Latest News from Powerstax plc

Powerstax announces the introduction of a new model to their range of Flexistax high efficiency power supplies.

Designed as a 1U solution, this new 275 watt ruggedised external power supply offers more than 90% efficiency, measuring just 250 x 95 x 44 and typically weighing 1.6Kg. For desk-top applications non-scratch feet are available. Using an external power solution offers system designers the benefits of reducing equipment size, removing heat and reducing any possible EMC concerns in sensitive equipment.

This low noise, multi-purpose power supply is fitted with field replaceable fan and air exhaust filters making it ideal for harsh and industrial environments. Power connection is via a switched and fused IEC connector and a power good LED is provided. The DC output connector may be user specified, including a tethered cable option which may be terminated to suit individual customer requirements. Featuring a universal mains input the Flexistax external power supply is available with a single DC output which may be specified as 5, 12, 13.8, 15, 24 or 48VDC.

The new Flexistax external power supply may also be supplied as a medical version and a 350 watt model in the same small enclosure will shortly be available. Typical applications include; mobile communications and test and measurement systems, transportable electronic equipment, medical, surveillance and homeland security systems.

For more information email sales@powerstaxplc.com or call +44 (0)1252 407800

Powerstax, announces the availability of a new DC-DC converter for the rapidly growing LED lighting market. This compact high efficiency DC:DC converter has a wide input range, from 11 to 36VDC, and provides a constant current single output, variable from 100mA to 2A, to provide power for a single LED through to an array of up to 9.

Two digital control functions are provided to enable lighting designers’ maximum flexibility. An I²C bus allows the output current to be set to ensure correct power is provided to the LED lamp or array in use. The second control input is for a PWM signal to allow the LED light output to be varied. To ensure smooth lamp dimming across a wide intensity range while maintaining the correct LED light colour the PWM controller has a 12 bit resolution.

Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax plc, comments, “We now have considerable experience in providing high efficiency power solutions to the LED lighting market. Our core competence of providing flexible, very high efficiency power solutions makes us ideal partners for LED lamp manufacturers. Our new DC:DC converter offers up to 90% efficiency in a very compact package while providing sophisticated digital control functions."

The new Powerstax DC:DC converter measures just 61 x 61 x 20mm, and has an operating temperature range of typically –55 to 105ºC without derating.

Typical applications include architectural lighting solutions for public buildings, museums, shopping malls, hospitals and schools. For more information email sales@powerstaxplc.com or call +44 (0)1252 407800

Powerstax, announces the introduction of a new range of high reliability and MIL specification DC-DC converters with up to 50W of output power.

Available immediately, the new PX series offers a wide variety of versatile, compact, highly specified modules at very competitive prices that will meet many different customer requirements including Military and Avionics. Single, dual and triple output versions are available with a comprehensive range features and functions. The PX series platform allows for a high degree of customer specific modification and full custom designs are available on request.

Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax plc, comments, “Our new PX range continues our philosophy of offering flexible, high efficiency power solutions backed by our in-house engineering expertise. The PX range has an extensive feature set with very wide input ranges, the most popular output voltages, rugged electronic and mechanical design and the ability to be modified by our engineers to our customers’ exact requirements."

The PX series is a six-sided metal case design for maximum EMI protection and is hermetically sealed. For MIL or aerospace applications the case may be stannic seam welded for full environmental sealing to MIL-STD 883. The operating temperature range of the PX series is typically –55 to 105ºC without derating and most of the converters offer a “synch” pin to aid system integration.

The Powerstax PX series offers power output from 11 – 50W, input voltage ranges of 14-40VDC, 16-40VDC and 16.5–22VDC with available output voltages of 3.3, 5, 12 and 15VDC in various combinations. For custom applications output voltages up to 200VDC are available.

Typical applications include military and commercial mobile wireless and radar systems, telecomm infrastructure and security systems, vehicle based electronic systems and traction.

For more information on this range click here.

Powerstax announces the availability of a range of DC Rectifiers for use in the etching process of printed circuit boards. Manufactured in the UK by DP Energy the rectifiers are built to exacting industry-standard specifications for the process of removing the Amonical or cupric (copper) from the solution used to etch PCB’s. This process enables the etchant solution to be re-used saving material costs and providing an ecologically sound manufacturing process.

During the PCB etching process unwanted copper is dissolved into the etchant solution decreasing its effectives over time. Spent etchant is a hazardous waste which is becoming increasingly expensive to deal with and is normally precipitated as Copper Oxide and discarded for landfill. Using an electrolytic recycling process powered by a suitable DP Energy rectifier not only greatly prolongs the life of the etchant but allows waste copper to be collected for recycling.

Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax comments, “Manufacturing industry is increasingly aware of the environmental impact of its processes and the costs involved of materials and recycling. Using an electrolytic process to keep PCB etchant free from waste copper improves the quality of the manufacturing process, eliminates chemical treatments and the need to store fresh and used etchant solution and leaves only copper as a waste product. This is a very green and cost effective solution to a problem faced by any large-scale electronic equipment manufacturer.”

The rectifiers are available in the range 4 to 8000A @ 10VDC depending on the scale of the PCB etching bath.

DP Energy systems are sold worldwide to original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers. Smaller versions of the rectifiers have been supplied for removal of trace metals from water for applications such as whisky distilleries. For more information on this range click here.

The D1000 modular power solution from Powerstax offers up to 1000W of DC power from vehicle or other mobile or static DC power sources. Powerstax, the Farnborough UK based designer of application rich power solutions, developed the D1000 to meet growing market demands for military, industrial and commercial communications and control systems powered from vehicle batteries or telecom supplies.

“The D1000 power conversion system is part of our market leading Flexistax series.” Says Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax. “It has been developed specifically for applications where standard off-the-shelf solutions do not exist. This field proven modular solution offers customers a faster time-to-market, reduced capital investment and minimises the risk often associated with custom designed power supply requirements.

D1000 power solutions are based on the industry leading high power F501 “full-brick” DC:DC Converters that form the core of Powerstax’s business. These patented, ultra-high efficiency and very flexible converters have been designed offer both conventional step-down conversion as well as the more unusual step-up conversion. The key to this is the unique “integrated magnetic” which combines all of the transformers and inductors required by the converter on to one core allowing custom voltage requirements to be provided with ease.

For the D1000 two F501 converters are packaged with connectors as required by the application. In addition, a custom developed boost-converter is integrated into the design to provide input voltage boost when conditions require it. Multiples of D1000 components may be run in N+1 redundant systems.

The D1000 operates from a very wide DC input of 11 to 36V and can be offered with outputs between 12 and 48VDC. The system offers up to 85% efficiency, maximising battery life and reducing thermal management requirements. The complete unit measures a compact 152 x 102 x 25mm. Prototypes can be supplied in just 4 weeks from Powerstax’s ISO9001 approved design, development and production facility in the UK and carry a two year warranty.

Typical applications include military and commercial mobile wireless and radar systems, telecomm infrastructure and security systems.

Powerstax announces the introduction of a new family of ultra-compact 275 watt switch mode power supplies. The N-0275 series units feature digital power management and optional PMBus™ capability. The N-0275 family has been designed for OEM applications such as industrial automation, telecommunications, gaming systems, security and surveillance systems and network servers. The compact, very low profile form-factor power supplies deliver 12.22 watts per inch³ power density at up to 90% efficiency.

“We believe our new N-0275 series packs more power and features into a smaller package than any other product currently on the market,” claims Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax. “The high efficiency design also reduces overall system power consumption and cooling requirements giving our OEM customers more design flexibility and a distinct competitive edge.

“Conventional power supplies are controlled and protected by analogue circuitry that is optimised for one set of conditions, such as cold start-up. This could compromise other operational characteristics such as coping with power line drop-outs or sudden load changes where the power supply response time is compromised by stored charges in components,” continues Worley. “The N-0275 series overcomes these problems by employing a dedicated digital micro-controller to continuously supervise the unit’s operation.”

The on-board micro-controller monitors a number of the power supply’s parameters, dc voltage on the bulk capacitor (supplied by the ac mains), output voltage, output current, auxiliary 12V output voltage, transformer temperature, ambient temperature, and fan tachometer. Unlike conventional analogue control circuitry, that can provide timing accuracies in the range of +/- 10%-20%, the micro-controller can provide timing accuracies in the 1% range and does not suffer from stored charge memory. It responds to changing conditions 500 times per second with knowledge of the past but without being slowed down by the analogue “memory”.

The micro-controller is responsible for enabling the main output whenever all of the required start-up conditions are met and shutting it down on command of the system controller, at loss of input power or whenever the power supply’s reliability is threatened by excessive loads or temperatures. It always provides the host system with advanced warning of an impending shutdown so that it may perform a controlled shutdown with no loss of data or damage to other system components.

To minimize acoustic noise, the micro-controller can turn a 12V fan on or off based upon actual load conditions and the amount of cooling air available. Because it’s programmable, the micro-controller code can be customised to fit the OEM’s specific requirements.

An optional I²C digital communications interface is also available to allow up to four N-0275 power supplies to communicate over the same bus using the PMBus™ protocol. This communications interface allows routine remote control of the main outputs and the 12V fans. It can also notify the host if a fan fails (via lost tachometer pulses). The host can also interrogate the micro-controller for its output voltage and current status and ambient and transformer temperatures.

The N-0275 Series incorporates industry leading features such as active power factor correction for reduced input power, built in or’ing diodes, active inrush current protection, remote on-off, and high efficiency, up to 90% in some models. All Powerstax power supplies meet a full range of international agency approvals, including UL, DEMKO, FCC Class B and are CE Marked.

Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax plc, comments, “Our new N series power supplies add a new dimension of high efficiency small footprint power supplies to our market leading product range. The 1U market continues to grow and our high efficiency products have space saving footprints and reduce heat emission. A winning combination for system developers.”

The Powerstax N series may be supplied with customer specific output voltages and with conformal coatings, mounting chassis and fan assemblies. Typical applications include instrumentation, industrial control, Telecomms and Datacomms.

For more information on this range click here click here

Powerstax provided one of their trademark added value systems comprised of a high efficiency, ultra-compact 10W AC to DC, universal input voltage, encapsulated power supply mounted on a PCB with a variable LED driver circuit to adjust the output in order to vary the intensity of the LED light. When in full production the whole unit will be a lead-in, lead-out “lump in a cord” design with a remote control interface.

Tim Worley, CEO of Powerstax plc, comments ”This is a very typical project for our UK based design team which utilises the strength of our high efficiency, flexible core products and our ability to integrate them into bespoke solutions which meet our customers technical requirements and time scales.”

Click here for more information on ECO-LED