Modern railways rely on a host of electronic systems in order to operate safely and provide passenger comfort and convenience. A typical railcar distributes either 72V or 110V DC of battery power to these various systems.
Each of these systems has its own DC voltage which is often lower than the central battery voltage. Railway distributed power system designs incorporate DC/DC converters to convert the main battery voltage into the input voltage of the downstream electronic system, and DC/DC converters with a wide input voltage range can accommodate a greater number of power systems. In addition, the main battery power may also fluctuate when feeding higher power systems onboard the train, so a DC/DC converter with a wider input range is better suited to handle those wide variations in voltage.
Wide input range DC/DC converters are especially desirable for railway applications because:
- They can accommodate a broad range of common battery and bus distribution voltages.
- Designs can account for wide voltage tolerances and fluctuations.
DC/DC Converters Satisfy a Diversity of Railway Power Requirements
Polytron Devices offers DC/DC converters that address the diverse needs of railway power systems. For example, the OFQC60 Series 60-watt quarter-brick DC/DC converter features a wide 12:1 input voltage range covering potential distribution voltages of 9-75 V DC or 14V to 160V DC, according to the EN50155 standard. The wide input range allows the OFQC60 to accommodate many different power systems within the railway environment. Additional features and characteristics include:
- Output voltages of 5, 12, 15, 24, 28, 48 and 53V DC.
- Isolation voltage up to 3000V AC.
- Efficiencies up to 92 percent.
- EN55032 compliance.
- Protection against over current, over voltage, under voltage, short circuits and over temperature.
- RoHS and REACH compliance with CE Mark pending.
A Wide Input Voltage Range Means More Design Flexibility
As railways add more power systems to enable train operation and provide passenger amenities, DC/DC converters must accommodate a greater number of input voltages. Polytron Devices’ OFQC60 Series of 60-W DC/DC converters boasts an extremely wide 12:1 input range so designers can use them in a variety of power systems for modern railways.
For more information visit the OFQC60 product page.