Electronic loads ?

[Flump]

Does anyone know where to get cheap (hobby cheap) loads from ?
I want one for testing batteries and low amp 12v power supplies with
so up to a few amps is okay.

[TopLoser]

https://www.tindie.com/products/arachnidlabs/reload-the-simple-robust-affordable-dummy-load/

[dr.diesel]

Also from the same guys as above:

https://www.tindie.com/products/arachnidlabs/reload-pro/

Which I believe calculates amp/hour automagically.

[Yago]

Give KJDS a shout here (on EEVBlog), he often sells these:
http://uk.farnell.com/keysight-technologies/6632b-230-plg/power-supply-1ch-20v-5a-adjustable/dp/1777818

Will do 100watt as a power supply or as a load.
I got a couple from kjds, they are nice units and great for the price he sells them at about £140 each. They are used but built to last (a bit large, loud and warm!)

[con-f-use]

And another one on tindie, the MightWatt. Beefier (can handle more power) and better engineered than the one by arachnid lab but also more expensive. With that, you'd already be a third on your way to a Maynuo M9719 pricewise.

[dexters_lab]

Give KJDS a shout here (on EEVBlog), he often sells these:
http://uk.farnell.com/keysight-technologies/6632b-230-plg/power-supply-1ch-20v-5a-adjustable/dp/1777818

Will do 100watt as a power supply or as a load.
I got a couple from kjds, they are nice units and great for the price he sells them at about £140 each. They are used but built to last (a bit large, loud and warm!)

seconded 

[dinoboy]

Does anyone know where to get cheap (hobby cheap) loads from ?
I want one for testing batteries

how cheap?

[ElectricGuy]

Its in Portuguese, but...
http://maia-porto.olx.pt/agilent-n3301a-electronic-dc-load-600w-iid-464715323

[sleemanj]

Does anyone know where to get cheap (hobby cheap) loads from ?
I want one for testing batteries

I have no association with the below, have not purchased (yet), don't take this as a recommendation it's just something I've stumbled across in my internet travels and may buy myself.

This fella zke2006 on taobao produces the "EBD" or "EBC" series of loads designed mainly for that purpose, although the EBD-10 is more general.  The smaller ones tend to have just selectable current draws and quite low voltage/current limits for general purpose (but suited to cell testing), also has appropriate software, USB connection.
http://zke2006.taobao.com/?spm=2013.1.1000126.2.0s5Alq

They can be found on Aliexpress in more english:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/EBD-EBC/914980_253233836.html

Chinese blog which has links to the software etc:
http://zke2006.blog.163.com/

English version of software link on this page:
http://zke2006.blog.163.com/blog/static/199527095201111284512232/

I've been thinking about getting an EBD-10H (there is a 20H (20 Amp) as well, but the only difference appears to be higher current banana jacks from what I can tell), it claims to do constant power which is something I particularly want in a cheap load (no idea if constant power is done in analog or digital though), the re:load devices do not do CP at all (yet?).  The Aliexpress seller doesn't have any feedback for that one, but the Taobao listing's feedback seems positive.  I also found somebody write about using it (not in english, can't find the link now) and seemed to be doing what it said it should.

[Macbeth]

Give KJDS a shout here (on EEVBlog), he often sells these:
http://uk.farnell.com/keysight-technologies/6632b-230-plg/power-supply-1ch-20v-5a-adjustable/dp/1777818

Will do 100watt as a power supply or as a load.
I got a couple from kjds, they are nice units and great for the price he sells them at about £140 each. They are used but built to last (a bit large, loud and warm!)

seconded 

Thirded 

Check out Dave's vids on the earlier 6632A. The 6632B is nicer as it's VFD instead of LCD (subjective), and also has RS232 in addition to GPIB. All my other equipment is USB and so I have no need for GPIB, especially considering how expensive that ancient stuff is. Having RS232 means I can use a simple USB/RS232 lead so long as it's not FTDI and plug it into my USB hub.

The current sinking capability is brilliant. It's a 2 quadrant supply. It's built like a tank (and weighs as much too - around 12kg).

There are lots of them out there - I may just get another!. I've noticed a lot seem to be ex-Nokia factory.

Agilent/Keysight still sell them new for around £2200 inc VAT at Farnell UK!

ETA: A complaint of the earlier 6632A was the fan being constantly on high - the 6632B actually steps the fan, but also has a menu option to change fan speed from auto to manual - in the user guide it is suggested for "acoustic environments" but to obviously keep watch in that case.

[Flump]

how cheap?

Around £50
I will only use it now and then so no point spending more on one



Thank you all for the replies 

[arekm]

Noticed these EBD loads on chinese website...
http://www.banggood.com/EBD-USB-Electronic-Load-QC2_0-3_0-MTK-PE-Trigger-Voltage-Current-Capacity-Tester-p-1064036.html

So did anyone actually bought these and tested?

[Jeroen3]

Look interesting. I was considering building one. But I can't compete to 15 USD.

[sleemanj]

That's a very good price, you can hardly buy it for that even if you were in China.

Here's ZKE's lising on taobao for that product, there are a couple of variants.
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a312a.7700824.w4002-1829505349.44.057W2m&id=522918092453

Here's a translated PDF capture of the page if you have trouble viewing it at TB (geographic restrictions)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7NRgk3zdvv3ZkFUWHRrc0g0bWc/view?usp=sharing

With that said, it doesn't really appear to be so useful as a general purpose load, more tailored specifically to testing USB power supplies (chargers).