AC/DC power supplies continue to shrink

Whether the AC/DC power supplies are open-frame or enclosed models or even desktop adapters, the latest power devices for medical and industrial applications share a few things in common: They offer a smaller solution size and achieve a higher power density while providing higher efficiency.

In addition, you’ll find that many power supply manufacturers are rolling out flexible and more options to meet the wide range of medical and industrial applications. Cooling and the capability to parallel power supplies are also important factors. Not surprisingly, these AC/DC power supplies also meet a variety of safety approvals and can operate in harsh environments.

Here is a selection of AC/DC power supplies that meet medical and industrial power requirements. In some cases, they meet requirements for both market segments.

Medical power supplies

XP Power has introduced an AC/DC power supply series that is 50% smaller than existing solutions on the market, according to the company, thereby doubling the power density. The new AQM family range of ultra-compact medical desktop power supplies, measuring 6.56 × 2.13 × 1.3 inches (166.5 × 54.2 × 33.0 mm), offers power densities up to 11 W/in.³.

Targeting fan-less solutions in home health-care and hospital applications, the AQM series offers three power levels — 200 W (AQM200), 250 W (AQM250), and 300 W (AQM300) — to address a variety of medical applications. All units operate from a universal mains input of 85–264 VAC. The AQM250 offers single outputs of 12 V, 19 V, 24 V, and 48 V, with the AQM200 and AQM300 supplies also offering a 15-V output configuration.

These low-loss AQM power supplies are based on wide-bandgap gallium nitride technology, offering efficiencies up to 94% and consuming less than 150 mW in standby mode. They meet Energy Efficiency Level VI. All devices deliver full output power up to 40˚C and can be used with derating up to 60˚C, said XP Power.

The AQM power supplies are certified to a range of international safety and EMI approvals, including EN/IEC60601-1, EN61000, and EN55032. They are compliant with 4th Edition Medical EMC requirements and offer 2 × MOPP protection. In addition, Class I and Class II versions of all the variants are available, which allows for use in professional health-care facilities such as hospitals and remotely in patients’ homes or workplaces, said the company.

For open-frame supplies, Cincon Electronics Co., Ltd. offers a 500-W AC/DC power supply in a 3 × 5-inch footprint (127 × 76.2 × 39.1 mm) for medical applications. The CFM500M series is a 2 × MOPP high-density medical AC/DC power supply with a baseplate cooling design. The series has safety approvals for UL60601-1/IEC60601-1/EN60601-1 Ed.3.1 and meets IEC/EN60335-1.

The CFM500M series offers an extended input range of 80–264 VAC. The power supplies are available in five outputs of 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 VDC and come with an optional cover/case. Other key features include a high efficiency of 94.5%, a low leakage current of <0.1 mA, a low no-load input power consumption of less than 0.5 W, and a wide operating temperature range of –40˚C to 85˚C.

Other features include on/off remote control, power-good and power-fail signal, and protection for overtemperature, continuous short-circuit, output overvoltage, and output overcurrent. These power supplies can be used at high altitudes up to 5,000 meters max.

Medical applications include health care as well as diagnostic and monitoring equipment in hospitals and dental clinics. They also meet EN60335-1 for household appliances.

CUI, a Bel group company, has added 12 models to its VMS-C and VMS-C-CNF range of medical AC/DC power supplies, available in both open-frame or metal-case variants. These higher-power models, up to 550 W, are chassis-mount units suited for use in medical and home health-care applications, such as ultrasound machines and medical beds.

These power supplies feature a universal input voltage up to 264 VAC and output voltages of 12, 15, 24, 27, 36, and 48 V. They can be adjusted using an on-board trim pot. The operating temperature range is –40˚C to 70˚C (85˚C for the 100-/120-W products). They also provide a low standby power consumption of 0.5 W. All units can operate up to an altitude of 5,000 meters.

The compact VMS-C and VMS-C-CNF range are medical-/household-certified to ES/EN 60601, EN61558, and EN60335 safety standards. They are suited for safety Class I or Class II installations and particularly in medical applications in which a low leakage current of less than 0.1 mA is specified, said the company.

TT Electronics introduced a 700-W medical-grade enclosed power supply in a small 6.7 × 3.66-inch footprint. The TAAM700 provides 17.8 W/in.³ and operates over a wide operating temperature range of –30˚C to 70˚C for thermally challenged environments. This power supply targets space-constrained health-care and industrial equipment, such as laser devices and robotics.

The power supply provides 625–700 W of continuous output power with a remote on/off function and optional built‐in current share (configurable to 1.26 kW), and it features Body Floating (BF)-rated outputs. It is approved to UL/EN/IEC 60601-1. All models meet FCC PART 15 and EN55032 Class B emission limits and comply with UL, IEC, CE, and UKCA.

The TAAM700 offers standard output voltages from 12 VDC to 48 VDC. All options are fully certified to applicable safety and EMC standards, which reduces compliance risk, simplifies design-in, and accelerates time to market, said the company.

Industrial power supplies

Powerbox has launched a 1,200-W AC/DC power supply for industrial applications. The OFI1200A is optimized for conduction cooling, delivering high performance across a baseplate temperature range of –40˚C to 95˚C without the use of a fan. The power supply operates over a wide universal input range from 85 to 305 VAC with power-factor correction (PFC).

The OFI1200A is available in three versions with a single-output DC voltage: 12 V/84 A, 28 V/43 A, and 48 V/25 A. Using a high-efficiency topology, the typical efficiency for the 48-V output unit at 230 VAC input is 92%. The unit includes PFC with a coefficient of 0.98/0.95 (110 VAC/230 VAC).

The OFI1200A has been designed to guarantee optimal heat transfer from the dissipating components to the baseplate, said the company, and a derating may apply as specified in the technical documentation.

Meeting a range of applications, the output voltage and current can be adjusted from near zero to the maximum allowed for each model. To precisely adjust the voltage and current, the OFI1200A offers two analog inputs: the VTRM and ITRM. One example cited includes a 28-V output that can be adjusted from near 0 V up to 33.6 V, and the output current from near 0 A up to 43 A. The output voltage can also be adjusted using the on-board potentiometer.

The extended trimming and control function simplifies the use of the power supply in constant-voltage or constant-current mode without adding external circuitry, said Powerbox.

For applications requiring redundancy or higher power, nine units can be connected in parallel, for a total power level of up to 9,720 W in conduction-cooling mode. To maintain the highest level of efficiency when operated in parallel or in redundancy mode, optional active OR-ing circuitry deploying FET technology (Option-O) is available on the OFI1200A28 and OFI1200A48, said the company.

The OFI1200A has passed shock and vibration testing as specified in MIL-STD-810H and is designed to sustain 20G-level shocks. The power supply is certified in accordance with UL62368-1 3rd edition, cUL (equivalent to CAN/CSA-C22.2 No.62368-1). It meets the European RoHS, REACH, and Low Voltage directives and carries the CE, UKCA, and cURus markings.

The OFI1200A, in an open frame, measures 5.59 × 1.54 × 10.36 inches (142 × 39 × 260 mm) and weighs 1.2 kg maximum. The power supply can be used in a range of harsh applications such as electronic equipment installed in a sealed box, radio communication systems subject to adverse weather conditions, outdoor displays and traffic signaling, and indoor equipment with audible noise restrictions.

Another 1,200-W series comes from Advanced Energy. The company expanded the LCC family with the introduction of the Artesyn LCC1200 series of fanless, conduction-cooled AC/DC power supplies. The LCC1200 delivers up to a 1,200-W power output and 93.5% efficiency in a compact form factor, measuring 4.5 × 11 × 1.57 inches. The new power supplies are suited for industrial applications including outdoor digital LED signage, traffic light equipment, industrial lighting, telecommunications antenna, and commercial off-the-shelf solutions.

Unlike other power supplies that require output derating above 55˚C, the LCC1200 can maintain its full 1,200-W load capacity from –40˚C to 85˚C baseplate temperature without forced air, said Advanced Energy. The LCC1200 is also said to provide one of the industry’s highest power densities, at 15 W/in.³.

With a universal 90- to 264-VAC input, the LCC1200 series can be used globally without adjustment, said the company. The power supplies feature a single 28- or 24-VDC output with wide adjustment and a 5-V standby voltage output. It supports active current sharing, and up to three units can be operated in parallel to support higher load currents.

The LCC1200 family is approved to the international IEC62368-1 ITE safety standard and carries cUL, CE, UKCA, and CCC certifications. The built-in PMBus interface provides digital communication with control and monitoring functions for voltage, current, temperature, and reporting of fault conditions. The LCC1200 has a calculated MTBF of more than 2 million hours.

The LCC1200 series is also available with IP20 and IP65 ratings. The IP65 version is housed in a fully sealed enclosure to protect against dust and water ingress, making it suited for fanless outdoor and enclosed industrial applications.

At the other end of the spectrum for lower-power, space-constrained industrial applications, Traco Power recently introduced the TPI 50A-J, a 50-W AC/DC open-frame power supply series with a 3,000-VAC reinforced isolation system. The new series, housed in a 3 × 1.5 × 1.18-inch footprint, offers a peak power function (70 W), which enables it to deliver up to 140% of the rated power for up to 5 seconds, said the company. The power supplies also offer a high efficiency of up to 93% and an operating temperature range (natural convection) of –40˚C to 60˚C without derating, and up to 85˚C with either load derating or forced cooling.

The series offers a range of output voltages: 5, 12, 15, 24, 36, 48, and 53 VDC. The supplies are designed to meet the ErP directive (<0.3-W no-load power consumption) and EMC characteristics for applications in industrial/automation as well as test and measurement markets.

Double-duty power supplies

In many cases, AC/DC power supplies are designed to support the high-reliability requirements of both industrial and medical applications. One recent example is the the AEA600F series of 600-W free-air convection-cooling power supplies from Cosel Co., Ltd. These open-frame AC/DC power supplies can deliver 300% peak power for up to 1,000 ms for medical and industrial applications. This supports the need for power supplies to deliver extra power during peak operation times, as required by dynamic loads such as at motor startup, said the company.

Designed for applications that require a high level of safety, the AEA600F is certified to the EN62477-1 (OVC III) standard for industrial applications and is approved by ANSI/AAMI ES60601-1 and EN60601-1 3rd Edition for medical applications. The AEA600F is suitable for BF applications and complies with the 2 × MOPP (IN/OUT) and 1 × MOPP (OUT/FG) safety requirement.

In addition, the AEA600F complies with the following safety requirements: UL (USA), C-UL (Canada), DEMKO (Denmark), and TUV (Germany). The product is UL62368-1– and EN62368-1–certified and conforms to the European RoHS, REACH, and Low Voltage directives.

The AEA600F is also certified to the EN62477-1 Over Voltage Category Three (OVC III). This means that final equipment powered by the products can be directly connected to the main distribution panel without adding an extra level of isolation, said Cosel, which simplifies system design, reduces costs, and guarantees high efficiency.

Designed for international applications, the AEA600F provides an input voltage of 85–264 VAC. Three output voltages are available: 24 V, 36 V, and 48 V, with respective current ratings of 25 A, 16.7 A, and 12.5 A. The output voltage can be adjusted using a built-in potentiometer.

The AEA600F includes built-in inrush current, overcurrent, and overvoltage protection circuits as well as thermal protection. The operating temperature range is –20˚C to 70˚C. The power supply measures 1.61 × 5 × 7.32 inches (41 × 127 × 186 mm) in an open frame and can be connected in parallel up to six units.

Target applications include robots and robotics, infusion pumps, ventilators, actuators, process control, radio and transmission equipment, and emergency signaling.

TDK Corp. released the TDK-Lambda–brand CUS500M1 500-W AC/DC power supplies as an alternative to its 600-W CUS600M models, offering cost reduction for lower-power, more cost-sensitive applications. Housed in a 3 × 5-inch footprint, the CUS500M1 is suitable for use in a range of Class I or Class II (double-insulated) applications, including home health care, medical, and dental, as well as test and measurement and broadcast and industrial equipment.

The CUS500M1 series accepts an 85- to 264-VAC input and offers seven output voltages: 12, 19, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 48 V. An integral fan option with cover is also available. The open frame models measure 76.2 × 127 × 37 mm or 85 × 157 × 42.5 mm with the cover/fan assembly fitted.

When convection cooled, the CUS500M1 can deliver 300 W (500 W peak) over an ambient temperature range of –20˚C to 40˚C, derating linearly to 150-W load at 70˚C. With forced air cooling or the integral fan fitted, the series provides up to 500 W at 60˚C ambient, derating to 400 W at 70˚C. The series offers an efficiency up to 96%, reducing internal power losses.

Key features include an input-to-output isolation of 4,000 VAC (2 × MOPP), an input-to-ground isolation of 2,000 VAC (1 × MOPP), and an output-to-ground isolation of 1,500 VAC (1 × MOPP) for suitability in B- and BF-rated medical equipment. The leakage current is <200 µA and the touch current is <100 µA. The maximum operating, transportation, and storage altitude is 5,000 meters.

Safety certifications include IEC/EN/ES 60601-1 and IEC/EN/UL 62368-1, with CE and UKCA markings for the Low Voltage, EMC, and RoHS directives. The units also meet EN 55011-B and EN 55032-B conducted and radiated emissions (for Class II applications, external filtering may be required, said the company), as well as EN 61000-3-2 harmonics, IEC60601-1-2 Edition 4, and IEC 61000-4 immunity standards.

Recom Power GmbH also extended its range of AC/DC open-frame power supplies with a 600-W model. The RACM600-L series can deliver 400/450 W (115/230 VAC) with convection cooling, while 600 W is available with continuously forced airflow. The product features a universal 80- to 275-VAC input and a single 24-V output, adjustable ±20%, rated at 25 A. A standby output at 5 V/0.5 A is also available.

The RACM600-L comes in a U-channel format, measuring 97 × 102 × 41 mm (1U), and includes fixings for chassis mounting. The operating temperature range is –20˚C to 70˚C with derating.

The RACM600-L series features an efficiency of up to 93% and can be paralleled for redundancy or increased output with internal OR-ing diodes and active current sharing. Other features include on/off control, a power-good signal and remote sensing, a PMBus interface, and protection against overcurrent, overtemperature, overvoltage, and short-circuits.

The RACM600-L is designed for high-availability applications such as medical and process control. Certifications include 2 × MOPP medical safety (IEC/EN/CSA/ ANSI/AAMI-ES 60601-1) up to 3,000 meters, with leakage current suitable for BF applications. The module is also certified to IEC 62368-1 for IT/multimedia/industrial applications, with reinforced safety isolation to 5,000-meter operation.

EMC curve “B” compliance to EN 55032 is achieved with a good margin without external components, said Recom, and surge and burst immunity is at Level 4.