Bench supply remote sense

[ratio]

Why would one need a remote sense on a benchtop power supply?

[langwadt]

Remote sense compensate for the current dependent voltage drop on the wires.
With thick wires, low currents and no need for super accuracy you don't need it

I'm sure I remember Dave had a video that nicely illustrated it but I can't find it

[ratio]

Remote sense compensate for the current dependent voltage drop on the wires.
With thick wires, low currents and no need for super accuracy you don't need it

The only use I could come up with on my own was to compensate for undersized leads. I'd imagine there must be some other uses, but I just don't know what they might be.

[sleemanj]

The only use I could come up with on my own was to compensate for undersized leads. I'd imagine there must be some other uses, but I just don't know what they might be.

When you want to deliver a constant voltage to the device under test (DUT) under various load conditions.

Very common example is testing dc-dc converter efficiency, you want to test their characteristic at different current draws, but in order to have useful data you need to ensure that the input voltage is the same for each series of tests (ie you want to test input yV, output zV at various different currents so you can see how the efficiency or other characteristics vary with current).  If you don't have a remote sense power supply, you have to measure and tweak the voltage each time.

[BravoV]

Very common example is testing dc-dc converter efficiency "accurately" , you want to test their characteristic at different current draws, but in order to have useful data you need to ensure that the input voltage is the same for each series of tests (ie you want to test input yV, output zV at various different currents so you can see how the efficiency or other characteristics vary with current). 

If you don't have a remote sense power supply, you have to measure and tweak "and guess" the "different" voltages each time , "at different load level".

Added for completeness sake.  (highlighted in red)

[dimkasta]

for quick testing and prototyping, It can also eliminate or at least moderate the effects of incomplete or non-finalized local decoupling.

[Avacee]

I'm sure I remember Dave had a video that nicely illustrated it but I can't find it

OP: This video demonstrates how with the voltage drop from the Power Supply to the Device Under Test the actual voltage at the DUT is not what you think it is.
It also shows how using the remote sense terminals shows the actual voltage at the DUT.

If you see the same YouTube image as I do below you can see one Multimeter reads 4.691V yet the Power Supply reads 5.000V.
There's a drop of 0.309V across the wires. The Remote Sense would let the PSU set itself to have 5V at the DUT.
Dave later has to set more than 5V on his PSU to get 5V at the DUT.