Evaluation platforms help pick SiC components in power conversion circuits. Xuning Zhang, Levi Gant, Littelfuse, Inc. The quest for greener energy production and consumption has put a premium on high-efficiency power circuitry. In that regard, many modern power supplies and converters operate at much higher voltages that allow use of lower currents to minimize I2R […]
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Electric locomotives and catenary power systems – Part 4: maintenance and corona
The high-speed all-electric railroad locomotive uses a catenary-wire system and pantograph power-transfer arrangement, which appears to violate good engineering practice and should not work. Still, it does, transferring hundreds of amps via a contact point moving at over 100 miles/hour. Part 3 looked at the pantograph and catenary power system in more detail. This part […]
Electric locomotives and catenary power systems – Part 3: power delivery
The high-speed all-electric railroad locomotive uses a catenary-wire system and pantograph power-transfer arrangement, which appears to violate good engineering practice and should not work. Still, it does, transferring hundreds of amps via a contact point moving at over 100 miles/hour. Part 2 of this article looked at power issues and numbers related to the electric […]
Electric locomotives and catenary power systems – Part 2: power needs
The high-speed all-electric railroad locomotive uses a catenary-wire system and pantograph power-transfer arrangement, which appears to violate good engineering practice and should not work. Still, it does, transferring hundreds of amps via a contact point moving at over 100 miles/hour. Part 1 looked at the basics of diesel-electric versus all-electric locomotives. This part looks at […]
Electric locomotives and catenary power systems – Part 1: basic functions
The high-speed all-electric railroad locomotive uses a catenary-wire system and pantograph power-transfer arrangement, which appears to violate good engineering practice and should not work. Still, it does, transferring hundreds of amps via a contact point moving at over 100 miles/hour. There are four ways to power a railroad locomotive: via a steam engine (with a […]
Teardown: D-Rex toy dinosaur
The D-Rex is billed as a ferocious yet loyal dinosaur robot with an independent personality. The toy combines robotics, interactive sensors and reptilian-like skin. He walks, follow the sound of your voice and makes funny noises. Weighing in at about 8.5 lbs, D-Rex stands a little less than two feet high. You interact with D-Rex […]
What do molded power inductors bring to high efficiency, compact designs?
Modern hardware applications trend towards compact designs that are power efficient. Passive devices don’t get as much attention as a microcontroller’s many sleep and shutdown states. However, every drop of available efficiency adds up and can make a difference. It’s possible to improve power efficiency with the right inductor. Power inductors are a necessary component […]
Selecting a replacement external power supply – what you need to know
Fundamentally, you need to know four basic things when selecting a new power supply for a broken electronics device. The voltage coming from the socket at the wall (Europe/Japan/US), the voltage output, the current, and the type of connector (USB Type-B mini, barrel, USB-C). What most of us don’t know is that there are some […]
Reliability considerations for Peltier modules
Peltier modules, also known as thermoelectric coolers (TEC) or thermoelectric modules (TEM), are solid state devices which transfer heat when electrical power is applied. As with many components, the reliability of Peltier modules is of great importance in applications, so it is beneficial to have some basic knowledge regarding their construction and proper implementation. It […]
Overcoming the challenges of USB PD 3.0’s Fast Role Swap
by Zhigang Liang, Renesas Electronics America The USB-C interface is revolutionizing the way we connect our electronics devices. Thanks to high-speed data transfer and high power delivery, USB-C port adoption is accelerating, and the USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.0 and USB-C specifications are maturing. While consumer electronics OEMs move fast implementing USB Type-C as their […]