The GW Instek AEL-5003-480-18.75 is a programmable AC & DC electronic load rated at 2800W (5600W (x2) in Turbo mode), 18.75 Arms rms, in the 480V voltage class (50~480Vrms / 700Vdc). In summary, it is a single instrument that can sink and characterize the output of AC power sources, DC supplies, inverters, UPS systems, batteries and PV inverters across six load modes — CC, Linear CC, CR, CV, CP and AC Rectifier load.

What is the AEL-5003-480-18.75 used for?

It is used to apply a controlled, repeatable load to a power-producing device so its behavior can be measured. Power-supply engineers use it to verify output regulation; battery and EV labs use its CC and CP modes for discharge and capacity testing; and inverter and UPS developers use its AC rectifier and angle-control functions to confirm that output voltage stays stable through real switching transients.

Why does the AC Rectifier Load mode matter?

The AEL-5003-480-18.75 AC rectifier load mode combines CC and CR loading while holding current THD near 80%, which reproduces the non-linear current that real rectifier-input electronics draw. This is what allows the unit to satisfy IEC 62040-3 (UPS Efficiency Non-Linear) and IEC 61683 (Resistive Plus Non-Linear) for UPS and PV inverter efficiency measurement — tests that a simple resistive load bank cannot perform.

On the measurement side, a 16-bit A/D and DSP core reports Vrms, Arms, Watt, VA, Crest Factor, Power Factor, VTHD, ITHD and harmonic content, plus time measurements for fuse blow time, breaker trip time and UPS transfer time. Over-voltage protection on this model is ≒ 504Vrms / 735Vdc, with over-current at ≒ 19.687 Arms or Programmable and over-power at ≒2940Wrms or Programmable.

ValueTronics supplies the AEL-5003-480-18.75 as an authorized GW Instek partner, and the equipment is stocked, inspected and functionally verified in our own 20,000 square-foot secure warehouse at our Elgin, Illinois facility rather than drop-shipped sight-unseen. That in-house handling is what lets us stand behind condition and lead time instead of acting as a pass-through broker. The AEL-5000 design aligns with the IEC test framework that compliance and power-electronics labs are expected to meet, which is why it is specified for inverter, UPS and PV efficiency work.

Key selection insights

• The 480V voltage class sets the maximum DUT voltage this load can sink — 50~480Vrms AC / 700Vdc DC.
• Turbo mode is the differentiator for protection-device testing: it doubles the rated current to 37.5Arms/56.25Apeak (x2) for up to one second.
• Constant-resistance range on this unit is 4 ohm～80K ohm, defining the impedance window for CR-mode and rectifier-load simulation.
• For higher power or three-phase work the same model can be paralleled under a single master, so the platform scales without a new instrument family.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The GW Instek AEL-5000 Series is a family of programmable AC & DC electronic loads engineered to sink and characterize the output of power supplies, inverters, UPS systems, batteries, fuel cells, and PV inverters across a single instrument line. Every member of the series shares the same measurement core — a 16-bit A/D and DSP measurement engine reporting Vrms, Arms, Watt, VA, Crest Factor, Power Factor, VTHD, ITHD and harmonic content — and the same complete set of load modes: CC, Linear CC, CR, CV, CP and AC Rectifier Load.

What separates one AEL-5000 model from the next is the working envelope: the maximum voltage class (350V, 425V or 480V), the continuous power rating (from 1875 W to 22500W), and the rated current. Because the firmware, test functions and communication options are common across the series, an engineer can standardize on AEL-5000 operation and simply select the chassis whose envelope matches the device under test.

The AEL-5003-480-18.75 sits in the 480V voltage class at 2800W continuous (5600W (x2) with Turbo engaged) and 18.75 Arms rms. The comparison set below lets you see exactly where this unit lands relative to its siblings so you can step up or down in capability without leaving the AEL-5000 platform.

Each AEL-5000 model referenced below has its own dedicated new product page with condition-matched pricing, so whether your bench needs the lighter 480V chassis like the AEL-5003-480-18.75 or a higher-power three-phase-capable unit, you can move along the line by output voltage, current and power without changing instrument families or relearning the front panel.

For inverter and UPS verification, the AEL-5003-480-18.75 supports loading and unloading angle control across the full 0–359 degree range, positive or negative half-cycle loading, and SCR/TRIAC current phase-modulation waveforms with 90-degree leading and trailing edges — the behaviors that determine whether an inverter holds its output through real-world switching transients.

Its Turbo mode doubles current and power for up to one second, which is what makes the AEL-5003-480-18.75 suitable for fuse, breaker, short-circuit, OCP and OPP verification where the protective device must see a fault current well above the steady rating before it trips.

Within the AEL-5000 line, the 350V-class units cover the broadest range of power points, the 425V class extends headroom for higher-voltage DC buses up to 600Vdc, and the 480V class targets 700Vdc applications. The higher-power members (11.25kW and above) move to larger floor-standing chassis and can be paralleled — up to 8 units, 180kW single-phase, or combined into three-phase △/Y configurations totaling 540kW under one master.

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model’s full specifications below.

Accessories Supplied

The AEL-5000 communication interface is supplied as an optional plug-in card. The orderable interface options for this unit are:

Product Core & Specifications

The AEL-5003-480-18.75 is a 480V-class AC & DC electronic load. The full published specification set for this model, drawn directly from the GW Instek data sheet, is reproduced below. The unit operates across CC, Linear CC, CR, CV, CP and AC Rectifier Load Mode, with a frequency range of DC,40~70Hz and the complete suite of built-in function-test modes shared by the AEL-5000 family.

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.