Phoenix Contact STEP Power Supplies
Compact and efficient, Phoenix Contact's STEP power supplies are a power solution for small-scale applications and installations where space is limited. They serve building automation, machine control, and other industrial applications where constant, trouble-free power is needed from a small and easily hidden footprint. These slim power supplies are unobtrusive and allow the necessary power for any application to fit where it needs to go.
The power supplies from Phoenix Contact have many great features, but one of the most important is their step function power. Compared to other power supplies, they provide a stable and precise output voltage, which is absolutely necessary for sensitive electronic devices to function reliably.
The installation process for the STEP power supply range is really easy. They have various features that make them extremely easy to mount, for example, they are extremely lightweight and compact, which means saving important space in important control panels or devices. Plus, they can be mounted on to very sturdy DIN rails or the wall, so your life is made simpler with that too. Once mounted, these power supplies have enclosed connections that consist of simple 'push-in' terminals, so no more screwing involved, as it used to be with the older generation of power supplies, which saves you some crucial time with wire termination.
How to Select and Size a Power Supply
A power supply alters power from one type to another and ensures that the voltage being delivered is the proper level, with the right characteristics, to enable equipment to function properly.
Power Rating
If a power supply is rated for 5 amps at 24 VDC, (where voltage times amperage equals total wattage) the power rating for that power supply is roughly 120 Watts. This rating is very important because if this number is exceeded, it can cause a failure of the power supply and potentially damage other hardware wired downstream or on the load side of the device. To avoid this failure is important that the power supply is sized correctly.
Sizing a Power Supply
To properly size a power supply, identify what devices will be reliant on the power supply and what their total power consumption will be. The sum of all power to be delivered needs to be less than the total power rating of the power supply. For example, if the devices combined for a total of 100 Watts, then a 5 AMP power supply, which is rated for up to 120 Watts, would be sufficient. However, if the sum of those devices' total power requirement is greater than that of the power supply rating, then a different power supply should be selected. It is important to allow for a buffer or safety factor. When sizing a power supply, never select a power supply that is rated for the same amount of power as the total power requirement of all of the devices. Oversizing the power supply will allow for changes and additions that may occur in the future.