Test Bench VRail Module

Project Info:

Main Project:
Inverter Test Bench Project
Client:
Ario MetaPower
Design Completion Date:
2022-08-22
Design Complexity:
The design comprised 55 unique components and a total of 382 components.

Project Description:

The VRail Module was developed to specifically load test the auxiliary power supply interfaces on the inverter control stack. Its primary function is to verify that connected components operate as expected and that the power supplies behave correctly under load.

The module supports testing of all power rails up to 24 V and can accurately characterise voltage and current performance — helping identify any issues arising from incorrect component placement during production.

Each VRail Module features 16 load test channels, with two Analogue-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) per channel for precise input voltage and current measurement.

Main Project:

Electron Artz was commissioned by Ario MetaPower to design a flexible, large-scale test bench to rigorously evaluate all inputs, outputs, and subsystems of the inverter control stack during production.

To accommodate potential future changes in the inverter’s design, the test bench architecture was built with flexibility at its core. This led to a modular system based on a Master Controller (motherboard) paired with multiple specialised interface modules.

For testing the inverter control stack, the Test Bench was configured with the following modules:

  • Two modules with 32 Digital-to-Analogue Converters (DACs) each
  • One module with 32 Analogue-to-Digital Converters (ADCs)
  • Two VRail modules, each with 16 power supply load testers
  • One communications module
  • One GPIO module with 40 general-purpose digital inputs and outputs

The system also included:

  • A variable power supply with built-in current measurement
  • An infrared camera interface, enabling safe, gradual power-up of the control stack for thermal and current-draw analysis

This setup made it possible to verify component placement after board population and detect faults early, significantly improving production confidence and system reliability.

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