impedance: <1mWin constant voltage mode.
>5kWin constant current mode.
Ripple & noise: <1mV RMS typical in constant voltage.
<3mA RMS typical in constant current.
HF common mode noise: Typically <3mV RMS, <10mV pk.
Transient load response: <20us to within 50mV of set level for
90% load change.
Temperature coefficient: typically <100ppm/oC.
Overvoltage protection
delay: <200us.
Protection functions: Overvoltage trip
Regulator overtemperature
Sense miswiring.
Status indication: Output On lamp
Constant voltage mode lamp
Constant current mode lamp
Trip message on display.
Output terminals: 4mm output terminals at front, screw ter-
minals for output and sense at rear.
Output protection: Full forward and reverse protection via
OVP and diode clamp.
METER SPECIFICATIONS
Meter types: Separate 4 digit meters for voltage and
current with 12.5mm (0.5") LED displays.
Meter resolutions: 10mV, 10mA.
Meter accuracies: Voltage ±(0.2% + 1 digit)
Current ±(0.5% + 1 digit).
GENERAL
Input voltage range: 220V to 240 volts ± 10% or 110 to 120
volts ± 10%, 47 to 63Hz.
Installation Category II.
Power requirement: 600VA max.
Electrical safety: Complies with EN61010-1.
EMC: Complies with EN61326.
Temperature: +5oC to +40oC operating, 20% to 80%
RH, -40oC to +70oC storage.
Cooling: Silent fan-less convection cooling.
Size: 210 x 130 x 350mm (WxHxD)
(half rack width x 3U height).
Weight: 5.0kg (TSX versions).
5.5kg (TSX-P versions).
Options: Rack Mounting kit.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS (standard versions)
Voltage setting: Via single rotary controls for coarse and
fine control.
Current setting: Via single turn semi-logarithmic rotary
control.
Overvoltage setting: Via screwdriver adjustable preset poten-
tiometer.
Output On/Off: Latchinh push-push switch operating
electronic power control.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS (P versions)
Voltage setting: Direct keyboard entry or quasi-analogue
rotary control.
Current setting: Direct keyboard entry or quasi-analogue
rotary control.
Overvoltage setting: Direct keyboard entry.
Output On/Off: Push button control with indicator lamp
operating electronic power control.
Note: all voltage and current levels set via the keyboard are displayed
on a separate 0.3" 4 digit display. This entry preview system ensures
that the user can observe the value entered before it is effected thus
avoiding possible error. The display is also used for setting additional
functions and for displaying watts.
Additional keyboard functions:
Increase or decrease voltage or current in user-selectable steps
(delta mode). Store/recall voltage, current & OVP levels from
non-volatile memory (25 memories). Set digital interface type
(RS232 or GPIB), set baud rate, set address.
DIGITAL INTERFACES (P versions)
RS232:
Variable baud rate, 9600 baud maximum, 9 pin D connector
(male). Fully compatible with standard RS232 or TTi address-
able RS232 system (ARC).
IEEE-488 (GPIB): Conforming with IEEE488.1 & IEEE488.2.
Bus Functions: Set voltage; set current; set OVP; set output
On/Off; read output voltage/current.
Setting resolution: Voltage - 10mV; Current - 10mA.
Setting accuracy: Voltage - ±(0.1% + 10mV);
Current - ±(0.2% + 20mA).
Response times:
Interface - <15ms (single command);
PSU - Depends on Load conditions, typically 150ms to within
0.1% of final value (except for voltage reduction with low load
current which will be longer).
Readback resolution: Voltage - 10mV; Current - 10mA.
Readback accuracy: Voltage - ±(0.1% + 1 digit);
Current - ±(0.5% +1 digit).
Operating software:
Software for operating the PSUs under GPIB or RS232 control
is available including a Labwindows* driver and ARC-TALK
software for a PC.
Models Voltage/Current Power
TSX1820 TSX1820P 18 volts, 20 amps 360 watts
TSX3510 TSX3510P 35 volts, 10 amps 350 watts
Designed and built in Europe by:
Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd. operates a policy of continuous development and
reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice. * Labwindows is a trade-
mark of National Instruments Corporation.
Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd.
Glebe Road, Huntingdon. Cambs. PE29 7DX United Kingdom (UK)
Tel: +44 (0)1480 412451 Fax: +44 (0)1480 450409
Email: info@aimtti.com Web: www.aimtti.com
Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd.
Glebe Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 7DR England (United Kingdom)
Tel: +44 (0)1480 412451 Fax: +44 (0)1480 450409
Email: info@aimtti.com Web: www.aimtti.com
Designed and built in Europe by:
Company name and product brands
Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd. (TTi) is one of Europe’s leading
manufacturers of test and measurement instruments.
Products have been sold under two brand names:
TTi and Aim.
In the future, however, the full product range will be branded Aim-TTi.
This changeover will be gradual and many products will continue to carry
the TTi or Aim brands for some time to come.
Web Addresses (URLs)
The preferred URL for obtaining information concerning Aim-TTi products
is:
www.aimtti.com (international customers)
Customers in the UK should use the URL:
www.aimtti.co.uk
Customers in the USA should use the URL:
www.aimtti.us
Note that previous URLs such as www.tti-test.com will continue to operate
for the time being.
Product Summary
Laboratory Power Supplies
Bench and system power supplies from 30 watts up to
1200 watts using linear, mixed-mode and PowerFlex
regulation technologies.
Waveform Generators
Analog and digital (DDS) function generators, true
arbitrary generators, arbitrary/function generators and
pulse generators.
Precision Measurement Instruments
Benchtop DMMs, frequency counters, component
measurement instruments (LCR), electronic dc loads,
current probes.
RF and EMC Test Equipment
Spectrum analyzers, signal generators, frequency counters,
power meters, emc measurement instruments.