PROCEEDINGS OF UNIVERSITY OF RUSE - 2021, volume 60, book 3.1.

FRI-ONLINE-1-EEEA-06

ELECTRONIC LOAD BASED ON ARDUINO NANO 6

Assistant. Prof. Dimitar Trifonov, PhD

Department of Electronic,
University of Ruse Angel Kunchev, Ruse, Bulgaria
Tel.: 359883405725
E-mail: dtrifonov@uni-ruse.bg

Abstract: The paper presents an electronic load with smooth current regulation, based on Arduino Nano
microcontroller. Such an electronic load is used for recording of the operating characteristics of DC power supplies,
batteries and DC generators. Taking these characteristics is essential when assessing the energy efficiency and performance
of a DC source. The use of transistors as a load significantly reduces the size of the module as well as the test time compared
to conventional load resistors.
Key word: microcontroller, electronic load

INTRODUCTION
Energy efficiency is related to the reduction of electricity consumption which leads to a reduction
of carbon monoxide emissions. Тhis topic affects both everyday life and all industry. Energy efficiency
is a key assessment of the operation of any designed system, which is stated in Directive 2005/32 / EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union of 06.07.2005.
The modern world is increasingly dependent on electronic devices, from everyday electronics to
electric cars and photovoltaic panels. Most modern devices are dependent on DC power sources, such
as DC power supplies and rechargeable batteries.
Their continuous improvement in terms of productivity is implemented through reducing their
energy expenses. This way, in addition to their electronic components, their power supply is also
becoming very important. More and more electronic devices work with different types of rechargeable
batteries. This raises the need to take the performance characteristics in order to find the optimal mode
of operation.
EXPOSITION
А. Object of research.
The development of electronics, in addition to the technology of production of the individual
components, is also necessary to improve the power supply. The way to do this is through improving the
power sources, such as DC power supplies and batteries. This can be achieved by studying the
performance characteristics and finding their optimal modes of operation.
In the case of DC sources, there is a need to study the relationship between the input and output
parameters at different loads. In other words, how the parameters change: current, voltage and power
depending on the load at the power output, as well as the need to study the continuous operation at
maximum load (Deblecker, 2013).
Rechargeable batteries require constant monitoring in order to preserve their life under normal
operating conditions. For this reason, periodic checks of the ratio of the current capacity to the maximum
of the batteries are necessary (Quintero, 2020). Giving us information on how the efficiency of the
battery is affected depending on the current condition of the battery and its performance.
In the case of DC generators, in order to study their operating characteristics, it is necessary to take
into account their efficiency at different loads (Yang, 2019).
In the case of photovoltaic panels, the temperature curve I-V is studied, as well as the dependence
of idling and short circuit in order to determine the performance of the panel (Kuai, 2006).

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език: ЕЛЕКТРИЧЕСКИ ТОВАР БАЗИРАН НА АРДУИНО НАНО
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 PROCEEDINGS OF UNIVERSITY OF RUSE - 2021, volume 60, book 3.1.

The tests listed so far are usually carried out using load resistors, which have a number of
disadvantages (Quintero, 2020):
- dimensions;
- inability to control their parameters;
- using more than one to achieve a wider range of regulation;
- need for switching when changing the resistance.
Nowadays, all these problems are solved with the use of electronic load (Quintero, 2020) and the
existing electronic load makes it possible to simulate a numerous modes of operation, such as (Ramirez,
2007):
- constant current;
- constant voltage;
- constant power;
- constant resistance.
B. Electronic circuit and working algorithm
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows the block diagram of an electronic load based on MOSFET transistors.
The circuit consists of 2 MOSFET IRL3103PbF transistors connected in parallel, which implement
the load. They have following parameters:
- Drain-to-Source Breakdown Voltage - 𝑈𝑈𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = 30𝑉𝑉;
- Gate Threshold Voltage - 𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺(𝑡𝑡ℎ) = 1𝑉𝑉;
- Continuous Drain Current ( 𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 = 10𝑉𝑉) - 𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶 = 25℃/100℃ − 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = 64𝐴𝐴 /45𝐴𝐴 ;
- Gate-to-Source Voltage: 𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 = ±16𝑉𝑉.
From the datasheet of IRL3103PBF can be seen that the maximum load voltage is limited by 𝑈𝑈𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 =
30𝑉𝑉 of the transistor.
The operational amplifiers LM224M provides constant current mode, the potentiometer allows to
regulating the current from the load. The Arduino Nano module is used to convert current values and
display them on the LCD display. ADS1115 is used to extend the range of measurements on the resistor
𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀 = 1 𝑂𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑚 voltage drop.
In fig. 1 is presented ADS1115 16-bit ADC which has the following limitations:
- Power supply (VDD to GND) – min to max (2V - 5.5V);
- FSR – GRD ±0.256𝑉𝑉 , VDD ±6.144𝑉𝑉.

Fig. 1 The ADS1115 16-bit analog-to-digital converter

Using equation (1) and the FSR parameter of ADS1115 we can calculate the maximum current 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
that can be measured by the circuit.

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 PROCEEDINGS OF UNIVERSITY OF RUSE - 2021, volume 60, book 3.1.

𝑈𝑈𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = (1)
𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀
6.144
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = = 6.144 𝐴𝐴 (2)
1

Fig. 2. Circuit of the electronic load

When switching on the module, the 12V power supply is fed to the Arduino module, the MOSFET
transistors and the potentiometer. The voltage drop on the potentiometer is fed to the terminal of the
operational amplifier LM224M, and depending on the value of the terminal, changes the value of 𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 .
At the initial moment when the voltage drops on the potentiometer 𝑈𝑈𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 0𝑉𝑉, then the operational
amplifier LM224M sets the voltage 𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 = 0𝑉𝑉 and no current flows through the MOSFET transistors,
i.e. they are in standby mode. When a voltage 𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 > 𝑈𝑈𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 is supplied, the transistor turns on and 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
current begins to flow between their drain and source terminals.

Fig. 3 Schematic of the measuring system

Due to the lack of connection between the 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 current and the voltage between the gate terminal
and the load (𝑈𝑈𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 ), a load resistance of 1 Ohm is included. The measured voltage between resistor 𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀

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 PROCEEDINGS OF UNIVERSITY OF RUSE - 2021, volume 60, book 3.1.

is applied to the output of the operational amplifier (-). In this way he controls the value of the current
in order to reach 𝑈𝑈𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 = 𝑈𝑈𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 .
C. Arduino code
The source code of the developed module is presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Source code of the developed module.
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <Adafruit_ADS1015.h>
Adafruit_ADS1115 ads(0x48);
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);
const float multiplier = 0.0001875;
float offset = 0.004;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
ads.begin();
delay(10);
lcd.init();
lcd.backlight();
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print(" ELECTRONIC LOAD ");
delay(500);
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print(" CONSTANT LOAD ");
delay(1000);
}
void loop() {
float set_value, real_value;
real_value = ads.readADC_Differential_1_2();
set_value = ads.readADC_SingleEnded(0);
set_value = (set_value * multiplier) - offset;
real_value = real_value * multiplier - offset;
if(real_value < 0)
{ real_value = 0; }
if(set_value < 0)
{ set_value = 0; }
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("Set: ");
lcd.print(set_value,2);
lcd.print(" A");
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print("Current: ");
lcd.print(real_value,2);
lcd.print(" A");
delay(200);
}

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 PROCEEDINGS OF UNIVERSITY OF RUSE - 2021, volume 60, book 3.1.

CONCLUSION
In the present study an electronic load circuit based on MOSFET IRL3103PbF transistors has been
designed, which can be used as constant current load. The block diagram and programming code of the
Arduino controller are presented.
The implemented scheme could be applied in the study of the characteristics of low-power DC
motors and laboratory power supplies.

REFERENCES
Deblecker, O. & Versèle, C. & De Grève Z. & Lobry, J. (2013) "Multiobjective optimization of
a power supply for space application using a flexible CAD tool," 15th European Conference on Power
Electronics and Applications (EPE), 2013, pp. 1-10, doi: 10.1109/EPE.2013.6631797.
Kuai, Yingying & Yuvarajan, S.. (2006). An electronic load for testing photovoltaic panels.
Journal of Power Sources - J POWER SOURCES. 154. 308-313. 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.04.016.
Quintero, Edwin & Palacio-Fernández, Jose. (2020). Development of an Electronic Load Applied
to the Characterization of Electric Batterie. International Journal of Engineering Research and
Technology. 13. 973. 10.37624/IJERT/13.5.2020.973-977.
Ramirez, J. M. & Torres, M. E. (2007) "An Electronic Load Controller for Self-Excited Induction
Generators," IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting, 2007, pp. 1-8, doi:
10.1109/PES.2007.385540.
Yang, Qingwen & Yang, Huan & Gu, Xiaowei & He, Shaomin & Cai, Zhuojian. (2019). Power
Electronic Load System for Motor Drivers Testing Considering Motor Faulty Status Simulation. 1-6.
10.1109/ICEMS.2019.8921962.

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