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GW Instek ASR-6000 series AC/DC power source in a test laboratory
GW Instek Technical Guides

GW Instek ASR-6000 Series: SiC AC/DC Power Source for Production and R&D

GSAS Engineering · · 5 min read

SiC Power Architecture

The ASR-6000 series (ASR-6450, ASR-6500, ASR-6600, ASR-6660) uses silicon carbide (SiC) power transistors in the output stage instead of conventional silicon IGBTs. SiC devices switch faster and have lower conduction losses at equivalent voltage and current ratings, which translates to two practical advantages:

  1. Higher power density: 6 kVA from a 4U rack-mount chassis. A comparable silicon-based AC source would typically require 6U or more for the same power rating.
  2. Lower heat dissipation: less energy wasted as heat means smaller heatsinks, quieter fans, and reduced cooling load on the test facility’s HVAC system.

For labs in India where rack space and cooling capacity are often constrained, the 4U/6kVA form factor is a meaningful engineering advantage.

10 Output Modes

The ASR-6000 is not a single-function instrument. It supports 10 distinct output modes that cover the range of AC and DC sourcing applications:

  • AC mode: programmable AC voltage source with adjustable frequency (typically 40-500 Hz range depending on model)
  • DC mode: stable DC output for testing DC-powered equipment
  • AC+DC mode: superimposed AC and DC output for testing equipment that operates on rectified AC with ripple
  • AC sweep: frequency sweep for resonance testing and frequency response characterization
  • Voltage dip/swell: simulates grid voltage sag and surge events per IEC 61000-4-11 and related standards
  • Harmonics: generates specific harmonic content for testing harmonic immunity and measuring harmonic rejection
  • Interharmonics: generates inter-harmonic frequencies for IEC 61000-4-13 testing
  • Three-phase balanced: three outputs locked at 120-degree phase separation
  • Three-phase unbalanced: programmable phase and amplitude imbalance for testing three-phase equipment under fault conditions
  • Arbitrary waveform: user-defined output waveforms for custom test scenarios

This versatility means a single ASR-6000 can replace multiple dedicated instruments, a line voltage simulator, a frequency converter, a harmonic generator, and a surge/sag simulator, consolidating the test bench.

Single-Phase and Three-Phase Operation

Each ASR-6000 unit provides single-phase output at up to 6 kVA. For three-phase applications, three units are configured in a master-slave arrangement with automatic 120-degree phase locking.

The ASR-6660 variant is specifically configured for three-phase operation, providing coordinated three-phase output from a single control interface while maintaining independent phase control for unbalanced testing.

Parallel Scaling to 39.6 kVA

Multiple ASR-6000 units can be rack-paralleled for higher power applications. The maximum configuration, achieved by paralleling multiple units, reaches 39.6 kVA, sufficient for testing industrial three-phase equipment, large inverters, and high-power motor drives.

The parallel architecture uses a master-slave topology where one unit coordinates voltage regulation and current sharing across all parallel units, presenting a single logical source to the test automation system.

Applications in India

Appliance and Consumer Electronics Testing

Indian manufacturers testing products for domestic (BIS) and export (CE, UL) certification need to verify operation across voltage and frequency ranges, 230V/50Hz for India, 120V/60Hz for North America, 240V/50Hz for Europe. The ASR-6000’s programmable AC output covers all these standards from a single instrument.

EV Charger and EVSE Testing

On-board chargers and EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) must operate correctly under grid voltage variations, frequency deviations, and harmonic distortion. The ASR-6000’s voltage dip, harmonics, and frequency sweep modes enable comprehensive grid simulation for EV charging equipment validation.

Renewable Energy Inverter Testing

Solar and wind inverters must ride through grid disturbances specified by Indian grid codes (CEA Technical Standards) and international standards (IEC 62116, IEEE 1547). The ASR-6000 can simulate these disturbances, voltage sags, frequency excursions, phase jumps, while the inverter’s response is monitored.

Production Test

For manufacturers in Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR running production test lines, the ASR-6000’s compact 4U form factor and SCPI automation interface enable integration into automated test systems without consuming excessive rack space.

Availability Through GSAS

GSAS Micro Systems provides the ASR-6000 series in India as an authorized GW Instek partner for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with application engineering, demo units, three-phase configuration support, and parallel rack integration from offices across India.

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