A multi-channel AC power supply controller

A multi-channel ac power supply controller developed recently by Institute of Modern Physics will be introduced briefly in this paper. This controller is a computer controlled multi-electronic-switch device. This controller was developed for automatic control and monitoring system of a 220 V ac power supply system, it is the key front-end device of the automatic control and monitoring system. It contains 16 independent channels in a standard box (440 W x 405 D x 125 H mm). There is an electronic switch in each channel, the rated load power is ≤1 kW/each channel. The main function of the controller is to set the state of electronic switch (ON/OFF) according to the state of control instruction (also called control word) from computer. Another function is to sample the 220 V ac output voltage so that computer can monitor the operation state of each electronic switch. Through these switches, the 220 V ac power supply is applying to some device or apparatus that need to be powered by 220 V ac power supply. In our design, a solid-state relay was employed as an electronic switch. This controller can be connected in cascade mode. There are 8 boxes at most can be connected in cascade mode. The length of control word is 8 bit, which contains addressing information and electronic switch state setting information. The sampling output of the controller is multiplexed. It is only one bit that indicates the operating state of an electronic switch. This controller has been used in an automatic control and monitoring system for 220 V ac power supply system