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When conducting electronic experiments, debugging equipment, or engaging in industrial production, the "storage function" of a DC stabilized power supply can save you a lot of trouble. It allows you to store frequently used parameters such as voltage, current, and protection values, so you can directly call them up next time without repeated settings. This article will first explain the basic concept of the storage function, then guide you through its usage step by step, and finally list some precautions to help you get started easily.

1. Understand: What is the Storage Function?

The storage function of a DC stabilized power supply is like a "parameter warehouse" that can store the following key information: voltage (V), current (A), power output switch status, Over-Voltage Protection (OVP) value, and Over-Current Protection (OCP) value.

It has two storage modes:

• Temporary Storage: Parameters are stored in the device's temporary memory and will be lost once the power is turned off. It is suitable for parameters used repeatedly in a short period.

• Permanent Storage: Parameters are stored in the device's fixed memory and will not be lost even when the power is turned off. It is suitable for frequently used parameters over the long term, such as fixed power supply parameters for a specific device.

Different power supplies can store different numbers of parameter groups: entry-level models can usually store 3-5 groups, while industrial-grade ones can store more than 100 groups, which is sufficient for multiple scenarios.

2. Learn Step by Step: How to Use the Storage Function?

The core of using the storage function consists of three steps: "set parameters → store parameters → call parameters". The following takes a common button-type power supply (such as GW Instek, Itech) as an example to explain the specific operations, and finally supplements the usage differences of touchscreen power supplies.

(1) Prepare Before Use

1. Preheat the Power Supply: Plug in the power and wait for 5-10 minutes. The temperature of the power supply will change when it is just turned on, which may affect the parameter accuracy. After preheating, the parameters will be more accurate.
2. Clarify the Parameters to Be Set: Figure out the output voltage (e.g., 12V, which should not exceed the maximum voltage of the power supply, such as 30V), output current (e.g., 2A, which should not exceed the maximum current of the power supply, such as 5A), and protection values (it is recommended to set them to 1.1-1.2 times the target value; for example, if the voltage is 12V, set the protection value to 13.2V to prevent equipment damage).       

(2) Set the Parameters and Confirm Their Accuracy

1.Set the Voltage:

• Press the "VOLTAGE" button on the panel; the voltage display screen will flash, indicating that you can modify the voltage.

• Use the knob or numeric keys to enter the desired voltage (e.g., 12V), then press the "VOLTAGE" button again to confirm. When the screen stops flashing, the voltage is set.

2.Set the Current:

• Press the "CURRENT" button; the current display screen will flash.

• Enter the desired current (e.g., 2A), then press the "CURRENT" button again to confirm.

• If the power supply can switch between "Constant Voltage (CV)/Constant Current (CC)" modes: Use the CV mode for loads such as resistors and LED lights, and the CC mode for loads such as motors and inductors; otherwise, the load may be burned.

3.Set the Protection Values:

• Press the "OCP/OVP" button to enter the protection parameter setting interface.

• Set the OVP (Over-Voltage Protection) and OCP (Over-Current Protection) values respectively (e.g., if the voltage is 12V, set OVP to 13.2V; if the current is 2A, set OCP to 2.2A).

• Remember to turn on the protection function (it is enabled by default on most power supplies; do not turn it off if possible) to prevent equipment damage caused by excessive current/voltage.

4.Confirm the Accuracy of Parameters:

• Connect the device to be powered (load) to the power supply output terminal, and press the "OUTPUT" button to turn on the power.

• Check the voltage and current displayed on the screen. If there is slight fluctuation, wait for 1-2 minutes until it stabilizes. Confirm that the displayed values match your settings before proceeding to the next step.

(3) Store the Parameters

1.Select a Storage Location:

• Press the "STORAGE" button; the screen will display the available storage numbers (e.g., "M1").

• Use the up/down buttons or knob to select the desired storage number (e.g., "M1").

2.Confirm Storage:

• After selecting the storage number, the power supply will beep (or the light may flash), indicating that the parameters have been stored successfully.

• If the screen displays "ERROR", it means the parameters exceed the maximum range of the power supply (e.g., the voltage is set to 35V while the maximum voltage of the power supply is only 30V). Adjust the parameters to a smaller value and store again.

3. Lock the Parameters (Optional, for Industrial-Grade Power Supplies):

• If you are worried that others may accidentally modify the parameters, press the "LOCK" button and enter the password (some power supplies use a dip switch for hardware locking).

• After locking, only those with the correct password can modify the parameters, which is suitable for production lines and other scenarios with multiple users to ensure parameter consistency.

(4) Call Up the Parameters When Needed

You can call up the stored parameters in 10-15 seconds next time you need them:

1.Select the Parameters to Be Called Up:

• Press the corresponding button, and the screen will list the numbers of the stored parameter groups.

• Select the number; the screen will display the voltage and current corresponding to this number, allowing you to confirm that you have selected the correct one.

2.Turn on the Power for Use:

• After confirming that the values are correct, press the "OUTPUT" button to turn on the power, and you can use it directly.

(5) How to Use a Touchscreen Power Supply?

For touchscreen power supplies (such as Keysight, Rigol), the operation logic is the same as that of button-type power supplies, but it is more convenient:

• Set Parameters: Directly tap the voltage/current number box on the screen and enter the value using the virtual keyboard; no need to switch physical buttons.

• Store Parameters: In the "Storage Management" interface, you can classify parameters into folders, rename them, and delete unused parameters in batches.

• Call Parameters: The main interface may have icons such as "Common Parameter 1" and "Common Parameter 2"; you can call up the corresponding stored parameters directly by tapping the icon, which is faster.

3. Three Precautions for Use

1.Back Up Parameters Regularly:

• Although permanently stored parameters will not be lost when the power is turned off, they may be lost if the power supply malfunctions.

• It is recommended to export the parameters to a computer via a USB cable every 3-6 months, and then copy them to a USB flash drive for double protection.

2.Do Not Store Parameters Randomly:

• Entry-level power supplies can store only a small number of parameter groups, so do not store too many temporarily used parameters. Store frequently used parameters in the front and temporary ones in the back.

• You can clean up unused temporary parameters once a month to make it easier to find the required parameters.

3.Check the Load Before Calling Parameters:

• Before calling up the stored parameters, confirm that the current load is the same as the one when the parameters were stored.

• If the load changes, recalculate the current, adjust the parameters, store them again, and then use. Otherwise, the power supply may enter protection mode or the load may be burned.

For more tips on using power supplies, please follow the official website of KUAIQU:  https://www.kuaiquinstrument.com/ .

KUAIQU has a storage series SPPS-S to choose from: 300V 1A / 200V 1A / 30V 10A