Part 1 of this FAQ discussed development and designation of basic DC power rails. Part 2 looks at key specifications of these rails, and management of single- and multi-rail systems. Q: What’s an important point to remember whenever discussing voltage? A: The tendency is to say “this voltage rail is at such-and-such voltage” or “the […]
Featured
DC power rails, Part 1: Basics and designations
Most circuits and systems now run on DC-voltage power rails. That simple statement glosses over the wide range of voltages, issues of tolerance and ripple, designations of these rails, and management of both single and multiple rails. This FAQ will explore those uses. Q: Why are DC rails so important? A: They are the pathways […]
Power Electronics Top Talks in February on EDABoard.com forums
Peer-to-peer, engineer-to-engineer questions and answers from the EDABoard.com engineering community around power electronics. Click the “Read more” link and follow the entire conversation and maybe add your two cents by logging in to EDAboard.com Cross related switching losses (Eoss) – I saw this Infineon advertising product video: https://www.infineon.com/cms/media/e…0VCoolMOSCFD7/ In the section “Technical features and benefits” “Improved switching […]
Gallery: Cool tech demos at APEC2018, IEEE’s Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition
APEC is considered the premier forum for power electronics developments in the U.S. Recently concluded in San Antonio, Tex., the conference and exposition focused on the practical and applied aspects of the power electronics business. In the pages that follow are a few interesting displays that could be found on the exposition floor. NEXT PAGE: […]
Goodbye to conventional solid-state relays? MEMS mechanical switches aim to make SSRs a thing of the past
One of the original promises of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) when they first came along in the 1980s was that they could subminiaturize electromechanical contacts. Built on silicon substrates using the same kind of etching processes employed for conventional ICs, MEMS structures have been used in inkjet printing heads, accelerometers, pressure sensors, and a variety of […]
Where SiC outperforms GaN
Silicon carbide and gallium nitride transistors both have their niche, but it pays to understand the applications in which each excels. Zhongda Li, United Silicon Carbide Inc. Wide band-gap (WBG) devices such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are the hot topics of the moment, promising anything from universal wireless charging to power […]
Measuring current with shunt resistors
Here are a few tips for selecting resistors that will accurately gauge current. Bert Weiss, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH Today, practically every control and monitoring circuit uses shunt-based current measurements as an alternative to sensors. To make these measurements accurately, it is useful to understand how shunts work. Because the method is categorized as a […]
Designing with bricks – baseplate-cooled converter modules
Power converter modules can simplify equipment design, but engineers may still need to look at EMC emissions and input-surge filtering. Gary Bocock, XP Power Baseplate cooled power converter modules, also known as bricks, provide building-blocks for integrating power conversion into end equipment. These high-density power modules find use in outdoor sealed enclosures, transportation and defense […]
Bearing trade-offs for cooling fans
The life of most fans is set by the shaft bearings. Simple comparisons show why different bearing technologies can exhibit widely varying MTBF figures. Jeff Smoot, CUI Inc. Cooling fans are critical to many of the devices we rely on every day. A key criterion that affects fan life is the shaft bearing. This crucial […]
Tough terminology: Why working voltage matters in safety approvals
Organizations that test power circuits for safety have specific definitions of working voltage and other parameters that bear heavily on how products get safety certifications permitting their sale. Dylan Howes, MINMAX Power, Inc. Safety approval agencies have been evaluating both industrial and consumer products for well over a century. The need for approval by such […]