Elma Bustronic’s 3U VPX Load Board

Elma Bustronic (www.bustronic.com) of Fremont, California, famous maker of high backplanes and system accessories — and which debuted the industry’s first VXS Extender Board in January 2006 — has announced a new 3U (5.25-inch) VPX Load Board. A load board tests the cooling and power of a computer platform. Back in August 2007, for example, Elma released a hot-swappable AMC form factor load board to test and debug MicroTCA (News - Alert) systems.

Elma Bustronic’s new 3U VPX Load Board can confirm that a chassis meets the VITA 46/48 power specifications for VPX and aids in locating hot spots in the enclosure. The load board tests a system’s cooling capabilities by first applying the load to the power supply for verification and creating the necessary heat to confirm chassis cooling. By locating hot spots in the chassis, a system designer can verify where to optimally redirect the airflow to prevent overheating. The 3U VPX load card features a microcontroller-based stepped load control to 100W maximum. The rotary switch selects the voltage setting while pushing the ON switch will cycle between different power levels shown on the LED display. The set load power levels are saved in EEPROM.

Other features include a power reset button (to minimum level) and a SYSRESET signal on the two test point outputs. Go-No-Go indicators are present for 3.3V, 5V, 12V, +12V_Aux, -12V_Aux and 3.3V_Aux. There is also anIEEE ( News — Alert) injector/ejector handle to provide a secure and convenient latching mechanism. Bustronic is also planning a 6U (10.5-inch) VPX Load board as well as conduction-cooled version in the coming months.

Richard Grigonis is Executive Editor of TMC (News - Alert)’s IP Communications Group.

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