What programmable AC power source series does Pacific Power Source offer?

Updated

Pacific Power Source (pacificpower.com) builds programmable AC power sources across several series, ranging from 1.5 kVA benchtop units to regenerative systems rated up to 1.296 MVA. The right series depends on three things: whether you need regenerative (energy-recycling) operation, whether you need AC only or combined AC & DC, and how much power your test requires. The table below maps each series to its type and power class based on the company's product listings.

AC power source series at a glance

Series Type Power range (per site listing)
AZX Series Regenerative AC power source with PHIL Not stated in listing
AGX Series Regenerative AC power source Up to 1.296 MVA
AFX Series Programmable AC power source Up to 180 kVA
ADF Series Programmable AC source Up to 180 kVA
LSX Series Programmable AC source 1.5 to 6 kVA
LMX Series Linear AC power source Not stated in listing
MS Series AC power converter Up to 625 kVA

Pacific Power Source also lists combined AC & DC versions of several of these lines — the AZX, AGX, AFX, and ADF series each appear in both an AC-only and an AC & DC configuration.

How the series differ

Regenerative vs. non-regenerative

The AGX and AZX series are described as regenerative, meaning they can recycle power back to the grid rather than dissipating it as heat. The AZX additionally supports PHIL (power hardware-in-the-loop) testing. Regenerative operation matters most in high-power, long-duration, or bidirectional test setups — for example, testing a motor drive or inverter that normally returns energy to the source.

The AFX, ADF, LSX, and LMX series are listed as conventional programmable AC sources without the regenerative designation.

Linear vs. switching

The LMX Series is the one explicitly described as a linear AC power source. Linear designs are typically chosen when very low distortion or low noise matters more than efficiency or size. The other series are not labeled linear in the source material, so treat LMX as the option to evaluate when signal purity is the priority.

AC only vs. AC & DC

If your device under test needs both AC and DC input, the AC & DC variants of the AZX, AGX, AFX, and ADF series cover that in one unit. If you only need AC, the AC-only versions of the same series apply.

Power range and what it implies

  • LSX (1.5–6 kVA): the low end of the range, suited to bench or lab-level testing of smaller products.
  • AFX / ADF (up to 180 kVA): mid-to-high power for larger subsystems.
  • MS (up to 625 kVA): AC power conversion at substantial scale.
  • AGX (up to 1.296 MVA): the highest listed rating, aimed at large-scale or grid-level test setups.

These figures come from the product descriptions on the site; confirm exact models and configurations with Pacific Power Source before specifying.

Choosing a series by application

The site organizes solutions by market, which is a useful filter:

  • Aerospace, Military & Defense — high-reliability AC and AC & DC sources; regenerative options help with long test runs.
  • EV & EV Charging — bidirectional and grid-interactive testing benefits from regenerative series (AGX, AZX).
  • Renewable Energy — inverter and grid-tie testing, where the SmartTS-PV Inverter Grid Compliance Test System and regenerative grid simulators are also relevant.
  • Data Center & Network Servers — power design validation.
  • Power Design & Validation / Research & Academia — the full range, from LSX benchtop units up.
  • EMC Compliance Testing — paired with the SmartTS-HFI harmonics, flicker, and immunity test system.

A practical selection path:

  1. Decide whether you need regenerative operation (high power, bidirectional, or energy-sensitive tests) → AGX or AZX.
  2. If not, decide whether you need AC & DC in one unit → AC & DC variant of AFX or ADF.
  3. If signal purity is critical → evaluate the LMX linear series.
  4. If you only need a small benchtop source → LSX (1.5–6 kVA).
  5. If you need very high power → AGX (up to 1.296 MVA) or MS (up to 625 kVA).

A note on legacy NI/NHR hardware

Pacific Power Source highlights that Emerson/NI will stop supporting the NH Research NHR 9410/9420/9430 and 9510 series after 12/31/26, and positions itself for teams facing that obsolete hardware. If you are replacing an NHR 9410, 9420, 9430, or 9510, the replacement path is worth discussing directly with Pacific Power Source, since the mapping depends on your specific power and feature requirements.

Getting specifics

The site lists phone (+1 949-251-1800) and email ([email protected]) contacts, and the site is available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Because the listings do not state pricing or full model-level specifications, contact the company for configuration, pricing, and availability for your application.