When approaching a project, system designers must take into consideration time to market, overall bill of materials (BOM) cost, and in-house capabilities to design and manufacture when choosing between buying a complete off-the-shelf power supply unit (PSU) or building it in-house. Take a look at the challenges of in-house power supply design and how the manufacturers can help.
When approaching a project, system designers must choose whether to buy a complete off-the-shelf power supply unit (PSU) or module for the end product, or build it in-house. Building or making an AC/DC or DC/DC converter in-house for an OEM is not a trivial task. Designers must consider time to market, overall bill of materials (BOM) cost, and in-house capabilities to design and manufacture.
Safety and EMC compliance
Further, getting tool credentials exact to power supplies must expertise in test and measurement
Additionally, getting agency certifications specific to power supplies needs expertise in test and measurement, specialized equipment needed for safety and EMC compliance, and addressing other similar requirements in terms of certification process and procedures, such as time allocation and compliance fees.
In short, for those with little or no experience in designing, building, and obtaining certification for the desired PSUs, there may be unforeseen challenges that could cost them valuable time to market.
Challenges of In-House Power Supply Design
Some system designers believe that power supplies are simple building blocks that can be easily designed and built cost-effectively using component manufacturer’s app notes after the intended system is ready. However, designing and building a high-performance AC/DC or DC/DC converter with full safety and EMC compliance requires expertise.
Apart from an understanding of power circuits, components, and topologies, the system designer must also have a thorough knowledge of PCB layout, packaging, and test & measurement tools.
Safety and compliance procedures
Purchasing a complete plug-and-play converter off-the-shelf from a reliable source can be the simplest
Plus, the in-house design team must also know all the required safety and compliance procedures, including costs, fees, and time required for getting agency approvals specific to power supplies, such as medical, railways, automotive, lighting, industrial, and other similar markets.
Building reliable high-performance power supplies in-house can get more complicated and expensive than they may think, with limited resources. Purchasing a complete plug-and-play converter off-the-shelf from a reliable source can be the simplest, most cost-effective answer for their project while also saving time.
Why Choose an Off-the-Shelf Power Supply?
There are many benefits to buying an off-the-shelf plug-and-play power supply from a reliable, experienced manufacturer. Unlike in-house designs, off-the-shelf complete PSUs are already tested, qualified, and pre-certified per international safety and EMI standards.
Purchasing a ready-to-go plug-and-play converter from a well-known power supply vendor like RECOM ensures that they receive pre-certified and qualified AC/DC and DC/DC converters with high reliability and performance unmatched in the industry.
several revisions of IEC 60601-1
IEC 60601-1 has seen several revisions, additions, and amendments just in the last few years
Take, for instance, modern AC/DC and DC/DC converters. There are so many regulations each market imposes on these power converters that it is almost impossible for an inexperienced power supply designer to keep up with revisions and go through the rigors of certification and compliance.
In medical equipment, for example, IEC 60601-1 has seen several revisions, additions, and amendments just in the last few years. Likewise, railways, lighting, automation, test & measurement, IoT, and defense all have their own set of regulations to consider. An expert power supply maker like RECOM can deliver the solution they need for the end project or system without having to worry about failing compliance.
Reliable, Ready to Use Power Solutions
RECOM's high-performance AC/DC and DC/DC converters come with all the required safety, reliability, and compliance for the desired end market, saving system designers valuable time and cost. With over four decades of design and manufacturing experience for countless applications, RECOM has a broad portfolio of high-power plug-and-play converters with single-phase AC input, three-phase AC input or DC input with high power density, and excellent efficiency for output power from 1 W up to 20 kW.
Take for example RECOM’s RACM1200-V series; designed with safety in mind, it is in line with all the necessary approvals. It sets a new standard for compactness and covers a wide power range for reliable fan-less operation. A special base plate ensures effective heat dissipation for up to 1000W continuous output power. Plus, it offers two additional outputs. There is no need for additional power supplies in certain applications—as it offers an adjustable 12V system fan output and a 5V/1A standby output.
AC/DC power supplies
RECOM has extended its range of industrial and medically-approved AC/DC power supplies
Thanks to the high insulation strength of 4kVAC between the mains voltage and the output voltages, the RACM1200-V can be used in virtually all applications where a power supply is required. This includes chargers, LED lighting systems, laser equipment, analytical instruments, high-frequency devices, robots, medical beds, and chairs, as well as medical-technical devices involving direct patient contact.
Likewise, for cost- and space-sensitive applications, RECOM has extended its range of industrial and medically-approved AC/DC power supplies in open-frame designs and potted versions.
DIY power supply
Designed for low-power applications, less than 230W, these compact converters offer a wide AC input range of 90 –264VAC and typically achieve 90% efficiency across a wide line and load range. Also, a variety of mounting options make the system designer's task simple.
Some of the main reasons cited for building their own rather than using off-the-shelf power supplies include that the application requires some special output voltage or feature that is not readily available as a standard product, or the belief that a DIY power supply is somehow cheaper.
Additional costs of supply chain management
The BoM cost of a build-the-own solution may be lower than the cost of a ready-made power supply
RECOM is a manufacturer, not just a distributor of power supplies, so if the application needs a particular or unusual specification just talk to them and they may be able to suggest a custom or semi-custom solution; or they may even find the solution from one of the 30,000+ standard products, which already fits the bill.
Moreover, while the BoM cost of a build-the-own solution may be lower than the cost of a ready-made power supply, the TCO may well not be so. The additional costs of supply chain management, certification and testing, investment of a senior engineer’s time, and the lost time-to-market more often than not outweigh the cost of buying a drop-in, off-the-shelf solution from an experienced power supply manufacturer.
Summary
RECOM is a one-stop shop for the power supply needs. With a broad portfolio of high-performance AC/DC or DC/DC converters tailored for a wide range of applications, the company is the partner of choice to deliver off-the-shelf plug-and-play power supplies.
RECOM products meet the required certifications and comply with stringent international standards while saving time to market at cost-effective prices.
