Keysight N6791A 60 V, 20 A, 100 W DC Electronic Load Module

Key Features At A Glance

• Integrates up to four DC power or electronic load modules with a built-in DMM, oscilloscope, arbitrary waveform generator, and data logger in one instrument
• Mainframe accepts 1–4 modules; mix and match from over thirty DC power and electronic load module types to optimize a configuration
• DC power modules from 50 W to 500 W, up to 150 V and up to 50 A; electronic load modules up to 200 W across the series
• No programming required — all sourcing, loading, and measurement functions run from the front panel
• Electronic load modules offer voltage, current, power, and resistance priority modes with programmable slew rates
• Each module output fully isolated and floating from ground and from one another, and protected against over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature
• 4-wire remote sensing on every output for improved voltage measurement accuracy, with programmable voltage slew rate
• Built-in digitizer to 200 kHz, up to 256 k samples/trace (512 k via SCPI), ~30 kHz measurement bandwidth; captures voltage- and current-vs-time with logging to internal or USB storage
• GPIB, USB 2.0, and 10/100 LAN standard; fully compliant to LXI Class C specification (10/100/1000 LAN with built-in web server on the family)
• SCPI / IEEE 488.2 programmable with VXIplug&play and IVI-COM drivers; command set shared with N6700 ATE systems
• Universal AC input, 100–240 VAC, 50/60/400 Hz, with power-factor-corrected input

The Keysight N6791A is a 60 V, 20 A, 100 W DC electronic load module in the Keysight N6700 Modular Power System family. The family is a modular DC power platform built from a mainframe chassis populated with interchangeable DC power, high-performance, precision, source/measure, and electronic load modules. The N6700 Low-Profile Modular Power System is a 1U-high, multiple-output programmable DC power supply and electronic load system that lets test-system integrators mix and match from over 30 different modules to build a one- to four-channel system optimized to balance performance, power, and price. The N6705C DC Power Analyzer mainframe brings the same modules to the R&D bench, combining one to four DC power supplies or electronic loads with the functions of a DMM, an oscilloscope, an arbitrary waveform generator, and a data logger in a single integrated instrument that sources and measures DC voltage and current into a device under test, with all sourcing, loading, and measurement functions available directly from the front panel.

Power supplies and electronic loads are a fundamental component of every test system across aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, communications, semiconductor, and automotive electronics. In the Low-Profile mainframes the N6700 is built for ATE systems in R&D, design validation, and manufacturing, where designers must reduce the rack space occupied by multiple supplies or loads while increasing test system throughput. On the bench, the N6705C is intended for R&D testing and design validation: engineers use it to gain insight into a device's power consumption without writing code, to set up and view critical turn-on and turn-off sequences, to control DC bias supply or electronic load ramp-up and ramp-down rates, and to generate DC bias transients and disturbances as arbitrary waveforms. A common task is inrush current measurement — triggering the integrated oscilloscope on the DC output's on/off key in single-shot mode captures the current flowing into the DUT as the output turns on — and current and power consumption can be logged over seconds, minutes, hours, or days to capture anomalies. While designed primarily as an R&D bench tool, the N6705C is fully programmable and LXI Class C certified, so it also serves ATE systems for test development, DUT troubleshooting, and visualizing results as tests execute.

ValueTronics stocks and holds its own inventory in a 20,000-square-foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Holding inventory under our own roof lets us confirm configuration and condition directly and ship quickly to the engineers, labs, and production teams who rely on us.

Brand Heritage

Keysight Technologies traces its measurement heritage to Hewlett-Packard, whose test and measurement business was spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999. Agilent's electronic measurement division then became Keysight Technologies in 2014, the brand under which this instrument family is produced today.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The Keysight N6700 Modular Power System family pairs a mainframe with interchangeable DC power and electronic load modules — a single platform spanning a mainframe and a broad set of plug-in modules rather than a fixed-function instrument. The family is offered in two mainframe styles: the N6700-series low-profile mainframes used for ATE, and the N6705C DC Power Analyzer used on the R&D bench. The low-profile line comprises three 1U mainframes — rated at 400 W, 600 W, and 1200 W of total available output power — each holding one to four modules within a single 1U chassis; the same modules also run in the N6705C, allowing test correlation between bench and manufacturing setups.

The N6705C DC Power Analyzer mainframe has four slots and 600 W of total available power, accepting one to four modules and ordered together with modules as separate items; the N6715C is the same system ordered as a fully assembled, build-to-order instrument with one to four modules pre-installed. Both share 600 W of total available mainframe power and the same module catalog. The N6705C is the four-slot mainframe at the center of the bench system, providing 600 W of total available power, front-panel binding posts rated 20 A per post, 4 gigabytes of internal non-volatile storage, a built-in real-time clock, and power management that allocates mainframe power to the outputs that need it.

Modules are grouped into series by role: the basic N6730/N6740/N6770 DC power modules, the N6750 high-performance autoranging modules, the N6760 precision modules, the N6780 source/measure units, the N6783 application-specific modules, and the N6790 electronic loads. You can invest in high-performance or precision outputs where speed and accuracy matter, or basic outputs for simple DC requirements, and swap or add modules as test needs change. Module capability depends not only on the module's own hardware but also on the mainframe in which it is installed: modules placed in an N6705C DC Power Analyzer gain front-panel scope view, arbitrary waveform generation, and data logging that are not present in the lower-profile N6700C-series mainframes.

Each model in the family below links to its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Select the mainframe or module that fits your channel count, output rating, and interface needs, and review its individual page for the specifications, options, and availability that apply.

The modules differ chiefly in output rating and performance class. Basic DC power modules cover 50 W, 100 W, and 300 W outputs up to 150 V and up to 20 A. High-performance autoranging modules span 50 W to 500 W up to 60 V and up to 50 A and add autoranging outputs that deliver maximum power across a range of voltage and current combinations. Precision modules likewise reach 500 W and add precise control and measurement in the milliampere and microampere region with simultaneous voltage and current digitizing. Application-specific source/measure units provide 20 W to 80 W with two- or four-quadrant operation for both sourcing and sinking power; the N6783A application-specific modules target battery and mobile-communications testing at 18 W to 24 W. The N6790 electronic loads absorb rather than source power, offering 100 W and 200 W modules with constant voltage, current, resistance, and power modes (up to 200 W, 60 V, and 40 A). High-Speed Test Extensions are optional on the basic, high-performance, and 300 W modules and standard on the precision, SMU, application-specific, and load modules.

Each module installs into one slot, except higher-power modules such as the N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A, and N6792A, which occupy two slots. Voltage and current ratings, measurement resolution, quadrant operation, double-wide form factor, and the available relay and measurement options vary from model to model. The comparison table below lists each model's output ratings and key characteristics; consult a model's own row for the functions it provides.

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

The low-profile mainframes differ primarily in total available output power: 400 W, 600 W, and 1200 W. The 1200 W mainframe automatically senses the AC line and limits output to 600 W on a standard outlet, drawing full power only when operated at the higher AC input. Across the DC power modules, output ratings span 5 V to 150 V and 50 W to 500 W, with the autoranging high-performance and precision series providing full power across a range of voltage and current combinations up to 60 V.

Product Core & Specifications

The specifications below are for the Keysight N6791A 60 V, 20 A, 100 W DC electronic load module.

Important: This is a modular system: the DC power and load modules (N6731B–N6792A) are not standalone instruments and require an N6700C, N6701C, N6702C, or N6705C mainframe (sold separately) to operate. Build-to-order systems (N6710C/N6711C/N6712C, and the N6715C) are also available.

Important: The Keysight N6791A and N6792A Electronic Load Modules are not supported on the previous Keysight mainframes N6700B, N6701A, N6702A, N6705A, and N6705B.

Important: The N6705C / N6715C mainframe has four module slots and provides 600 W of total available output power; it holds one to four DC power or electronic load modules, modules are ordered separately, and at least one module is required for the DC power analyzer to operate. If the sum of the installed modules' power exceeds the mainframe's available output power, use Keysight's power management capability to allocate mainframe power to the outputs where it is needed.

Important: Each module occupies one module slot, except for the N6753A–N6756A, N6763A–N6766A, N6785A–N6786A and N6792A, which each occupy two module slots.

Important: Front-panel binding posts are rated for 20 A per post; modules rated above 20 A, such as the N6753A or N6792A, require high-current wiring routed through the rear panel.

Important: Arbitrary waveform generation, scope view, and the related N6705 oscilloscope measurement capabilities apply only when the power modules are installed in a Keysight N6705 DC Power Analyzer.

Important: Output terminal isolation: no output terminal may be more than ±240 VDC from any other terminal or chassis ground. Maximum series operation is 240 V; maximum rated parallel operation is 100 A per N6705 mainframe.

Important: Output current is derated 1% per °C above 40 °C ambient temperature.

Important: Option 760 (Output Disconnect/Polarity Reversal Relays) is not available on Models N6741B, N6751A, N6752A, N6761A, N6762A, and N6781A–N6786A, and it limits the output current to 10 A maximum on Models N6742B and N6773A.

Important: Option 2UA (200 µA measurement range) is available only on Models N6761A and N6762A.

Important: Keysight N6783A modules cannot be used in series with other N6783A modules or any other N67xx module.

Important: When sinking power, Model N6784A can operate at the maximum rated output power for only a limited time; when the internal temperature exceeds its safe limit, the output latches off and a protect clear is required to resume operation.

Important: A 500 W module installed in the 400 W N6700C mainframe cannot be operated at its full rated output power. For proper operation, fill any empty module slots with filler panels; when configuring a mainframe with fewer than four filled module slots, order a filler panel kit (N6708A), each kit containing three filler panels.

Important: If you will be rack mounting your N6700, order the rack mount kit (N6709C). Standard rack mount hardware will not work; standard rack rails or slides are not compatible with the N6700 because of its 1U size and airflow requirements.

Important: For the N6702C 1200 W mainframe, an AC mains rated at 100–180 VAC cannot supply enough current to power the mainframe at its full rated power; internal circuits limit the module power to 600 W maximum at that input. When first turned on, the N6702C senses the available AC line power and limits output power to 600 W so the high-power mainframe can be plugged into any standard outlet. For model N6712C, the maximum output power is limited to 600 W at 100 VAC; to achieve full output power of 1200 W, use option 929 and operate at 200 VAC.

Important: In the DC power module specification table, values for the N6761A–N6766A precision modules and the N6781A/N6782A/N6784A/N6785A/N6786A SMU and N6783A application-specific modules are shown for the highest output/measurement range, as these modules have multiple ranges; the N6783A-BAT and N6783A-MFG values are shown for the highest measurement range.

Important: This data sheet does not include a comprehensive list of all power module specifications and characteristics; complete performance specifications and supplemental characteristics for all power modules are in the Keysight N6700 Modular Power System Family Specifications Guide, part number N6700-90001.

Recommended pairing: add the BV9200B PathWave BenchVue Advanced Power Control and Analysis Software, or the 14585A Control and Analysis Software, to control the family's DC power and electronic load modules in up to four N6705 mainframes — as many as 16 installed modules — from a single PC.

About this Pre-Owned unit

This is a pre-owned unit. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. For the exact configuration, available options, included accessories, calibration, or current lead time for your application, our Test Architects can confirm the details before you order.

ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. Our Test Architects can help you select the condition, calibration, and configuration that fit your application.

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.