When one of Ideal Power’s customers had precise requirements for a power supply, the company was able to take an established product that met most of the requirements and adapt it to suit the project.
A technology design innovator in the irrigation industry was developing a new system to water crops, control the environmental temperature and humidity levels, and the amount of water that specific crops need to flourish in a factory greenhouse.
To achieve the best performance, the system needed a power supply able to run from a mains supply that gives out power from 20W–40W with an output of 5-12VDC and an output current of 1-2A.
The power supply would need to comply with the latest standards EN 61000-3-2, EN-61000-3-3, EN 55032, EN 55024 and also comply with CE, EMC, Reach and RoHS standards to be used for the European and US Market.
The main challenge that the designer was facing was finding a product where the plug and power jack were sealed to IP67, and locked in to avoid the plug from being accidentally disconnected as the product will be used around liquids. Another challenge was finding a product that meets the UL94 V-0 flammability standard, in case of accidental fires. This was important as the device was to be used in hot temperatures.
The last challenge the designer faced was that the product was going to be used across Europe and the US, meaning that the wall plugs and approvals must be compatible with the requirements of both markets.
Ideal Power’s 59RKPO-EU1202000CD-5 met most of the customer’s requirements, as it met the latest approvals and safety certifications for both the European and US markets.
The designer’s original request was a product that achieves the IP67 waterproofing rating; the product on offer was able to go one better as it meets IP68 waterproofing rating.
Although the stock product recommended by Ideal Power met some of the customer’s requirements, where it came unstuck was that it did not meet the original requirements for the flammability standard UL94 V-0, and it did not offer the relevant wall plugs that the customer required.
To overcome this, Ideal Power worked closely with the customer utilising the modularity of the 59RKPO platform and was able to design a bespoke product that meant the material used for the power supply met the flammability standard UL94 V-0; and the wall plugs were designed so that the customer could use both the EU and US plug on the same device.
The customer was able to incorporate highly tailored features easily, leading to a fast time to market and reduced development costs.
The 59RKPO-EU1202000CD-5 gave the power system the level of performance required while meeting budget expectations. The solution offered high reliability and a history of strong performance leading to a lower cost of ownership at the system level. Despite the heavy industrial operating environment, the customised materials for the product helped to achieve a long product life. The product also meets the requirements of the future 62368-1 standard, ensuring no major investments will be needed to reassess the application when the new standard comes into effect in late 2020.
Ideal Power can offer designers and engineers bespoke services to achieve any industrial project, ensuring the application meets the latest safety and certificate approvals. It can customise any product, enabling a fast time to market, huge savings on engineering, qualification and certification costs.
