T-King [Kunkin] KL283 Dual Channel DC Load
Pros: Well build, compact, full readout, conservative design, good price.
Yes, I broke the seal and looked inside. Looks first class, with quality components, good fabrication, and conservative design. Each channel (80V, 15A, 150W) uses three IRFP250N power FET’s (200V, 30A, 214W) in parallel. . Cooling is forced air through ample heat sinks with at least two speeds depending on demand. The two channels can be wired in parallel in constant current (CC) mode, and series in constant voltage (CV) mode. This could even be extended to more units if needed. The OFF state is open-circuit in both modes. The price is less than half the competition I have seen.
Cons: Manual is in Chinese, non US standard banana jacks.
The manual is in Chinese, but the unit’s markings are in English, so maybe no big loss. The banana jacks are probably to a Chinese standard (20mm spacing, 3.5mm internal diameter, so Pomona plugs (3/4” spacing, 0.16” internal diameter) are a tight fit and the dual bananas won’t go. But at these currents, using the jacks as binding posts may be more appropriate anyway.
BTW: It’s useful for testing solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are made up of cells which have a CV to CC transition “knee” ([...]). The CV part of the curve is 0.4 to 0.5V per cell (24 to 30V for a 60 cell series array). The CC part of the curve depends on cell size and illumination. The panel load has to be varied to operate it at the knee to get maximum power. Inverters with MPPT (maximum power point tracking) attempt to do this via some sort of heuristic algorithm that doesn’t always behave too intelligently. The panel can be easily tested stand-alone with some instrumentation (An Arduino with a current shunt will do) and a CV load set to at or just below the transition knee. A 60 cell panel is usually rated a 250W – a nice fit for this load.
![T-King [Kunkin] KL283 Dual Channel DC Load](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif){kind=tracking}
T-King [Kunkin] KL283 Dual Channel DC Load
T-King [Kunkin] KL283 Dual Channel DC LoadPros: Well build, compact, full readout, conservative design, good price.Yes, I broke the seal and looked inside. Looks first class, with quality components, good fabrication, and conservative design. Each channel (80V, 15A, 150W) uses three IRFP250N power FET’s (200V, 30A, 214W) in parallel. . Cooling is forced air through ample heat sinks with at least two speeds depending on demand. The two channels can be wired in parallel in constant current (CC) mode, and series in constant voltage (CV) mode. This could even be extended to more units if needed. The OFF state is open-circuit in both modes. The price is less than half the competition I have seen.Cons: Manual is in Chinese, non US standard banana jacks.The manual is in Chinese, but the unit’s markings are in English, so maybe no big loss. The banana jacks are probably to a Chinese standard (20mm spacing, 3.5mm internal diameter, so Pomona plugs (3/4” spacing, 0.16” internal diameter) are a tight fit and the dual bananas won’t go. But at these currents, using the jacks as binding posts may be more appropriate anyway.BTW: It’s useful for testing solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are made up of cells which have a CV to CC transition “knee” ([...]). The CV part of the curve is 0.4 to 0.5V per cell (24 to 30V for a 60 cell series array). The CC part of the curve depends on cell size and illumination. The panel load has to be varied to operate it at the knee to get maximum power. Inverters with MPPT (maximum power point tracking) attempt to do this via some sort of heuristic algorithm that doesn’t always behave too intelligently. The panel can be easily tested stand-alone with some instrumentation (An Arduino with a current shunt will do) and a CV load set to at or just below the transition knee. A 60 cell panel is usually rated a 250W – a nice fit for this load.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
Pros: Well build, compact, full readout, conservative design, good price.
Yes, I broke the seal and looked inside. Looks first class, with quality components, good fabrication, and conservative design. Each channel (80V, 15A, 150W) uses three IRFP250N power FET’s (200V, 30A, 214W) in parallel. . Cooling is forced air through ample heat sinks with at least two speeds depending on demand. The two channels can be wired in parallel in constant current (CC) mode, and series in constant voltage (CV) mode. This could even be extended to more units if needed. The OFF state is open-circuit in both modes. The price is less than half the competition I have seen.
Cons: Manual is in Chinese, non US standard banana jacks.
The manual is in Chinese, but the unit’s markings are in English, so maybe no big loss. The banana jacks are probably to a Chinese standard (20mm spacing, 3.5mm internal diameter, so Pomona plugs (3/4” spacing, 0.16” internal diameter) are a tight fit and the dual bananas won’t go. But at these currents, using the jacks as binding posts may be more appropriate anyway.
BTW: It’s useful for testing solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are made up of cells which have a CV to CC transition “knee” ([...]). The CV part of the curve is 0.4 to 0.5V per cell (24 to 30V for a 60 cell series array). The CC part of the curve depends on cell size and illumination. The panel load has to be varied to operate it at the knee to get maximum power. Inverters with MPPT (maximum power point tracking) attempt to do this via some sort of heuristic algorithm that doesn’t always behave too intelligently. The panel can be easily tested stand-alone with some instrumentation (An Arduino with a current shunt will do) and a CV load set to at or just below the transition knee. A 60 cell panel is usually rated a 250W – a nice fit for this load.
T-King [Kunkin] KL283 Dual Channel DC Load
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
T-King [Kunkin] KL283 Dual Channel DC LoadReviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
Pros: Well build, compact, full readout, conservative design, good price.
Yes, I broke the seal and looked inside. Looks first class, with quality components, good fabrication, and conservative design. Each channel (80V, 15A, 150W) uses three IRFP250N power FET’s (200V, 30A, 214W) in parallel. . Cooling is forced air through ample heat sinks with at least two speeds depending on demand. The two channels can be wired in parallel in constant current (CC) mode, and series in constant voltage (CV) mode. This could even be extended to more units if needed. The OFF state is open-circuit in both modes. The price is less than half the competition I have seen.
Cons: Manual is in Chinese, non US standard banana jacks.
The manual is in Chinese, but the unit’s markings are in English, so maybe no big loss. The banana jacks are probably to a Chinese standard (20mm spacing, 3.5mm internal diameter, so Pomona plugs (3/4” spacing, 0.16” internal diameter) are a tight fit and the dual bananas won’t go. But at these currents, using the jacks as binding posts may be more appropriate anyway.
BTW: It’s useful for testing solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are made up of cells which have a CV to CC transition “knee” ([...]). The CV part of the curve is 0.4 to 0.5V per cell (24 to 30V for a 60 cell series array). The CC part of the curve depends on cell size and illumination. The panel load has to be varied to operate it at the knee to get maximum power. Inverters with MPPT (maximum power point tracking) attempt to do this via some sort of heuristic algorithm that doesn’t always behave too intelligently. The panel can be easily tested stand-alone with some instrumentation (An Arduino with a current shunt will do) and a CV load set to at or just below the transition knee. A 60 cell panel is usually rated a 250W – a nice fit for this load.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2016
