Tektronix makes move into power
Tektronix has launched the PA4000, its first dedicated power analyser.
Dave Mehta, the company's technical marketing manager, said: "Many customers use our tools, scopes and probes for power analysis in the R&D environment, but need to do precompliance testing and take other measurements. They were looking for a power analyser solution from us and, rather than reinventing the wheel, we bought the IP from Voltech."
The PA4000 debuts the 'Spiral Shunt' design, which provides a way to take stable, precise current measurements on highly distorted power waveforms. There are two Spiral Shunts on each channel – one for measurements up to 1A, the other for up to 30A.
This shunt design is then combined with dsp algorithms, allowing the PA4000 to track power cycles accurately, even in the presence of transients and noise.
