Case Study #13
Description
Maxitrol Company, a global manufacturer of gas control devices, gas pressure regulators, combination gas control valves, and electronic gas modulation systems used in the HVAC, cooking, and industrial heating sectors, approached us to replace several of their large and heavy Powertron test equipment, including models 1500S-CR-B534 and 3000S-CR/MAXI-B534.
The device under test are automatic gas valves, rated at 3.3 VAC at 3.6 A.
Challenge: Many safety-certified automatic gas valves are designed to open reliably only when the coil current reaches a specified value (typically up to 3.6 A). Because of this safety requirement, gas valve manufacturers require constant current source test equipment capable of delivering stable current to verify compliance with the 3.6 A operating specification.
Maxitrol’s existing test equipment was outdated and could only power:
Solution: Our standard AC constant current sources are available with an output power ranging from 50 W to 1200 W. We also offer custom output ranges to better meet our customers’ testing requirements.
We provided Maxitrol with two replacement solutions.
Solution 1: Model AL-300-CC-L/S Low Current AC Constant Current Source
Our 300-watt unit, with a custom output current of 0–5 A rms. at 60 V rms. compliance voltage, can power at least 16 gas valves (rated for 3.3 VAC, 3.6 A) simultaneously.
Solution 2: Model AL-1200-CC-L/S Low Current AC Constant Current Source
Our 1200-watt unit, with a custom output current of 0–5 A rms. at 240 V rms. compliance voltage, can power at least 65 valves (rated for 3.3 VAC, 3.6 A) simultaneously.
Conclusion: Both solutions provided significant advantages over their existing equipment:
The device under test are automatic gas valves, rated at 3.3 VAC at 3.6 A.
Challenge: Many safety-certified automatic gas valves are designed to open reliably only when the coil current reaches a specified value (typically up to 3.6 A). Because of this safety requirement, gas valve manufacturers require constant current source test equipment capable of delivering stable current to verify compliance with the 3.6 A operating specification.
Maxitrol’s existing test equipment was outdated and could only power:
- Up to 10 valves simultaneously using the 1500S-CR-B534
- Up to 55 valves simultaneously using the 3000S-CR/MAXI-B534
- 1500 W and 3000 W units weighing approximately 225–250 lbs
- Limited output current and voltage range
- Capacity to test only 10 or 55 gas valves simultaneously
- Large footprint that consumed valuable lab and rack space
Solution: Our standard AC constant current sources are available with an output power ranging from 50 W to 1200 W. We also offer custom output ranges to better meet our customers’ testing requirements.
We provided Maxitrol with two replacement solutions.
Solution 1: Model AL-300-CC-L/S Low Current AC Constant Current Source
Our 300-watt unit, with a custom output current of 0–5 A rms. at 60 V rms. compliance voltage, can power at least 16 gas valves (rated for 3.3 VAC, 3.6 A) simultaneously.
Solution 2: Model AL-1200-CC-L/S Low Current AC Constant Current Source
Our 1200-watt unit, with a custom output current of 0–5 A rms. at 240 V rms. compliance voltage, can power at least 65 valves (rated for 3.3 VAC, 3.6 A) simultaneously.
Conclusion: Both solutions provided significant advantages over their existing equipment:
- Our 300 W unit weighs approximately 75 lbs
- Our 1200 W unit weighs approximately 135 lbs
- Customizable output current and voltage ranges
- Ability to test up to 16 or 65 gas valves simultaneously
- Compact design that saves valuable rack space
Contact us: Amp-Line Corp designs and manufactures AC power sources, and linear power amplifiers. For more information, email us at
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or call us (845) 623-3288.
