A significant element of product development during the design process is product testing—especially when the new product design is for an international market. Using an AC power source is one way to test that product at various voltages and frequencies.

Testing During Product Development

During product development and prior to shipment, it is crucial to know if a product will function properly in the country it is intended to be used in. This makes product testing essential, especially in the lab. When designing a new product, there may be many prototypes built and testing throughout the process can be critical in ensuring the ultimate success of the final product. “An AC power source can be used for technical work and allow precision control of the voltage, current, and frequency,” explained Ron Barnett, Product Development Manager at Interpower.

By testing during the design phase, it can help to ensure the product will perform correctly and may help to prevent potentially expensive modifications after the end product is in production. “When a product is being designed to be used in an international market, testing allows you to confirm the product meets the correct standards and specifications which will further reduce the product liability exposure,” he said.

“Customers today expect to be able to use a product immediately without having to reconfigure anything,” Ron said. “Since there are numerous plug patterns used around the world, it is important to verify that equipment and consumer electrical products will run safely and reliably on specific voltages and frequencies—before exporting.”

A product will not run at its full potential if it is running on an incorrect voltage or frequency. “Testing with an AC power source allows for simulation of field conditions. Fluctuations in the frequency and voltage can be simulated, with voltage tolerances of ±10% and frequency tolerances of ±3Hz,” Ron explained.

AC Power Source for Product Design and Testing

Interpower offers an AC power source that can provide testing in the lab and can assist companies wanting to export—the International Power Source (IPS). “The IPS provides a clean, convenient source of AC power for product design and product testing at various voltages and frequencies found around the world,” explained Dan Beeler, IPS Technician at Interpower. “The IPS has seven of the most common country-specific sockets. This allows equipment being tested to use the proper plug.”

“If a company has a development work area or lab where prototypes are built, the IPS can be beneficial as it could be used in situations where various power sources might be needed,” Ron added.

Additional Resources

Interpower offers several IPS models, which can be purchased or rented. There is also an interface software package which extends the capabilities of the IPS by letting the user create programmable routines.

For more information, see the Interpower International Power Source and the IPS Featured Product page.

Interpower offers free technical support. For further assistance, please see Interpower’s contact information below.