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High Current Amplifier

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High Current Amplifier - Introduction

High current amplifier is a very useful piece of instrument to have in the lab. It is
very handy for increasing the current driving capability of a function generator or
arbitrary waveform generator. Many laboratory applications require high current
amp to drive heavy load. Application for high-current amplifiers include driving
heavy resistive load, driving magnetic coil, electrochemical reactor, piezoelectric
element, and many other applications.

Conventional function generator or signal generator has an output impedance of 50-

ohm and they are optimized for driving 50-ohm loads. If the load impedance is
lower than 50-ohm or requires higher current, a current amplifier is needed.
The TS200 and the TS250 high-current amplifier are great companion instruments
for function generator. This app note will use the TS200 as examples.
Figure 1. Simplified diagram is showing how to amplify signal from a function
generator to delivery current to a heavy load.
Function Generator Is Not Strong Enough – The Problem

Function generators are commonly found in laboratories. They are being used for all
kinds of tests and experiments. Conventional function generator or signal generator
has an output impedance of 50-ohm and they are optimize for driving 50-ohm loads.
Their outputs are limited to 5V into 50-ohm or 100mA maximum. For high-current
applications, a high current amplifier is required to amplify the driving capability.

Figure 2 and 3 shows how a function generator cannot drive heavy loads. The output
impedance of the generator is 50-ohm. The high source resistance attenuates output
voltage and limits the output current. For example, the 50-ohm source impedance
and 5-ohm load in Figure 2 forms a voltage divider that attenuates the voltage by a
factor of 11.
Figure 2. A function generator outputs 0-to-5V square-wave with 50-ohm source
impedance driving a low-resistance load (left). The output voltage is attenuated
(right).
Figure 4 shows how the TS200/TS250 high current amplifier can drive the above
mentioned heavy loads with negligible attenuation, because its source impedance is
near zero. The TS200/TS250 current amplifiers has very low output impedance in
the order of tens of mili-ohms allowing it to drive heavy loads without attenuation.
The output amplitude remains constant up to its rated frequency. Figure 5 shows the
TS200 output waveform maintained 5V square-wave when driving a 5-ohm resistor
(left) or 1uF capacitor (right). Figure 6 shows the TS200-0A high-current modulated
power supply driving a 1-ohm resistive load with 10A peak-to-peak or 5A 0-to-peak.
High Output Current Amplifier – The Solution
Figure 3. A function generator outputs a 0-to-5V square-wave with 50-ohm source
impedance. Top: The function generator is driving a capacitive load. The output
waveform is distorted. Bottom: The function generator is driving an inductive load.
The output waveform is distorted.
When the load is capacitive (Figure 3 top), the signal generator's source
impedance and load capacitance formed a low-pass RC filter. This RC
filter distorts waveforms and limits the maximum operating frequency. It
is not practical for a function generator or an arbitrary waveform generator
to drive a heavy capacitive load. Similarly in the case of inductive loads
such as a relay or a magnetic coil, the waveform is also distorted as shown
Figure 3 (bottom).
Figure 4. TS200/TS250 high output current amplifier drives heavy load without
voltage attenuation.
Figure 5. TS200 high-current power amplifier is driving a 5-ohm (left) or a 1uF
capacitor (right). The output waveforms maintained 5V square without any
distortion or attenuation.
Figure 6. Left: The TS200 is driving a 4.7mH inductor. The output waveform
maintains 5V square without any distortion or attenuation. Right: The TS200
amplifier is driving a 1-ohm resistor achieving 10A peak-to-peak.
Current Gain Amplifier
Current-gain amplifier amplifiers current but not the voltage. Many voltage signals
and sources does not have the current capability to drive heavy (high current) load.
These voltage sources have high source impedance which result in large voltage drop
when loaded. Function generator, for example, has 50 ohm output impedance. Some
other voltage signal sources have low output impedance, but are not design to output
high current. When loaded with low impedance, its output active devices will not
work. Therefore these signals need a current amplifier.

The TS200 and TS250 fulfill many testing applications that require high AC current
to drive their low-impedance load such as coils, piezo, and other devices. These
current-gain amplifiers have very low output impedance (50m ohm typical). They
can output up to 6A current. See the TS200 and TS250 datasheets for output current
capability. Their inputs are selectable either high-impedance or 50 ohm termination.
The TS250 features a switch-selectable gain setting. For amplifying current without
amplifying voltage, use the 0dB setting. You can also use the 20dB setup that will
amplify both current and voltage. The TS200 as a fixed voltage gain of 0dB or 20dB.
Higher Output Current
The TS250/TS200 output current is in the range of 1.4A to 6A, depends on the
voltage range. See the datasheet specs for output current range. In some test
applications higher current is required. Two or three TS250 current amplifiers may
be operate in parallel as shown in Figure 8. The output current is double or triple in
proportion to the how many TS250 connected in parallel. Using a series resistor for
each current amp to isolate from one other. Typical series resistor resistance is 0.3Ω
to 1.0Ω. Use higher resistance for for higher voltage models (i.e. 1 ohm for the +/-
40V model). Make sure the isolation resistors are rated to handle the power
dissipation.

Figure 8. Two TS250 current amplifiers connected in parallel increase the current
by 2X.
High Current Amplifier Application Examples

 Relay
 Solenoid
 Magnetic coil
 Helmholtz coil
 High-power heat generation
 Electrochemical reactor
  Piezo element
 Motor/actuator
 Circuit characterization
 Scientific and industrial testing
 Automotive transient test

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Table 1. High-Current Signal Amplifier Selection Guide
 Model Voltage Range DC Current Max Peak Current

TS200-0A/B -10V to + 10V 0 – 4.0A 0 – 5.0A

TS200-1B -20V to + 20V 0 – 2.8A 0 – 3.8A

TS200-2B -20V to + 45V 0 – 1.4A 0 – 2.0A

TS200-3B -10V to + 70V 0 – 1.4A 0 – 2.0A

TS200-4A/B 0V to + 15V 0 – 3.5A 0 – 4.5A

TS200-5B -40V to + 40V 0 – 1.4A 0 – 2.0A

TS250-0 -10V to + 10V 0 – 5.0A 0 – 6.0A

TS250-1 -20V to + 20V 0 – 3.1A 0 – 4.4A

TS250-2 -30V to + 30V 0 – 2.1A 0 – 3.0A

TS250-3 -40V to + 40V 0 – 1.7A 0 – 2.5A

TS250-4 -6V to + 15V 0 – 4.0A 0 – 5.0A

TS250-5 -6V to + 30V 0 – 2.1A 0 – 3.0A

TS250-6 -6V to + 45V 0 – 1.7A 0 – 2.5A

TS250-7 -6V to + 65V 0 – 2.1A 0 – 2.5A

Figure 7. TS250 high output current amplifier is driving a heavy load.
High-Current Amplifier Connection
Function Generator