
Power Supplies & Regulation

Industrial power supplies are electrical devices that take electric power from an input source, transform it, and send it to the output load. The input and output power can either be alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The goal of the power supply is to power the load with the correct current and voltage. Power supplies that are designated for industrial use are required to have safety approvals, handle high power density and operate in harsh environments.
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are electrical devices that provide near-instantaneous protection from input power source failures by providing backup power. This is critical in industrial settings where a power disruption can lead to costly downtime and damage to expensive equipment. Choosing the proper UPS system can provide the necessary power to cover short-term outages and enable safe system shutdown during extended power outages.
Transformers are devices that transfer electric energy from one AC circuit to another by either increasing (step-up) or decreasing (step-down) the voltage. This helps to improve the efficiency and safety of power systems by adjusting the voltage levels when needed. Transformers are primarily used in the regulation and distribution of power across long distances.
DC to DC voltage converters are devices that convert one DC input to a different DC output by either increasing or decreasing the voltage. This helps to maintain steady voltage levels despite possible input fluctuations and can be useful in electrical control panels that usually contain many components that rely on dc power of different voltage ratings.
Diode modules are devices that can be used to decouple two power supplies that are connected on the output side, in parallel, to provide redundancy or increase power. If one power supply fails, this ensures that there are enough remaining power supplies to provide the required load current. Diode modules can be used to increase current capacity when one power supply is insufficient to deliver the load current required.
Products
Differences between Power Supplies, Inverters and Transformers
Power supplies
A power supply converts one type of power to another. The most common example is a power supply that takes AC voltage and converts it to DC voltage. While it is very common to use power supplies in industrial applications, one very common place to see a power supply used is for the devices such as: smartphones, laptops or tablets. Most devices come with a power cord that has a bulky block on the end of it. This block is where the power supply is located. Most devices do not use AC power, which is the type of power being supplied to homes. They use some form or DC power. The power supply changes the AC voltage to the correct DC voltage for the device.
Inverters
Inverters work in a similar way to power supplies, with one major difference, instead of converting AC power to DC power, the inverter does the opposite. It converts DC power to AC power. DC power is created by devices such as solar panels or batteries, but most homes require AC power. To convert the DC power that is generated by the solar panels, an inverter is used.
Transformers
Transformers convert one type of AC power to a different type of AC power. For example, homes commonly use 120 VAC and automatic sprinkling systems have valves that require 24 VAC. A transformer converts 120 VAC to 24 VAC so the sprinkler valves can operate properly. Transformers come in many different shapes and sizes. and can convert AC power up or down.