Traco Power Debuts Latest Components Built for Industrial and Railway Applications
Traco Power released a new series of converters designed for specific railway operations.
An Overview of Traco Power
Traco Power was founded in 1940 and initially started by trading electronic components. The company started to develop its own power products and systems in the 1970s. Today, Traco Power develops customized power solutions and power products in industrial and harsh environments including automation, railway, medical, and building automation.
The THN 20WIR Series
Recently, Traco Power released its latest series of DC/DC converters, the THN 20WIR. The new converters are housed in 1” x 1” rugged metal packages to survive harsh environments including industrial and railway.
The THN 20WIR series has a 4:1 input range including 9-36, 18-75, and 36-160 VDC, has a maximum power rating of 20W, and an efficiency of up to 91%. The DC-DC converter series provides DC isolation of 3000V and has an operating temperature range of -40°C to +65°C with no de-rating for the entire temperature range.
The THN 20WIR series has multiple protection systems including overload, overvoltage, and short circuit, and a three-year product warranty.
The DC/DC converter series also integrates a remote on/off function and trim. The THN 20WIR series holds multiple qualifications and standards including EN 50155 and EN 61373 for use in railway applications and EN 45545-2 fire behavior.
The Need for Rugged Components
Designing products for simple environments such as residential ones generally provide little complication. Component selection is usually not critical to the operation of that design. However, in industrial environments, components need to be designed more carefully to withstand high temperatures and harsh conditions.
At first glance, the THN 20WIR series may seem somewhat large for their power handling; a square inch device for 20W. The THN 20WIR is uniquely designed for impact, vibration, and wide temperatures while showing no de-rating.
Traco Power's latest DC/DC converter. Image courtesy of Traco Power.
The THN 20WIR to survive in harsh environments makes it fit for creating power systems where reliability is critical. These new components were designed for railway applications to experience significant mechanical shock and wide temperature swings.
Trains are generally safety-critical applications, meaning that systems built into trains need to operate without fail. As such, the THN 20WIR series may provide power to such a system reliably and without faults.
