High-efficiency AC/DC brick converter family to 48V

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc has expanded its Artesyn AIF family of intelligent, integrated and configurable full-brick AC/DC converters with a 48V module. The AIF11WAC functions with best-in-class efficiencies up to 93% and provides a small form factor solution for the latest 48V power architectures in 5G remote-radio-head RF, robotics, 3D printing and industrial designs.

Rated for 500W of continuous power and providing a wide 90VAC to 264VAC input range, the device decreases system size and component count. Integrated PMBus control and monitoring and an intuitive GUI simplify power supply optimisation and allow ongoing system health measurements throughout operation. A fully encapsulated construction supports operation in high-pollution and harsh environments and systems that need external mounting, such as external signage, IP-sealed industrial automation systems, heavy industrial equipment that produces conductive dust and 5G telecom communication nodes.

“Telecom and industrial applications are transitioning to more efficient 48V power architectures as customers look to deliver improved performance while keeping energy consumption low,” said Joe Voyles, vice president of marketing, industrial power conversion products at Advanced Energy. “This new addition to our family of highly integrated, high-efficiency full-brick AC/DC converters supports this evolution, reduces component count and simplifies application design.”

The device is intended for contact-cooled operation. It provides an internal inrush limiting function matched to the module's hold-up function, removing the external inrush current protection requirement. Size and component count in the system can be lowered further thanks to a 10V auxiliary output that allows low-power housekeeping circuitry to be provided directly from the module rather than a second AC/DC power converter.

With no minimum load demand, the module offers a regulated, isolated 48V output for loads up to 11A. It includes active current share and start-sync functionality, simplifying solutions implementation for applications that need two units to operate in parallel.