Top 10 AC/DC power supplies

AC/DC power supply manufacturers have focused their latest designs on meeting the increased demand for higher efficiency and miniaturization in industrial and medical systems. A few of them are also leveraging wide-bandgap (WBG) technologies such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) to achieve gains in efficiency in their latest-generation power supplies.

It is understood that these power supplies need to meet a range of safety certifications for industrial and medical applications. They must also be rugged enough to operate in harsh environments.

Here are 10 top AC/DC power supplies introduced over the past year for industrial and medical applications. In some cases, these AC/DC power supplies meet certifications for both medical and industrial markets, allowing them to be used in both applications.

Medical and industrial power supplies

GaN technology is making its way into AC/DC power supplies for industrial and medical applications, helping to improve performance and shrink designs. Bel Fuse Inc. recently introduced its 65-W GaN-based AC/DC power supplies in a compact footprint. The latest additions to the Bel Power Solutions portfolio are the MDP65 for medical applications and the HDP65 for industrial and ITE, both offering up to 92% efficiency.

The series is available in two mechanical mount options: printed-circuit-board (PCB) mount or open frame. The compact package size of 1 × 3 inches offers 50% real-estate savings compared with 2 × 3-inch devices for increased power density in lower-power applications.

The MDP65 series is a cost-effective option for the medical market while providing critical safety. Suited for Type BF medical applications, it is compliant with the IEC/EN 60601-1 safety standard and features 2 × Means of Patient Protection (MOPP) isolation. The HDP65 devices meet safety standards IEC 62368-1, EN 62368-1, UL 62368-1, and C-UL (equivalent to CAN/CSA-C22.2 No.62368-1). Both series are safety-agency-certified, meeting the latest regulatory requirements with UL and Nemko approvals.

Both series output 65-W power, offer a universal, 90- to 264-VAC input voltage range, and deliver a high power density of 17.20 W/in.³. They also feature an operating temperature range of –20°C to 70°C, ensuring reliable performance even when incorporated into compact, sealed diagnostic or portable monitoring units where heat dissipation is a challenge, the company said.

Claiming to set new standards in power density and on-board intelligence, XP Power has introduced its FLXPro series of chassis-mount AC/DC power supplies to address space constraints and the need for increased power. The FLXPro series is also designed with SiC/GaN, achieving efficiencies up to 93%, which helps to reduce system operating costs, cooling requirements, and system size.

The FLX1K3 fully digital configurable modular power supply delivers power levels of 1.3 kW at high-line conditions and 1 kW at low-line conditions with a power density of up to 23.2 W/in.³. It is housed in a compact 1U form factor, measuring 254.0 × 88.9 × 40.6 mm (10.0 × 3.50 × 1.6 inches) and is designed to simplify power systems in healthcare, industrial, semiconductor manufacturing, analytical instrumentation, automation, renewable energy systems, and robotics applications.

The FLXPro design features up to four customer-selected, inherently flexible output modules with selectable outputs from 9 VDC to 66 VDC and a wide adjustment range (10% to –40%), which can be configured under live conditions to form part of a customer’s active control system, XP Power said. The output modules can be combined into multiple parallel and series configurations, and multiple FLXPro units can also be combined in parallel for higher-power applications.

XP Power said this flexibility optimizes application performance and control, addressing requirements for fixed and variable loads.

A unique feature of the FLXPro series is the fully digital architecture for both the input stage and output modules. It is the foundation for XP Power’s new iPSU Intelligent Power technology, which converts internal data into usable information for quick decisions that improve application safety and reduce operating costs.

The FLXPro series also provides extensive diagnostics, including a new Black Box Snapshot feature that reduces troubleshooting time after shutdown events by recording in-depth system status at, and prior to, shutdown; tri-color LEDs that indicate power supply health with a truth table incorporated on the chassis for simple interpretation without manuals or digital communications; and multiple internal temperature measurements for fast status checks through temperature diagnostics that drive intelligent fan control and overtemperature warnings and alarms.

FLXPro also features built-in user-defined digital controls, signals, alarms, and output controllability. Inputs, outputs, and firmware can be configured through the user interface or directly over direct digital communications. It supports ES1 isolated digital communications and uses PMBus over I²C for digital communications, enabling real-time control, monitoring, and data logging. The operating temperature range is –20°C to 70°C.

Also addressing industrial and medical applications with an efficient and power-dense design is Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.’s PQC600 open-frame AC/DC power supplies. Target markets include hospital beds, dentist chairs, medical equipment, and industrial process machinery.

The industrial-grade PQC600 offers 600 W of power in a package that is less than 1U in height. It leverages the Murata Power Solutions transformer design with an optimized layout and package design. With a 600-W forced-air cooling design, it achieves an efficiency of 95% at full load. Key features include an optimized interleaved power-factor correction, back-end synchronous rectification, and a droop-current-sharing feature, enabling multiple units to be configured in parallel for greater power scalability.

The PQC600 is certified to the IEC 60601-1 Edition 3 medical safety standard, which includes 2 × MOPP from primary to secondary, 1 MOPP from the chassis to ground, and 1 MOPP from output to chassis. It also complies with the IEC 60601-1-2 4th Edition for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards and is suitable for use with medical devices that have Type B or Type BF applied parts.

Also targeting the need for high efficiency and miniaturization is the NSP-75/100/150/200/320 series of AC/DC enclosed-type power supplies from Mean Well Enterprises Co. Ltd. The NSP series surpasses Mean Well’s RSP series, which has been on the market for over 10 years, with a higher cost-performance ratio. It offers a wider, 85- to 305-VAC input range; an extended temperature range of –40°C to 85°C with full load operation possible up to 60°C, making it suitable for harsher environments; and a smaller footprint, ranging from 28% to 46% smaller than the RSP series.

The NSP series offers high efficiency of up to 90% to 94.5% with low no-load power consumption (<0.3 W to 0.5 W), depending on the model, and 200% peak-power-output capability. Other features include short, overload, overvoltage, and overtemperature protection; programmable output voltage; ultra-low leakage of <350 µA; and operation at altitudes up to 5,000 meters.

The AC/DC power supplies also offer safety certifications in multiple industries, including ICT, industrial, medical, household, and green energy applications, and meet OVC III requirements. Safety certifications include CB/DEKRA/UL/RCM/BSMI/CCC/EAC/BIS/KC/CE/UKCA, and IEC/EN/UL 62368-1, 61010-1, 61558-1, 62477-1, and SEMI 47 for semiconductor equipment. They meet 2 × MOPP and medical BF-grade applications.

Medical power supplies

P-Duke Technology Co. Ltd. launched the MAD150 medical-grade AC/DC power supply series, capable of delivering up to 150 W of continuous output power and 200-W peak power for five seconds. The compact, 3 × 2-inch package is available in open-frame, enclosed, and DIN-rail options, with connection types including JST connectors, Molex connectors, and screw terminals.

Suited for most industries worldwide, the series features a universal input range from 85 to 264 VAC and supports DC input voltages from 88 to 370 VDC. The MAD150 series provides single-output options for medical devices at 12, 15, 18, 24, 28, 36, 48, and 54 VDC, with up to 7% output adjustability.

Designed for medical applications and suited for BF-type parts, it offers less than 100-μA patient leakage current, 2 × MOPP, and 4,000-VAC input-to-output isolation. Applications include portable medical devices, diagnostic equipment, monitoring equipment, hospital beds, and medical carts.

These devices reduce thermal generation, offer an extended temperature range of –40°C to 85°C, and provide a conversion efficiency up to 94%. It operates at altitudes up to 5,000 meters.

The MAD150 is certified to IEC/EN/ANSI/AAMI ES 60601-1 (Medical electrical equipment – Part 1: General requirements for basic safety and essential performance) and IEC/EN/UL 62368-1 (Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment – Part 1: Safety requirements).

Advanced Energy Industries Inc. has introduced the NCF425 series of 425-W cardiac floating (CF)-rated medical open-frame AC/DC power supplies with CF-level isolation and leakage current. These standard, off-the-shelf power supplies, simplifying isolation and speeding time to market, are certified to IEC 60601-1 and streamline critical medical device product development.

Advanced Energy said it is one of the few companies that provides standard, off-the-shelf CF-rated power products. The system-level CF rating is the most stringent medical device electrical safety classification, with certification needed for equipment that has direct contact with the heart or bloodstream, the company explained.

The company’s CF-rated portfolio was initially launched in September 2024 with the introduction of the NCF150, followed by the NCF250 and NCF600. The NCF series achieves a sub-10-µA leakage current and integrates the high levels of isolation required in critical medical devices.

This latest release offers additional options and helps reduce the number of isolation components required, translating into a smaller system size and lower cost.

The NCF family is designed to simplify thermal and electromagnetic interference (EMI) management, reduce system size and weight, and reduce the bill of materials. It also includes functionality typically provided at the system level, which reduces time and complexity in the development process, the company said.

The NCF425 is certified to the medical safety standard IEC 60601-1 and meets 2 × MOPP. Key features include a maximum output power of 425 W in a 3.5 × 6 × 1.5-inch form factor and a 5-kV defibrillator pulse protection. Applications include surgical generators, RF ablation, pulsed field ablation, cardiac-assist devices and monitors, and cardiac-mapping systems.

Industrial power supplies

Delivering a high level of programmability and flexibility, XP Power’s 1.5-kW HDA1500 series suits a variety of applications across a range of industries. For example, the HDA1500 can be used in applications such as robotics, lasers, LED heating, and semiconductor manufacturing, providing benefits in digital control, communication, and status LEDs.

Rated for 1.5 kW of power with no minimum load requirement, the HDA1500 power supplies offer efficiency up to 93%, allowing for a more compact form factor as well as reducing operating costs. The HDA1500 units can be operated in parallel with active current sharing when more power is required in a rack.

Advanced digital control in power solutions has not always been widely available, according to XP Power, with the HDA1500 offering precise digital adjustment of both output current and output voltage from 0% to 105% for greater user flexibility.

The standard advanced digital control is key to the flexibility of the HDA1500, the company said. Driven by a graphical user interface, the power supply can be adjusted via several digital protocols, including PMBus, RS-485/-232, Modbus, and Ethernet, which also allow for easy integration into more advanced power control schemes.

The HDA1500 units operate from a universal single-phase mains input (90 to 264 VAC) and are reported to offer one of the widest single-rail output selections on the market, covering popular voltages between 12 VDC and 400 VDC in a portfolio of 11 units. At low-line operation, the power supplies can deliver more power than many competitive offerings, the company said.

With an operating temperature range of –25°C to 60°C, the units require no derating below 50°C. Other features include built-in protection, including overtemperature, overload, overvoltage, and short-circuit; a 5-VDC/1-A standby supply rail that keeps external circuitry alive when the main supply is powered down; and remote sense, particularly for applications in which power cables are extended.

The power supplies meet a range of ITE-related approvals, including EN55032 Class A and EN61000-3-x for emissions, as well as EN61000-4-x for immunity. Safety approvals include IEC/UL/EN62368-1 as well as all applicable CE and UKCA directives. Applications include test and measurement, factory automation, process control, semiconductor fabrication, and renewable energy systems.

Targeting space-constrained industrial applications is the CBM300S series of 300-W fanless AC/DC power supplies from Cincon Electronics Co. Ltd. The series is housed in a brick package that measures 106.7 × 85.0 mm (4.2 × 3.35 inches) with an ultra-slim profile of 19.7 mm (0.78 inches). The device delivers 300-W-rated power with a peak power capability of 360 W.

The CBM300S operates with an input range of 90 to 264 VAC and accepts DC input ranging from 120 to 370 VDC. Seven output voltage options are available: 12, 15, 24, 28, 36, 48, and 54 VDC, all classified as Class I.

The series comes with safety approvals for IEC/UL/EN 62368-1 3rd edition and is EMC-compliant with EN 55032 Class B and CISPR/FCC Class B standards.

A key feature of the CBM300S is its exceptionally low leakage current of 0.75 mA maximum. It also delivers efficiency of up to 94% and operates across a wide temperature range of –40°C to 90°C, making it suitable for harsh environments.

This power supply can function at altitudes up to 5,000 meters and maintains a low no-load input power consumption of less than 0.5 W. The MTBF is rated at 240,000 hours. It also offers protection features, including output overcurrent, output overvoltage, overtemperature, and continuous short-circuit protections.

The CBM300S power supplies can be used in a variety of industrial/ITE applications, including automation equipment, test and measurement instruments, commercial equipment, telecom and network devices, and other industrial applications.

Recom Power GmbH introduced a series of flexible and highly efficient AC/DC power supplies in a small form factor for new energy applications. Applications include energy management and monitoring and powering actuators, as well as general-purpose applications.

The 20-W RAC20NE-K/277 series is available in board-mount or open-frame options. The board-mount, encapsulated power supplies measure 52.5 × 27.6 × 23.0 mm, and the open-frame devices with Molex connections measure 80.0 × 23.8 × 22.5 mm.

AC/DC power supplies increasingly must operate over nominal supply values from 100 VAC to 277 VAC, Recom said, and the RAC20NE-K/277 matches this requirement with 20 W available at optional 12-, 24-, or 36-VDC outputs. This series is available with encapsulated versions with constant-voltage- or constant-current-limiting characteristics and a constant-voltage open-frame type with 12- or 24-VDC output.

The RAC20NE-K/277 series is highly efficient, Recom said, allowing reliable operation at full load to 60°C ambient and to 85°C with derating. It also offers <100-mW no-load power consumption.

The parts are Class II–insulated and OVC III–rated up to 5,000 meters and meet EN 55032 Class B EMC requirements with a floating or grounded output. Standby and no-load power dissipation meet eco-design requirements.

If you’re looking for greater flexibility with more options, TDK Corp.’s ZWS-C series of 10- to 50-W industrial power supplies offers new mounting and protection options. The TDK-Lambda brand ZWS-C series of 10-, 15-, 30-, and 50-W-rated industrial AC/DC power supplies was initially launched in an open-frame configuration. Four additional options are now available: a metal L-bracket (with or without a cover), pins for PCB mounting, and two-sided board coating for all voltage and power levels.

These options can provide additional operator protection, lower the cost of wiring harnesses, or reduce the impact of dust and contamination in harsh environments, TDK said.

The ZWS-C series is available with 5-, 12-, 15-, 24-, and 48-V (50 W only) output voltages. The ZWS10C and ZWS15C models measure 63.5 × 45.7 × 22.1 mm, the ZWS30C package measures 76.2 × 50.8 × 24.2 mm, and the ZWS50C footprint measures 76.2 × 50.8 × 26.7 mm. The operating temperature with convection cooling and standard mounting ranges from –10°C to 70°C, derating linearly to 50% load between 50°C and 70°C.

The power supplies can operate at full load with an external airflow of 0.8 m/s, and no-load power consumption is typically less than 0.3 W. Other features include a 3-kVAC input-to-output, 2-kVAC input-to-ground, and 750-VAC output-to-ground (Class I) isolation. The models meet EN55011/EN55032-B conducted and radiated EMI in either Class I or Class II (double-insulated) construction, without the need for external filtering or shielding.

All models are also certified to the IEC/UL/CSA/EN62368-1 for AV, information, and communication equipment standards; EN60335-1 for household electrical equipment; IEC/EN61558-1; and IEC/EN61558-2-16. They also comply with IEC 61000-3-2 (harmonics) and IEC 61000-4 (immunity) and carry the CE and UKCA marks for the Low Voltage, EMC, and RoHS Directives.

Thanks to electrolytic capacitor lifetimes of up to 15 years, the ZWS-C models can be used in factory automation, robotics, semiconductor fabrication manufacturing, and test and measurement equipment.

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