Lastgerät

Lastgerät is a German term used in electrical engineering to denote a device that acts as a controllable electrical load in a circuit. Its primary function is to draw power from a source in a repeatable, adjustable manner, enabling testing, characterization, and verification of power supplies, inverters, chargers, batteries, and energy-management systems. By simulating real-world consumption, a Lastgerät helps engineers assess performance under various load conditions without connecting to a real consumer.

There are several types of Lastgerät. Passive loads use fixed resistances to present a constant impedance. Reactive loads simulate inductive or capacitive effects found in motors or power electronics. Electronic or programmable loads are the most versatile: they can be set to draw a specific current, voltage, or power and can vary these parameters over time or in response to control signals. Modern electronic loads often include precise measurement capabilities (voltage, current, power, energy) and protection features such as overcurrent, overvoltage, and thermal safeguards.

Applications for Lastgerät span laboratory development, quality assurance, and field testing. They are used to test power supplies, uninterruptible power systems (UPS), solar inverters, battery chargers, and automotive or industrial electronics. In research, they support reliability testing, efficiency measurements, and thermal analysis by providing controlled, repeatable loads.

Operating principles typically rely on feedback-controlled switching devices (such as MOSFETs or IGBTs) to regulate current or voltage while dissipating energy as heat. Proper ventilation and adherence to safety standards are important due to potentially high power levels.