The general approach to an electronic load is to use a transistor across the input terminals so the

current flows from drain (collector) to source (emitter). A resistance is effected by causing a
current flow in proportion to the applied voltage in the manner of a resistor, I = V/R. A controller
monitors the applied voltage and adjusts the current in response (Fig. 1).

1. An electronic load typically employs a transistor across the input terminals so the current
flows from drain (collector) to source (emitter).
To achieve 0 , the terminal voltage must be 0 in the presence of a current. Under this condition
the pass transistor suffers a loss of operating voltage and cannot conduct a current. To maintain
conduction of the pass transistor, an auxiliary power supply is connected (Fig. 2). The required
voltage, VB IIn(max) RS + VDS@I(max), is sufficient to maintain forward conduction with VIn = 0
and 0 < IIn IIn(max). This condition corresponds to an effective zero input resistance.

2. To maintain conduction of the pass transistor for a zero-load condition, the circuit uses an
auxiliary power supply.

It can be shown that RIn = k RS for 0 1 and where k multiplies RS so it can be made
small to reduce power loss. If, for example, RS = 1.0 , k = 100, then 0 RIn 100 for 0
1. If IIn(max) = 1 A and VDS@I(max) = 2 V, then VB 3 V.
In virtually all applications, the pass transistor must be heatsinked as the power dissipated is
IIn(max) (VIn(max) + VB) IIn(max)2 RS. If in this example VIn(max) = 15 V, the pass transistor
would have a maximum dissipation of 17 W. This would appear as a 15-W resistor adjustable
over 0 to 100 .
You may be wondering why an additional power source was introduced between the source of
the MOSFET and the current sense resistor to achieve a 0- load condition (essentially a short
across input voltage) in Figure 2. After all, why would you need an electronic load that can go
down to 0 V (i.e., short circuit) condition?
If you wanted to short an electronic load, you could always use a relay directly across the input
voltage. Or if you wanted it to be all solid state, you could place another MOSFET that has much
higher current capacity (and very low RDS(on) that approaches a few milliohms) directly across
the input and turn it on using a switch. This approach would be much simpler (and cost effective)
than adding a second power supply in series with sense resistor. So, why would you use the
additional power source?
Heres the answer. This electronic load can check low-voltage power supplies (i.e., 3.3 V and
lower) where a voltage burden (i.e., 1 V) would not permit testing under short-circuit condition.
This is useful in testing the short-circuit response of power supplies, current trip level, and
effectiveness of overload protection.
Furthermore, even with a low RDS(on), a MOSFET will not conduct at 0 V (VDS). At high
currents, a MOSFET requires non-zero voltage (see note A) to sustain conduction. This circuit
will maintain VDS right into a virtual short circuit.
Finally, a hard switch such as a relay does not permit a smooth transition of resistance. The
circuit described here acts more like a rheostat but with the ability to be voltage controlled (see
note B) from a remote point. The controller does not have to carry the load current. It would
require multiple relays to apply a range of loading. This circuit can provide smooth (stepless)
effective resistive loading over a large range including 0 .
The circuit can be scaled up to higher voltages and currents. Figure 3 shows an application. For a
derivation of the equations, e-mail the author at hsantana@pacbell.net.

3. An application circuit like this one achieves a zero-load condition for testing low-voltage
power supplies.
Note A: For example, an RFP30N06 MOSFET has a specified RDS(on) of 0.047 . At 30 A this
device requires at least 2 V VDS. This would not be an effective short circuit on a 3.3-V, 30-A
power supply. On a 1.8-V supply, it would not conduct this current.
Note B: The effective resistance can be controlled with a voltage-controlled amplifier (see Op
Amp And Two JFETs Form A Voltage-Controlled Amplifier).