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 […]
Power Electronics Handbook
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 […]
Electrolytic capacitors go svelte
The traditional cylindrical packages that have characterized electrolytic caps are giving way to flat packs optimized for small spaces. Mario Dipietro, Flatpack Div., Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc. The first reported developments of electrolytic “condensers” were in the 1880s, with significant advances in the mid 1920s. In 1948, etched-foil technology developed by Illinois Condenser (today’s Illinois […]
Five challenges in power supply design
Sometimes the best way of handling specialized power needs is through custom equipment optimized for the situation at hand. Alex Karapetian, Acopian Technical Co. Electronic system designers, engineers, program managers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must address numerous challenges in the selection or development of an appropriate power supply for their systems. In some cases, […]
Teardown: Leviton ground fault circuit interrupter
GFCIs detect hazardous current paths to ground and ground-to-neutral faults. A teardown reveals they are relatively simple but have circuit details that can be tricky to figure out. Bathrooms, kitchens, and other rooms with access to water are required to employ ac outlets with ground-fault circuit protection. GFCIs disconnect the output if they sense a […]
High-temperature, harsh-environment tantalum capacitor technologies
Solid-tantalum capacitors have evolved with better design, construction, and testing methods to handle emerging requirements for harsh, high-temperature applications that put a premium on reliability. Chris Reynolds, AVX Corp. Wet tantalum capacitors are a proven, mature technology. They’ve long been employed in demanding, high-temperature applications because they have a variety of useful qualities. These include […]
Hiring hint: Look for soft skills in young engineers
Do schools teach young engineers the right skills? It is easy to find a lot of opinions on that subject from academics. It is more difficult to find assessments from experienced engineers who actually work with new grads. That’s why the comments of Richard Lukaszewski are worth hearing. As a holder of over 30 patents […]
How advanced IGBT gate drivers simplify high-voltage, high-current inverters
IGBTs have nuanced operations associated with high current densities and temperature that force IGBT gate drivers to incorporate sophisticated features. Tom Zemites, Kim Gauen, NXP The automotive industry is moving inexorably towards electrification. As automakers move from electric assistance to full autonomy, the trend in EV invertors is toward higher system efficiency and functional safety […]
Managing EV batteries squeezed into odd shapes
Automakers are forced to fit EV batteries into nooks and crannies in an effort to maximize driving range. The resulting convoluted layouts call for a wireless approach to managing cells. GREG ZIMMER | Linear Technology Corp., now part of Analog Devices Inc. Lithium-Ion batteries require considerable care if they are expected to function reliably over […]
