AC/DC converter simplifies reliable operation in industrial and telecom applications

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc has expanded its presence in the industrial, robotics and 5G telecom markets with the release of the AE Artesyn AIF42 AC/DC converter. The new converter lessens system size, produces best-in-class 93% efficiency and improves reliability by minimising the necessity for external components.

The full brick module is rated for 500W of continuous power and delivers integrated functionality that enables ease of use, rapid application design and fast time-to-market. This incorporates a proprietary internal inrush current limiting function, which saves space, lowers overall system cost and improves reliability by eradicating the necessity for external components to provide inrush current protection. In addition, a 10V auxiliary output provides low-power housekeeping circuitry to be supplied straight from the module rather than a second AC/DC power converter.

“AE’s new module is designed for applications that require high performance and reliable operation in harsh environments,” said Joe Voyles, vice president marketing, industrial power conversion products at Advanced Energy. “The new AIF42 offers industry-leading efficiency, simplifies and speeds application design, and minimises overall bill of materials by providing built-in, application-focused features.”

The converter’s high operating efficiency over a wide load range lowers energy consumption and minimises heat dissipation. The module’s design is optimised for IP-sealed applications in high-pollution environments or externally mounted systems, which require thermally-bonded and contact-cooled solutions to a cold wall or heatsink. This results in 100% available output power at baseplate temperatures as high as 100C.

PMBus control and monitoring enable designers to optimise power supply operation to the specific needs of the target application. This connectivity can also be employed to access information on the power supply and system health during operation in the field.

Accommodating a wide universal input range of 90-264VAC, the full brick module provides a nominal isolated 12V output with a load rating from 0A to 42A. An external hold-up function can be implemented by adding recommended capacitors to the module’s HVDC port. Active current share and start-sync functionality simplify solutions implementation for applications that need two units to operate in parallel.