Key Features at a Glance

• Power range up to 1,500 W
• Voltage range up to 500 V, current up to 240 A
• CC / CV / CR / CW operating modes
• Transient mode up to 10 kHz
• List-mode, battery test, automatic test, CR-LED mode
• OVP / OCP / OPP / OTP including local and remote reverse-voltage protection
• Adjustable slew rate in CC mode
• Standard USB (VCOM)/RS232 on 8514B; DB9 TTL with USB adapter on others

In summary: The B&K Precision 8500B Series is a family of value-tier programmable DC electronic loads delivering 150 W to 1500 W of sink capability across voltage ratings of 120 V, 150 V, and 500 V. All models share the same CC, CV, CR, and CW operating modes; list-mode and battery test functions; CR-LED mode for LED driver simulation; and full protection coverage including LRV/RRV reverse-voltage protection.

What is the 8514B used for?

The 8500B Series is used for testing DC power supplies, DC-DC converters, batteries, battery chargers, photovoltaic solar panels, and LED drivers. The CR-LED mode lets engineers simulate the loading behavior of an LED string without wiring physical LEDs. Built-in battery test mode supports discharge profiling with stop conditions and capacity reporting in ampere-hours.

Who chooses this instrument?

Engineers select 8500B when they need a programmable, multi-mode DC load at a benchtop price point. The 8514B at 1500 W in a 2U half-rack form factor is one of the highest power densities at this price tier, while the 8502B covers 500 V applications such as photovoltaic panel I-V curve verification.

8500B Series models deliver CC-mode accuracy of ±(0.05% + 0.05% F.S.), transient mode up to 10 kHz, adjustable slew rate, and a full feature set including list mode, automatic test mode, and battery test. Standard interface is a DB9 (TTL) with USB adapter on the legacy models; the 8514B adds direct USB (VCOM) and RS232.

The 8500B Series is the value-tier reference in the professional DC electronic load market — recommended in industry training as the entry point for power-supply test, LED-driver test, and small-format battery characterization at a fraction of the cost of full performance instruments.

Accessories Supplied

• Power cord (regional)
• Quick-start guide / user manual
• NI-certified LabVIEW driver (download)
• PC operating software (download)
• USB adapter for DB9 TTL (legacy 8500B/8502B/8510B/8542B)

Product Core & Specifications

The 8514B is the 1500 W member of the 8500B Series in a 2U half-rack chassis, delivering up to 120 V and up to 240 A of sink current. CC-mode accuracy is ±(0.05 + 0.05% FS) across both low and high current ranges, with a minimum operating voltage of 2.5 V at full scale. The 8500B platform supports list mode, automatic test mode, battery test mode, and CR-LED mode (for LED-driver loading simulation), and includes OVP, OCP, OPP, OTP, and both local and remote reverse-voltage protection.

Specifications

Calibration Options

Select one calibration option for this unit:

• No Calibration Required (factory new)
• NIST Traceable
• NIST Traceable with Full Data
• ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited

This webpage was written by a human with an A.I. 'Intern', which may contain errors. Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.