Any device or circuit element that draws current from a power supply, battery, or signal output. A load has electrical impedance, which dictates how much current flows for a given voltage. In testing, engineers often use dummy loads to simulate the real power draw of a motor or antenna without actually running one.
Disconnect the load and measure the open-circuit voltage again to see if the supply is drooping.
Related terms
Dummy load
A resistive device used to absorb power from a transmitter or amplifier during testing.
Load voltage
The actual electrical potential measured across a component that is drawing power.
Source
The terminal of a field-effect transistor where majority charge carriers enter the channel.
Impedance coil
A wire coil specifically designed to introduce a set amount of impedance to an alternating current circuit.