AC Current - Also known as alternating current. Used to describe the flow of current. A graphical representation would be a sine wave in which the current moves from a positive to a negative cycle from 0º to 360º.

AC Power Source - An instrument that takes one AC voltage and frequency level and converts it into another AC voltage and frequency level.

AC Power Supply - An instrument that generates AC voltage, current, frequency, and power to operate a device.

Amp - The unit of measure for current.

Amplifier - The device used to convert voltage, current, frequency, and power from one level to another.

Apparent Power - The power in a purely resistive load that is found by multiplying voltage by current. V x A = P

Burn-in Testing - A term that is used to describe the process for qualifying the reliability of a product prior to release to the marketplace.

Crest Factor - A term used to describe how a power source will react to a reactive load. It is determined by Apeak/Arms.

DC Current - Also known as direct current. Used to describe the flow of current. A graphical representation would be a straight continuous line in which current moves in one direction in either a positive or negative output.

Ethernet - A communication interface used to automatically control the instrument from a network PC.

Frequency - The number of times a waveform completes a cycle in a period of time.

Gain - The term used to explain the number of times you increase/decrease the voltage, current, frequency, and power. Any increase in the signal strength of an electrical signal that takes place in an amplifier, or the degree to which a signal's amplitude is increased.

GPIB - General Purpose Interface Bus is a universal communication interface bus used to automatically control a device.

Inrush Current - A term used to describe the current needed to power a load upon start-up. Some loads require a large/inrush starting current in order to operate.

Linear Power Supply - A power supply that uses linear technology (transformer) in order to generate the AC voltage, current, frequency, and power.

OC Foldback - Over current foldback is a technology used in power sources that reduces the output current linearly to the voltage in order to power loads that may have a high inrush current.

OCP - Over Current Protection is a protection circuit used to protect the power source from an over current condition that may occur from the load.

OTP - Over Temperature Protection is a protection circuit used to protect the power source from an over temperature condition that may occur from the load.

OVP - Over Voltage Protection is a protection circuit used to protect the power source from an over voltage condition that may occur from the load.

PLC - Programmable Logic Control is an automation method using relay or digital technology.

Power - The rate of energy measured in watts. Electric energy developed to do work.

Power Conversion - The conversion of power from one unit of measure to another unit of measure. For example, converting from one AC unit to another AC unit, or from an AC unit to a DC unit, or from a DC unit to a DC unit.

Power factor - The relationship of apparent power to real/true power (watts). Based on a scale from 0 to 1 to determine how reactive and resistive a load is.

Real Power/True Power - The power in a load that is not purely resistive and comprises resistive and inductive properties. The difference between the inductive and resistive properties is real power/true power. Pa² = Pt² + Pr².

Response Time - The time that is needed to regulate the voltage, current, frequency, and power output when a load is added to the power source.

RS-232 - A serial communication interface used to automatically control a device.

Safety Agency Listing - A safety mark given to a product that has met stringent benchmarks as classified by the authorized agency.

Start / End Angle - Associated Power Technologies feature that provides the flexibility to monitor current conditions under different starting / ending angles of the sine wave.

Start Angle - The actual degree angle from 0º - 360º in which the AC waveform output will begin.

Steady State Current - A term used to describe the current when the load is running nominally after the inrush current.

Surge / Drop - Associated Power Technologies feature that allows the instrument to simulate loading, brown outs or voltage dips.

Switching Power Supply - A power supply that uses switching technology (integrated circuits and components) in order to generate the AC voltage, current, frequency, and power.

Synch Output - Associated Power Technologies feature that allows the instrument to trigger a PLC device that requires a 5 Volt signal.

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) - A percentage that is used to identify the degree of the noise/unclean signal of the output waveform that is generated by the power source.

Voltage - The amount of force that is needed to move current from point to point.

Watts - The unit of measure for power.