Posts Tagged ‘Control’
Five Things You Need to Know About Control Panel Power Supplies
Posted by Parkzone Corsair in Power Supply on July 13th, 2010
If your business relies on modern, high-speed performance sensors and controllers, you will require a reliable DC power source. Traditional, linear power supplies that relied on transformers to convert to AC input into more manageable DC tend to be large and cumbersome and considerably less efficient than more modern systems. Modern control panel power supplies now come in the form of DIN rail mounted systems, which are far more suitable to the modern workplace.
Compact
DIN control panel power supplies are lightweight and efficient, enabling you to have your control panel power supplies mounted above ground height with very little loss of workspace. This also offers them a higher degree of protection from damage by impact or potential flooding than more traditional, floor mounted linear supplies. Because they are more compact, more units can be mounted on the same tracking, which comes in standard sizes allowing you to interchange units easily.
Efficient
Control panel power supplies are also known as switching power supplies. They convert a DC voltage into a lower, regulated voltage by storing the difference in a magnetic field. This makes them much more efficient, with over 80% efficiency compared to only 50% efficiency from linear power supplies. They also incorporate modern developments in power supply technology, including power factor correction, which limits the harmonic current on the input side of the power supply. This ‘cleans’ up the input current, reducing the peak current demand. As a result, control panel power supplies are much more efficient, saving you money in electricity bills, which for medium size businesses can constitute a considerable annual saving.
Legislation
All power supply units are covered by extensive safety legislation and the most modern control panel power supplies are now the safest on the market. By incorporating overvoltage protection, undervoltage protection and strict current leakage technology into units, they also protect equipment that draws its power supply from the unit by preventing power surges reaching the delicate workings of computers or CNC machinery, for example. The legislation imposed also ensures the safety of the end user in any environment and is an important factor to consider when making initial inquiries about installation.
Application
Control panel power supplies can be used in almost any business environment. They are particularly useful in workshop environments, where multiple machines may have to run off the same circuit but with each machine having its own particular needs and demands. They also work well in office environments, where computer networks can all be run from the same circuit, improving efficiency and reducing running costs. Control panel power supplies are best suited to small or medium sized business environments and are cheap enough to be considered even by start-up companies. Although buying a second-hand system from a web auction site may seem like a good idea and an easy way to save a few pounds, consider that with a second-hand unit you will receive no manufacturer’s guarantee or after-care service from the installation company. There is also the chance that it may not conform to current health and safety legislation.
The next step
If you think that a control panel power supply would be right for your business, you need to calculate your input voltage and frequency, the output voltage, the wattage or power in amperes and the peak loading of the output. Once you have these figures, you can then calculate the power of the DC power supply you will need. Think about how much space you have to mount the system and whether a compact unit will have the capability to cope with the number of outputs needed. Talk to a technical expert who has experience in installing control panel power supplies in commercial environments to help you make an informed choice and select the right power supply system for your business.
Control Panel Power Supplies with Meanwell Direct
Everything you ever wanted to know about control panel power supplies but were afraid to ask
Posted by Parkzone Corsair in Power Supply on July 12th, 2010
Most modern high-speed, high-performance sensors and controllers require a reliable DC power source. Used in commercial applications, traditional, linear power supplies that relied on transformers to convert AC input into more manageable DC output are now being replaced by more compact and efficient switching power supplies.
Control panel power supplies are now taking this technology further, allowing businesses to operate using a DIN system that allows controllable power supply delivery to a range of applications.
Switching power supplies convert a DC voltage into a lower regulated voltage by storing the difference in a magnetic field. Because this removes the need for large coils within the system by incorporating smaller electronic methods of conversion, the size of the control panel power supply is reduced and more energy efficient. Switching power supplies are typically over 80% efficient, compared to 50% efficiency from linear power supplies. They are also light enough to be mounted on a DIN rail, which only the smallest linear supplies are capable of doing.
With modern development in power supply technology, switching power supply units often incorporate more advanced features as standard. Power factor correction (PFC) limits the harmonic current on the input side of the power supply, ‘cleaning’ up the input current which reduces the peak current demand. Overload protection protects the power supply from any damage caused by an abnormal rise in output current, and in turn protects any equipment that may be feeding off the power supply.
Overvoltage protection (OVP) prevents load circuit damage by cutting the power supply output when output voltage rises above 120% of the rated value. If the power supply feedback loop fails, for example, the output voltages could rise to levels that may cause major damage to the entire system. OVP detects this high voltage, shorts the output and causes the supply to shut down, preventing a surge that could be catastrophic.
Undervoltage detection indicates if the output voltage drops below a certain level.
When you’re planning to replace your control panel power supplies, there are a few things you need to consider. Firstly, what applications is the power supply intended for? You will need to know your input voltage and frequency, the output voltage, the wattage or power in amperes and the peak loading of the output. You will then need to calculate the power of the DC power supply you need. If more than one output is required, you will need to carry out a quick calculation to determine the total wattage for the supply by multiplying the voltage by the amperage of each output to calculate the individual wattage and then adding these together to give you your total wattage requirement.
You will also need to check the enclosure style, connections and physical size of the control panel power supply to make sure that it is suitable. A unit that is too large may not be suitable for some DIN rail fittings whereas a compact unit may not have the capability to cope with the number of outputs needed.
Although buying a second-hand unit on a web auction site may seem like a good way to save a few pounds, your control panel power supplies must conform to all safety legislation. Buying from a reputable dealer who offers a selection of approved and certificated units is the only safe and proper option when it comes to buying control panel power supplies.
Finally, consider the application that you wish to apply the control panel power supply to. This can include the power supply life, custom power ratings or mixed voltages. A good power supply will need to be able to cope with every requirement you have without having to work at maximum capacity for prolonged periods of time, which can shorten its lifespan. Talking to a technical expert who has experience in fitting control panel power supplies into commercial environments will give you more information and help you make an informed choice when it comes to selecting your power supply requirements.
Keith Finley sent the article on control panel power supplies . Know more about Control Panel power supplies here.
The Flow Control Condition on Responding
Posted by Parkzone Corsair in USB on February 6th, 2010
To conserve bandwidth and to enable inactive links to transition to low-power states, USB 3.0 hosts stop requesting to send or receive data from SuperSpeed endpoints that are in the flow control condition. This condition indicates that the endpoint temporarily can’t send or receive data. To request to resume communications, the endpoint sends an ERDY Transaction Packet. A device can send the ERDY at any time without waiting for the host to request a packet.
On receiving the ERDY, the host resumes communications with the endpoint. An IN endpoint is in the flow control condition after responding to an ACK Transaction Packet with either of the following A NRDY Transaction Packet. A Data Packet with the End of Burst (EOB) field set to 1, indicating that the packet is the last in a burst. The device sets EOB if the data payload is equal to the endpoint’s maximum packet size and the endpoint is returning fewer than the number of packets requested in the previous ACK Transaction Packet.
An OUT endpoint is in the flow control condition on responding to a Data Packet with either of the following A NRDY Transaction Packet. An ACK Transaction Packet with the NumP field set to zero, indicating that the endpoint can’t accept any Data Packets. Hosts retain the option to attempt communications with bulk endpoints in the flow-control condition before receiving ERDY.
