A800
High Voltage Linear Amplifiers
- Category: High Voltage Linear Amplifiers
- Manufacturer: Pendulum Instruments
- Channels: 1
- Voltage gain: 100 (fixed)
- Output voltage range: ±400 V (bipolar, 800 Vp-p)
- Maximum input voltage: ±4 V (nominal)
- Data sheet: Download PDF
- External link: Official product page
Overview
The Pendulum Instruments A800 is a broadband high voltage linear amplifier built around a fast high voltage operational amplifier with a precision feedback network, giving a fixed voltage gain of 100. The output voltage range reaches ±400 V (that is 800 Vp-p), with 60 mA of continuous output current and a maximum output power of about 30 W, enough to drive resistive and small capacitive loads effectively. The slew rate reaches 500 V/µs under a small load (5 kΩ in series with 100 pF), and bandwidth extends to 1 MHz at a 100 Vpp output and 300 kHz at maximum output voltage, which covers most laboratory and engineering validation work. Protection is twofold: a current limiting circuit at the output withstands the occasional short circuit, while a 15 mA microfuse at the input blows automatically when the input voltage exceeds 500% of its rating, protecting the amplifier. The A800 suits piezo device characterisation, high voltage functional test, voltage stress testing of insulating materials and the high voltage reproduction of arbitrarily shaped waveforms.
Key features
- ±400 V bipolar high voltage output — The output voltage range reaches ±400 V (800 Vp-p) at a fixed gain of 100, amplifying a standard ±4 V source accurately to high voltage for high voltage excitation and drive applications of every kind.
- High slew rate and broadband response — The slew rate reaches 500 V/µs under a small load, and bandwidth extends to 1 MHz at a 100 Vpp output while holding 300 kHz at maximum output voltage, so fast waveforms are reproduced faithfully.
- Twofold protection — A current limiting circuit at the output withstands the occasional short circuit without damage; a 15 mA microfuse at the input blows automatically on overvoltage (500% of rating), protecting the core of the amplifier.
- Very low output impedance — An output impedance below 0.1 Ω keeps the output voltage steady when driving resistive or small capacitive loads, which suits precision measurement and exacting electrical characterisation work.
- Current-limited adaptive output — When the load demands more than the 60 mA current limit, the amplifier reduces its output voltage proportionally to stay inside the safe current range, preventing overload damage.
- Broad application compatibility — It drives resistive and small capacitive loads (up to 120 pF), for piezo actuator drive, high voltage functional test, insulation stress testing and the high voltage reproduction of arbitrary waveforms in the laboratory.
Typical applications
- Driving piezo actuators and nanopositioning systems — In precision positioning and vibration control research, the low-voltage output of a function generator (within ±4 V) has to be amplified to several hundred volts before a PZT piezo stack or piezo motor will produce enough displacement. The A800 amplifies the signal linearly by a fixed gain of 100 to ±400 V / 800 Vp-p, and with 60 mA of continuous output current and a low output impedance (<0.1 Ω) keeps the actuator's displacement linearity steady under scanning and dynamic load conditions.
- Characterising and validating the reliability of electrostatic MEMS actuators — The electrostatic drive electrodes of a MEMS device usually need several hundred volts of bias before they cross the pull-in threshold, and during characterisation and life testing an R&D engineer has to apply a repeatable high voltage waveform to a capacitive load. The A800's broadband linear output (DC to about 300 kHz) and high 500 V/µs slew rate let a laboratory measure the complete electrostatic drive characteristic with an arbitrary waveform generator and a single amplifier, with no separate high voltage supply circuit to design.
- Liquid crystal and electro-optic modulator drive research — Liquid crystal devices and electro-optic (EO) modulators can switch at several hundred volts, and in optical phase modulation, spatial light modulator (SLM) calibration and display technology research a general-purpose amplifier that outputs accurate high voltage waveforms is needed. The A800's bipolar output allows a liquid crystal cell to be driven symmetrically between positive and negative voltage, suppressing the aging caused by ion migration — a common instrument choice for electro-optical measurement in academic laboratories and component manufacturers' R&D departments.
Key specifications
Key specifications for A800, as published by Pendulum Instruments. For the full datasheet or a customized configuration, please get in touch.
| Channels | 1 |
|---|---|
| Voltage gain | 100 (fixed) |
| Output voltage range | ±400 V (bipolar, 800 Vp-p) |
| Maximum input voltage | ±4 V (nominal) |
| Output current limit | 60 mA (continuous) |
| Maximum output power | ~30 W |
| Bandwidth (100 Vpp) | DC to 1 MHz |
| Bandwidth (at maximum output voltage) | DC to 300 kHz |
| Slew rate | 500 V/µs (load ≤200 pF) |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ (30 pF) |
| Output impedance | <0.1 Ω |
| Power supply | 100 V, 110 V or 220 V, 50/60 Hz (a version with a 110/220 V selector switch is also available) |
| Overall dimensions (W x H x D) | 257 × 102 × 262 mm |
| Weight | 4 kg |
Frequently asked questions
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