Every electronic application requires some form of power source, but designing and sourcing power supplies and batteries can be challenging. Customers often face potentially complex solutions, long design cycles, extended lead times, and a lack of expert design guidance. Because power and power-related products are some of the most complex in terms of design and procurement, a number of key factors must be considered when designing power.
Power Supplies
Engineers and purchasing professionals must weigh many factors including an understanding of the end application, including any portability requirement. Some of the questions to ask; What is the size, output power, efficiency, and reliability needed? How will heat be managed and what means of thermal management is required? For instance, should the power supply be fan-cooled, convection, or conduction cooled? Are there safety concerns and at what level (e.g., Class 2 vs. Class II)? Is interference an issue and does the device require EMI/RFI filtering? How long will the device run and what are the peak power loads that are required? Does the application require an uninterruptible power source or a battery backup?
A technical power supply distributor such as Sager Electronics through its specialized group Sager Power Systems is often the key in helping a customer address these types of design challenges. Sales engineers can assist customers in determining the correct power and battery backup solution. Recommendations may include several design options from off-the-shelf AC-DC power supplies and DC-Converters to modified standard products that range from simple modifications to highly complex design.
Battery Backup
The power grids across the United States face major challenges due to infrastructure age, intense weather, and the increase in demand for electricity. Electrical outages, brownouts, and surges are a reality, and these factors need to be strongly considered when designing electronic systems. This is especially so for equipment manufacturers in the industrial and medical sectors where down time can lead to major financial loss or potentially life-threatening situations. The growth of home health care devices like respirators, CPAP machines, power wheelchairs, and home dialysis equipment are essential to quality of life and independence, and these systems all require battery backup. To address the demand for portable and backup power requirements, Sager added RRC Power Solutions, a lithium-Ion smart battery pack manufacturer, and Power Sonic, a leader in sealed lead acid and lithium-Ion technology, to its line card.
Procurement
Power sources tend to have a higher value and are often larger and weigh more than most components, impacting shipping methods and costs. Batteries also present some additional buying challenges specifically around shelf-life, recycling considerations, and shipping and handling regulations. Lead times should be monitored as extensions on power supplies and batteries can present a challenge. Price, availability and handling make proper planning crucial in the procurement of power supplies and batteries.
“The Sager Power Systems program is very unique to the marketplace. With a focus on power and synergistic technologies such as batteries and thermal management solutions, and the ability to provide best-in-class configurable and custom value-add services , no other distributor offers its customers this level of expertise in power and thermal,” explained Rich Arieta, Sager’s director of business development for Sager Power Systems. “Additionally, we can further support our customers’ requirements with a comprehensive array of supply chain services.”
In today’s quick and complex market, access to knowledgeable technical advice, breadth of quality product, and reliable service is paramount to successful design.