Power testing environment offers a complete test development platform

Intepro Systems has added a number of significant improvements to its PowerStar 6 Power Test Software, the premier' Program without Coding' power test environment.

PowerStar 6 is designed to be the complete test development platform for systems, test benches, and laboratories. Its hardware independence and fill-in-the-blank programming make it ideal for engineers who need to customise their programs without having to write code or assemble graphical components.

Applications for solutions include battery testing, power supply testing, and renewable energy system analysis, and they are trusted by professionals across various industries such as aerospace and defence, EVS, telecommunications, energy, and consumer electronics.

The solution offers increased efficiency, streamlined testing processes, accurate data collection, documentation on the go, enhanced productivity, improved decision-making, and scalability.

The latest version of PowerStar introduces several enhancements to make testing even easier:

• 'Program without Coding': An expanded test library allows users to create tests without writing code, using fill-in-the-blank test screens.
• Expanded Instrument Library: Includes new AC loads, DC loads, high-power AC sources, and various instrument communication busses such as I2C, SPI, RS232, TTL Serial, 1553, Mod Bus, and CAN.
• Enhanced Data Logging: Supports XML/HATML compatible files and exports to Microsoft Excel CSV files, in addition to Microsoft Access or SQL data types.
• Advanced Reporting: Provides report templates in XSL for test reports, failure reports, pass slips, and fail slips. Ability to customise templates for your data analysis.
• Integrated Configuration Manager: Switch between system configurations without restarting PowerStar, allowing for compatibility checks across multiple systems.
• Customisable Views: The user interface view can be customised to suit a user's requirement, with the ability to move windows and tabs to different locations on the screen or to a different screen.

The solution now seamlessly integrates third-party DLLs and VIs, allowing users to improve their testing capabilities further:

• Dynamic Link Library (DLL) Creation: Users can create VIs (Virtual Instruments) as DLLs, providing for sophisticated and customised test procedures.
• Parameter Passing: Parameters can be passed between PowerStar and third-party VIs, ensuring comprehensive data exchange and control.
• Result Logging: External indicators can be returned to PowerStar and logged as results or exported to variables, enhancing data management.
• Multithreaded Application Support: PowerStar supports multithreaded applications, ensuring smooth operation of external integrations within the testing environment.

The program makes use of the comprehensive test library built into PowerStar 6. The library allows for instrument set-up and DUT output test parameters to be defined utilising this easy to use drag and drop menu from the library into the test program sequence. Test screen data is entered with numbers or with the use of variables to provide great flexibility in the test execution. Also, defining inputs and output separates the test hardware from the test code making it hardware independent, enabling customers to execute the same test program on different system configurations.

The software is compatible with Windows 10 and earlier versions. It features an expanded test library including new AC Loads, DC loads, high power AC sources, scanners, measurement devices and various instrument communication busses including I2C, SPI, RS232, TTL Serial, 1553, Mod Bus, and CAN. Enhancements include more options for data logging. While PowerStar 5 was limited to Microsoft Access or SQL data types, PowerStar 6 offers the addition of XML/ATML compatible files. PowerStar 6 can also export results to Microsoft Excel CSV files. PowerStar 6 provides report templates in XSL and are definable at a global or individual program level. These templates include test report, failure report, pass slip, and fail slip. They also let saved scope plots to be included in the report templates. PowerStar also has a report generator so users can create custom templates, reports and analysis.

The software is no longer limited to a single system configuration file. A new Integrated Configuration manager enables users to switch between system configurations without restarting PowerStar, allowing users to check program compatibility across multiple systems.

PowerStar 6 is obtainable in three versions – Silver, the most basic version, Gold, and Platinum. Silver is designed for small tests, Gold is for medium-sized systems, and Platinum is for large test systems, which also includes MS Visual Studio.