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The Instek AEL-5000 Series is a family of programmable AC/DC electronic loads designed for testing inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), batteries, and AC/DC power conversion equipment. The series spans models from 1875 W up to 22500 W, with voltage ratings of 350 Vrms/500 Vdc, 425 Vrms/600 Vdc, and 480 Vrms/700 Vdc to align with common AC mains levels and battery bus voltages. Each unit operates across a DC and 40 to 440 Hz frequency range in CC and CP modes (DC to 440 Hz in LIN, CR, and CV modes), with the 480 V family covering DC and 40 to 70 Hz.
According to the datasheet, the AEL-5000 Series is applied to UPS Transfer Time measurement, UPS Back-Up function testing, Battery Discharge function testing, and measurement of efficiency for PV (resistive plus non-linear mode). The series also supports Fuse Test, Short/OPP/OCP Test, programmable Inrush current simulation, and programmable Surge current simulation, making it suitable for power-on loading during inverter and UPS start-up sequences as well as half-cycle and SCR/TRIAC loading scenarios.
Instek (also branded as GW Instek) is a Taiwanese test and measurement manufacturer founded in 1975 and headquartered in New Taipei City. The company has operated continuously under the Instek name and remains an independent manufacturer of bench instruments, power supplies, electronic loads, and signal sources.
The AEL-5000 Series is organized into model variants distinguished by power rating, current rating, and voltage class. Power ratings span 1875 W, 2800 W, 3750 W, 5600 W, 7500 W, 11250 W, 15000 W, 18750 W, and 22500 W. Current ratings include 18.75 Arms, 28 Arms, 37.5 Arms, 56 Arms, 75 Arms, and 112.5 Arms. Voltage classes are 350 Vrms/500 Vdc, 425 Vrms/600 Vdc, and 480 Vrms/700 Vdc.
The model number encodes the configuration: for example, AEL-5004-350-37.5 indicates a 3750 W model at 350 Vrms with 37.5 Arms current rating, while AEL-5023-425-112.5 indicates a 22500 W model at 425 Vrms with 112.5 Arms. The 480 V family is presently represented by the AEL-5003-480-18.75 (2800 W) and AEL-5004-480-28 (3750 W) variants, which operate over a narrower DC and 40 to 70 Hz frequency range.
Each new AEL-5000 Series model below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Click any model below to view the specific page for that variant.
Within the 350 V and 425 V families, models scale primarily by power and current rating: from the entry 1875 W / 18.75 Arms units (AEL-5002 designation) up to the 22500 W / 112.5 Arms units (AEL-5023 designation). The higher-power models occupy larger chassis form factors, with the 5600 W and 7500 W units in a 458 x 480 x 590 mm chassis, the 11250 W unit in an 814 x 480 x 590 mm chassis, and the 15000 W through 22500 W units in 1283 x 600 x 600 mm cabinets.
The 480 V family operates across DC and 40 to 70 Hz, while the 350 V and 425 V families operate across DC and 40 to 440 Hz in CC and CP modes. All families share the same core operating modes (CC, Linear CC, CR, CV, CP), UPS test functions, Fuse Test, Short/OPP/OCP Test, and programmable Inrush and Surge current simulation features. See the comparison table that follows for specific differences in voltage, current, power, resistive range, and chassis dimensions across the AEL-5000 family.
| Model | Max Voltage | Max Current (RMS) | Max Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEL-5004-480-28 | 50~480 Vrms / 700 Vdc | 28 Arms / 84 Apeak | 3750 W |
| AEL-5002-350-18.75 | 50~350 Vrms / 500 Vdc | 18.75 Arms / 56.25 Apeak | 1875 W |
| AEL-5003-350-28 | 50~350 Vrms / 500 Vdc | 28 Arms / 84 Apeak | 2800 W |
| AEL-5004-350-37.5 | 50~350 Vrms / 500 Vdc | 37.5 Arms / 112.5 Apeak | 3750 W |
Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.
| Category | Specification | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Mode | Constant Current Mode for Sine-Wave Accuracy | ±(0.1% of setting + 0.2% of range) @ 50/60Hz |
| Operation Mode | Linear Constant Current Mode (Sine, Square, Quasi-Square, PWM) Accuracy | ±(0.1% of setting + 0.2% of range) @ 50/60Hz |
| Operation Mode | Constant Resistance Mode Accuracy | ±0.2% of (setting + range) @ 50/60Hz |
| Operation Mode | Constant Voltage Mode Accuracy | ±0.1% of setting + 0.1% of range |
| Operation Mode | Constant Power Mode Accuracy | ±0.1% of setting + 0.1% of range |
| Crest Factor (CC & CP Mode) | Range / Resolution / Accuracy | √2 to 5 / 0.1 / (0.5% / Irms) + 1% F.S. |
| Power Factor (CC & CP Mode) | Range / Resolution / Accuracy | 0 to 1 Lag or Lead / 0.01 / 1% F.S. |
| Test Mode | UPS Efficient Measurement | Non-Linear Mode, Auto 40~440Hz |
| Test Mode | Measuring Efficiency for PV | Resistive + Non-Linear Mode, Auto 40~440Hz |
| UPS Back-Up / Battery Discharge | Back-Up / Discharge Time | 1 to 99999 Sec. (>27H) |
| UPS Transfer Time | UVP (VTH) / Time Range | 2.5V / 0.15mS to 999.99mS |
| Short / OPP / OCP Test | Short Time | 0.1S to 10Sec. or Continuous (Turbo OFF); 0.1S to 15Sec. (Turbo ON) |
| Short / OPP / OCP Test | OPP/OCP Step Time | 100ms (Turbo OFF); 100ms, up to 10 Steps (Turbo ON) |
| Fuse Test Mode | Trip & Non-Trip Time | 0.1 to 9999.9 sec (Turbo OFF); 0.1 to 1.0 sec (Turbo ON) |
| Fuse Test Mode | Measurement Accuracy | ±0.003 Sec. |
| Fuse Test Mode | Repeat Cycle | 0 to 255 |
| Programmable Surge Current | T1 and T2 Time | 0.01S to 0.5Sec. (Turbo OFF); 0.015 to 0.55sec (Turbo ON) |
| Programmable Surge Current | T3 Time | 0.01S to 9.99Sec. or Continuous |
| Programmable Inrush Current | Inrush Step Time | 0.1mS to 100mS |
| Measurements | Voltage Readback Accuracy | ±0.05% of (reading + range) |
| Measurements | Voltage Readback Parameter | Vrms, V Max/Min, +/-Vpk |
| Measurements | Current Readback Accuracy | ±0.05% of (reading + range) @ 50/60Hz |
| Measurements | Current Readback Parameter | Irms, I Max/Min, +/-Ipk |
| Measurements | Watt Readback Accuracy | ±0.05% of (reading + range) @ 50/60Hz [low-voltage models]; ±0.2% / ±0.4% [high-power models] |
| Power Factor Meter | Range / Accuracy | +/- 0.000 to 1.000 / ±(0.002 ± (0.001/PF)*F) |
| Frequency Meter | Range / Accuracy | DC, 40 to 440Hz (480V models: DC, 40 to 70Hz) / 0.1% |
| VA Meter | Calculation | Vrms × Arms corresponding to Vrms and Arms |
| Other Parameter Meter | Parameters | VA, VAR, CF_I, Ipeak, Imax, Imin, Vmax, Vmin, IHD, VHD, ITHD, VTHD |
| Others | Start-Up Loading | Yes - Power-on loading during Inverter / UPS start up |
| Others | Load ON / OFF Angle | 0 to 359 degrees programmable for load ON/OFF angle |
| Others | Half Cycle and SCR/TRIAC Loading | Positive or Negative half cycle, 90° Trailing or Leading edge current waveform programmable |
| Others | Master/Slave (3-phase or Parallel) | Yes, 1 master and up to 7 slave units |
| Others | External Programming Input (Option) | F.S / 10Vdc, Resolution 0.1V |
| Others | External SYNC Input | TTL |
| Others | Vmonitor (Isolated) | ±500V/±10V (350V models); ±600V/±10V (425V models); ±700V/±10V (480V models) |
| Others | Interface (Option) | GPIB; RS-232; LAN; USB |
| Others | Operation Temperature | 0 to 40°C |
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.
Model No
GW
Condition
New
Volts
480 V
Amps
28 A
Type
Single
Power
3.75 kW
Manufacturer
Instek
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