The new converters supplied by the well-known brand RECOM are miniature power supply modules designed, among other things, with steering, control and measurement circuits in mind. Among the new products available at TME, you’ll also find solutions manufactured in accordance with international rail transport standards.
Power supply systems, including DC/DC converters, are often of key importance to the failure-free performance of entire devices. The components that supply power to electronic circuits, consumers and sensors not only have to demonstrate precision and durability under normal operating conditions, but also immunity to a range of less common factors, such as high temperatures, short-circuits, surges, interference, and even shock and vibration. By using high-end, brand-name components, electronics manufacturers can guarantee the best quality of their final products. Another major concern is the safety of operators and users, which depends to a large extent on the circuitry components.
Using parts from tried-and-tested sources minimises the risk of failure, maximises the efficiency and lifetime of electrical equipment and, as demonstrated by the RECOM converters presented below, it does not have to involve high costs.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND VERSATILITY
Among the new additions to the TME product catalogue, there are a number of affordable RECOM converters with diverse parameters. These include components with a power rating of 1 W, 2 W and 3 W, i.e. designed for operation mainly as power supply modules for electronic circuits (3.3 V and 5 V DC), e.g. in the controllers or sensors, but the full range also features devices with an output voltage of 9 V, 12 V, 15 V and 24 V DC, which can serve as energy sources for actuators (fans, micromotors, servomotors, displays). They come in both THT (through-hole assembly: SIP7, SIP8) and SMD (surface mount) versions. One significant strength of these products is their relatively wide input voltage range and temperature tolerance (e.g. from -40°C to 105°C). A key point to note is that the products described here are isolated converters, with an isolation voltage of up to 1.6 kV or even 3 kV, which ensures high operational safety. Compact body dimensions combined with competitive prices and supplier’s renown make the RKK, RYK, RS3K-Z, RSK-RUW, RSOK-Z, R1M, R2M and R3M series converters an attractive choice for the manufacturers of electronic devices, components and modules targeted at a wide range of industries, including consumer solutions.
COMPATIBILITY WITH LINEAR REGULATORS
Until fairly recently, it was common to control DC voltages using linear regulators. Although they greatly simplified the design of power supply circuits, they had certain disadvantages – low efficiency and current capability. Besides, such regulators give off excess energy in the form of heat, which, in the case of applications involving significant voltage reduction, requires the use of heat sinks. The R78K, R78CK, R78K series of converters by RECOM offer an attractive alternative to linear voltage regulators in TO-220 packages. Their advantages include interface compatibility – just like the widely implemented 78xx series components, they are equipped with only three pins: input, output and ground. Consequently, they can be used as replacements or to upgrade existing circuits, at the same time they boast an efficiency of up to 96% (selected models). Since, unlike linear regulators, they do not require external components, they in fact help reduce the PCB footprint required for assembly.
The R78 converters are enclosed in SIP3 packages equipped with leads for through-hole assembly (THT). They come in versions with an output voltage ranging from 1.2 V to 15 V DC (including popular values such as 3.3 V, 5 V and 12 V DC). Another major advantage of these components is their very wide input voltage range. For example, the R-78CK5.0-0.5 converter can deliver 5 V when supplied with 6.5 V–40 V DC. Furthermore, the R78 series circuits exhibit extensive thermal tolerance, as they can operate in temperatures from -40°C to as high as 100°C; they also have the added benefit of a built-in short-circuit protection. As the products demonstrate compliance with the IEC62368 and EN55032 international standards (relating to electromagnetic compatibility) they can be successfully used in multimedia and IT devices such as Ethernet network components, PC peripherals, audio/video equipment.
WIDE RANGE OF PARAMETERS
The RP03-RAW, RP06-RAW, RP10-RAW series converters are isolated circuits, capable of delivering voltages from 3.3 V to 24 V DC. They are distinguished by two overriding features: a very wide input voltage range and suitability for rail transport applications – i.e. compliance with the EN50121 standard, operation in 72 V, 96 V and 110 V DC systems. On top of this, they come in dual-output variants (5 V, 12 V and 15 V DC), so that a single component can be used, for example, not only to power the digital control circuit of on-board equipment, but also their actuators (locks, backlighting, ticket validators, etc.), leading to a simplified and reduced design. Another important feature here is the maximum power of the converters, which, despite their compact size, can range from 3 W to 10 W. All of the presented components are enclosed in DIP24 packages (31.8 x 20.3 x 10.6 mm).
It should also be noted here that, as with the converters described above, the RPxx series components meet the requirements of applications in areas such as telecommunications or office equipment. They are fitted with integrated protections: overload protection (OLP), overvoltage protection (OVP) and short-circuit protection (SCP).
