3U Power Supply Provides Wide Input Range, Exceptional Power Hold-up in Rugged Protected Package

Chatsworth, Calif. October 2009 – Aitech Defense Systems Inc., the world’s first and largest independent manufacturer of open architecture electronic boards and subsystem level products for harsh, environmentally-demanding defense and aerospace applications, now offers the P230, a rugged, 3U, conduction-cooled, high efficiency power supply that operates over a continuous input voltage range of 18 VDC to 36 VDC. This ensures excellent line and load regulation to protect valuable embedded computing subsystems.

The P230 provides four industry-standard isolated voltage levels of +3.3 V, +5 V, +12 V and -12 V at up to 10 A, 20 A, 9 A and 1 A respectively, or a combined total power capacity output of up to 150 W, with an efficiency of better than 85%. This makes the P230 ideal for use in a number of small form-factor, robust and rugged VME-, CompactPCI- and VPX-based subsystems for high reliability, embedded computing applications.

The unit provides a variety of input and output circuit protections, including a minimum input-to-output isolation of 500 V to eliminate the possibility of I/O ground-loop currents. All outputs are individually protected against short circuits, overvoltage and overcurrent. External voltage sense lines provided in the 5 V output ensure voltage stability for high current loads. Input safeguards include input transient protection, reverse polarity protection and an EMI/RFI input filter used to reduce the input reflected ripple.

An input power hold-up circuit provides 4 ms of output voltage hold-up time at full load with 50 ms hold-up available using an optional, integrated capacitor bank. When the input voltage drops below 18 VDC, a separate power-fail detection circuit operates three control signals, SYSFAIL#, SYSRST# and ACFAIL#, to enable the CPU to take all necessary emergency actions and store system parameters before the power actually shuts down. In addition, the DC-to-DC converters are equipped with internal thermal shutdown circuitry to protect them from damage due to potential system overheating.

Mechanical and thermal construction includes a protective aluminum housing for mechanical ruggedization, EMI/RFI shielding and thermal conduction of heat to the system enclosure. A chemical conversion coating provides maximum heat transfer and corrosion resistance on thermal interface surfaces. Wedge-locks hold the P230 in place and clamp it to the enclosure’s thermal rails for optimum heat transfer, and extractors are included on the P230’s top panel for easy removal.

An internal BIT (built-in test) mechanism monitors output voltages at all times, and LEDs provide convenient visual indication of the status of the four output voltages to ensure they are within system specification limits. A discrete ground/open input enables the power supply to be turned on and off remotely.

Military-rated models operate at temperatures from -55°C to +85°C (at the heat sink) when running at 85% of maximum rated power, and up to +75°C when operating at full rated power. The rugged models are rated for -40°C to +71°C at full rated power. Environmental ratings with which the P230 complies include MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-810E. This comprises operation at altitudes of up to 70,000 ft and between 5% to 95% humidity as well as random vibration to a maximum of 0.1 g2/Hz at 20 Hz to 2 kHz with a total of 12 GRMS and an operating shock of 40 g peak, half-sine shaped, for 11 ms in three axes. This includes pyrotechnic shock exceeding 400 g.

Without the optional capacitor bank module, the power supply measures 3.93” high x 6.60” deep x 1.14” wide (100 mm x 168 mm x 29 mm) and weighs less than 1.65 lb (750 g).

Pricing for the P230 Power Supply starts at $2,750 in OEM quantities. Delivery is from stock to 20 weeks ARO.

For more information please call 888-Aitech-8 (888-248-3248), visit www.rugged.com/p230.htm, or e-mail [email protected].

For an electronic copy, please visit www.simongroup.com/PressRoom/WordDocs/ait/AIT-A[…]

For high res photo, please visit

www.simongroup.com/PressRoom/Images/aitech/AIT-[…]

Subscribe to Aitech’s RSS feed.

For additional news releases from Aitech Defense Systems, please visit www.simongroup.com/PressRoom/aitech.php