It can be easy to take industrial power supplies for granted, even as they enable advanced communications, defense and robotics technologies. In many cases, however, these applications often place power supplies in demanding environments where not just any unit can perform. Whether your power supply is intended for a harsh automated factory environment, dusty defense locations, a remote 5G base station or the elevated temperature of an energy storage system, it's important to select an industrial power supply designed to withstand the condition. This blog post will describe some of the harmful conditions industrial power supplies may need to endure along with the features to look for in a harsh environment power supply.
Important Power Supply Considerations for Harsh Environments
When adding a power supply to your industrial equipment design, several characteristics demand careful consideration. They include:
- Enclosed design. Encapsulated power supplies prevent moisture, dust and other substances from entering the unit and compromising its performance and lifetime.
- Wide input range. Power supplies with a wide input range offer good protection against voltage fluctuations.
- Overvoltage protection. Input voltage line transients caused by lightning or other sources of load instability can occur in equipment hardwired to an AC mains supply. For power supplies in fixed installation equipment, look for a unit that meets the International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC) overvoltage (OVC) III category requirement.
- High temperatures. Overheating can degrade a power supply's performance and lead to premature failure. Be sure to consider your power supply's ability to dissipate heat.
- Vibration and shock. Military and other demanding applications can expose power supplies to damaging vibrations and shock forces. MIL-STD-810 governs shock and vibration testing and compliance for commercial equipment used in many military applications.
- Built-in safeguards. Power supplies often include protective controls to prevent damage from various threats.
The Polytron RENUI500 from Daburn Electronics is an example of an AC/DC power supply that is well-suited for tough industrial environments. The rugged unit is fully encapsulated to prevent contamination and allows for two cooling methods: heat dissipation via direct mounting to the system chassis or an optional heat sink. The series meets OVC III overvoltage requirements for use with fixed installation equipment, satisfies the MIL-STD-810F standards for shock, thermal shock and vibrations, and they are in compliance with EN61000 requirements for ESD, radiated immunity, fast transients, surges, dips and more. They also come with built-in over temperature, overvoltage and short circuit protections. Additional features and specifications of the RENUI500 Series include:
- 85 to 264V universal input
- Up to 93 percent efficiency
- 3,000V AC Reinforced Insulation
- No minimum load required
- Power good signal
- Remote ON/OFF
This combination of features makes the RENUI500 Series attractive for 5G communications, ESS, defense, robotics and automated equipment.
Not All Power Supplies Are Rugged
When it comes to powering equipment in rugged applications, not all AC/DC power supplies are the same. Be sure to look for power supplies that include a means of contamination prevention, allow for easy and efficient heat dissipation, comply with applicable standards and which come with built-in safeguards to ensure reliability. Our RENUI500 AC/DC power supply offers these protective features, along with a current-sharing function for parallel connections. Our engineers are ready to assist you in selecting the best switching power supply for your application.
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