A method for determining ATE input power requirements

The paper discusses elements of the production RTCASS (reconfigurable transportable consolidated automated support system) power system design. The system power supplies were characterized with a commercial Nexus power monitor as the major contributors to load. The characterizations were combined with load points derived from ATLAS (abbreviated test language for all systems) test program code using the AVA tool. The analysis revealed that the power supplies performed better than their specifications for efficiency and power factor at realistic load points. A smaller and lighter power distribution unit was possible than traditional analysis would have suggested.