20W, 4:1 and 25W, 10:1 Converters for Railway and Rugged Environments

XP Power has launched two series of wide-input range, high-power density dc-dc converters for railway traction and rolling stock applications. According to XP Power, the converter series offers cost-effective, high-power density dc-dc converters for railway traction and rolling stock applications.

The company says that the economical dc-dc converters' wide input ranges reduce inventory requirements and enable their use across a broad range of applications. The 20W rated RDE20 series feature a 4:1 input range covering 24 Vdc, 37.5Vdc and 48Vdc nominal on the 13Vdc to 70Vdc input versions and 72Vdc and 110Vdc nominal on the 42Vdc to 176Vdc versions. The 25W rated RDF25 series converters boast an ultra-wide 10:1 input range of 16Vdc up to 160Vdc covering all nominal inputs from 24Vdc to 110Vdc with one device.

RDE20 Series mechanical details

Certified to EN50155 and EN50121-3-2, the converters hold the required safety approvals and EMC requirements for railway applications. Further, designed to EN45545-2 they also meet the relevant fire protection standards.

The converters use a small number of external filtering components, and according to XP Power, they offer a very high power density compared to other products that meet these industry standards. This high power density makes them highly suitable for space-constrained applications, particularly the RDE20 that boasts a tiny 1-inch by 1-inch footprint package size.

The converters' high efficiency translates to a reduced requirement for cooling, and their remote on/off capability enables simple, reduced power consumption in the off condition.

Providing protection for the device and the host equipment, the RDE20 and RDF25 converters offer output short circuit, over-load and over-voltage protection. Their 3kV input/output isolation safely isolates equipment from the supply. Both series operate in an ambient temperature range of -40°C to +100 °C, and can deliver full-power output at +55 °C.

Specific train borne applications in traction and rolling stock include door control, safety monitors, communication systems, video surveillance, access and ticketing machines, drive controls, power controls, information systems, lighting, passenger device-charging USB ports, HVAC systems, sanitation control, infotainment, system monitoring and telemetry. Their construction also makes them suitable for rugged environment applications.

Factors driving the demand for this kind of device include the increased demand for on-board electronics systems to provide control, safety, security and comfort for passengers when traveling on public transport.

Features of Both Converter Series

• Regulated Single & Dual Output
• 24-48 Vdc & 72-110 Vdc nominal inputs for Railway Applications
• 3000 Vdc Isolation
• High Efficiency
• EN50155 Certified for Railway Applications
• EN50121-3-2 with External Components
• Remote On/Off
• Output Voltage Trim ±10%
• Operating Temperature -40 °C to +100 °C
• Full Power to +55 °C
• 3 Year Warranty

The RDE20 series is priced at $35.93 for 500 pcs orders, the RDF25 series is priced at $53.11 for 500 pcs orders, they are available from Allied Electronics, Digi-Key, Newark or direct from XP Power and the XP Power backs them with a three-year warranty.