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DC
Loads
Lab
Supplies
DC/DC
Converters
DC/AC
Inverters
AC/DC
Converters
Linear
Supplies
Battery
Cargers
Prewired
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Map
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Wherever a dc
power supply is required there is more often than not the
need to convert from ac mains to dc. These ac to dc converters
(often called "rectifiers" or simply "power supplies")
come in various shapes and sizes, and in different mounting styles.
 24Vdc
din rail power supplies are commonly used in control and automation
applications whilst OEM's often prefer a chassis mounted, or
open frame type of ac to dc power supply.
In sectors such as Telecommunications, Oil and Gas, or Power
Generation 19 inch rack mounted dc power supplies are much more
common. In these applications multiple units are placed in the
same rack and operated in a parallel or n+1 redundant configuration
to provide extra power or a degree of integrity should one power
supply fail. These dc power supplies are often used to charge
batteries, which then provide backup to the system should the
ac mains disappear. Voltages of 48Vdc are common in Telecommunications,
whilst higher dc voltages such as 125Vdc or 220Vdc are used in
Power Generation applications. Large systems offer a degree of
networking via a CAN bus or similar, where a monitoring module
can be installed to monitor the power supplies, and feedback
to a host pc or facilitate remote interrogation.
The technology of dc power supplies has changed over the last
20 years. Linear power supplies have gradually been replaced
by switched mode power supply designs. SMPS units are smaller
in size, highly efficient and lower in cost due to the volumes
now being produced. However, due to the switching frequencies
used, some applications such as radio transmission stations,
military equipment etc still require Linear technology to reduce
interference.
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