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The Truth About Overloading PSUs

0 The Truth about Overloading Power Supplies

The Truth about Overloading Power Supplies

Ever thought it is ok to overload power supplies, given manufacturers' conservative ratings? While there's a bit of truth regarding manufacturer derating, the narrative around safe overloading requires a more nuanced understanding.Let's look at power supply ratings.

The Truth Behind Manufacturer Derating

Manufacturers often derate power supply ratings to accommodate variations in operating conditions like:

  • -cooling efficiency
  • -temperature
  • -altitude

They do so to ensure reliability and safety across a range of scenarios, not a "go ahead" to exceed published specifications.

The Risks of Misinterpreting Derating

Overloading power supplies can lead to:

  • -Safety hazards.
  • -Decreased efficiency
  • -Potential overheating
  • -Risking equipment failure
  • -Increased operational costs
  • -Reduced lifespan of all devices

"Pushing a power supply beyond its limits is like redlining a car's engine in every gear; it might run faster for a moment, but you're wearing it down faster and risking a breakdown."

Guidelines for Responsible Power Supply Management

  • Adhere to Specifications: Always operate within the manufacturer's recommended ratings. These guidelines are your safest bet for reliability and longevity.
  • Consult with Experts: If you're considering pushing limits based on derating, consult with power supply experts. Manufacturers and specialists, like those at Tri-M Technologies, can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation.
  • Consider Application-specific Conditions: Understand the specific conditions of your application. Factors like ambient temperature and ventilation play crucial roles in how a power supply performs under load.

Base Your Decisions with Facts

At Tri-M Technologies, we believe in empowering our clients with accurate information and practical insights.

The myth that overloading power supplies is inherently safe oversimplifies a complex topic. Our goal is to ensure you have the knowledge to make informed decisions, optimizing your operations without compromising safety or efficiency.

Conclusion

Understanding power supply ratings and manufacturer derating is essential, but it's crucial to approach this knowledge with caution and responsibility.

Prioritize safety, efficiency, and longevity in our equipment choices and usage strategies.

For guidance on navigating power supply specifications and making the most of your equipment's capabilities, reach out to the experts at Tri-M Technologies: Sales@tri-m.com 

Intelligent Transportation Touch Panel PC

Intelligent Transportation System Solution 
For many cities around the world, it is of great importance to promote public transportation as a favorable choice of commute. Envisioning a future where intelligent transportation platforms are abundant, Litemax is focused on providing solutions concerned with passenger information systems, automatic fare collection, traffic improvement, control room surveillance and rolling stock applications. intelligent railway control

Railway Control System

17” Full IP65 Railway Fanless Touch Panel PCWith Intel® 7th Gen. CoreTM  i Processor 

・17” XGA TFT LCD for 350 nits of Brightness 
・Intel 7th Gen. CoreTM i3/i5/i7 Processor 
・Projected Capacitive Touch Screen or 5 Wire 
    Resistive Touch Screen  
・M12 type lockable connectors design  
・Auto dimming for different environments

Contact Sales@tri-m.com for more information

V12SC Small Form Factor Embedded UPS & Universal Charger

The V12SC-SER when integrated with a backup power source is a rugged uninterruptable power system (UPS) supplying up to 12V@ 5A and 5V@ 1A for use in remote and hostile environments. The V12SC-SER can be powered from a solar panel or from a vehicle power source. The input power protection is designed to MIL-STD-1275 requirements and can handle transients and load dumps found on heavy vehicles such as large mining trucks. 

The PC/104 footprint is easily integrated with other modules such as CPU, communication and I/O modules . The universal charger can handle NiCd, NiMh, SLA, Li-Ion, ultra capacitors and SMBus backup power sources. The V12SC-SER-UPS includes on-board NiMh batteries providing 6.3 watt-hr of backup energy. v12sc-illustration

The V12SC-SER has two RS232 ports for data monitoring and control. One port has 2500Vrms isolation and includes 5V@ 200mA making it ideal for remote sensors for sunlight intensity and solar pnel temperature. The second port includes 5V@ 1A of power for devices such as a low power CPU. The 5V power on the serial ports are independently switchable to the 12V output. 

Three full color RGB LED indicators on the V12SC-SER provide operational status and an additional three off board RGB LED indicators can be used for remote status indication. The LEDs can be remotely controlled over the RS232 ports permitting indication of other functions.

Advantages

  • Solar panel input compatible.  When the energy from the solar panel is insufficient the V12SC supplements by drawing power from the backup power source
  • PC/104 footprint and height compatible
  • Wide input range, 7V to 40V DC
  • Transient suppression designed to MIL-STD-1275 levels
  • Mechanical shock & vibration designed to ML-STD-810 levels
  • Multi-chemistry universal charger, supports NiCd, NiMh, SLA, Li-Ion, ultracapacitors, and SMBus
  • Wide temperature range
  • Isolated RS232 port for remote sensors and data monitoring complete with isolated 5V to power remote sensors
  •  

    For full specifications visit the product page here: V12SC-SER-UPS or contact Tri-M

    Extreme Rugged Computer Family PIP40 With Intel 9th Gen CPUs

    With the PIP40, MPL presents their newest fanless embedded computer family featuring 8th. generation Intel processors. Decades of experience (since 1985) in developing and producing extremely robust embedded solutions have made the PIP40 Family possible. In the near future the 9th. CPU generation from Intel can also be used on the PIP40 platform.

    Fit, Form and Function of the PIP and the unmatched reliability are key arguments. Shock and vibration, and extended temperatures complete the rugged and long-term available PIP40 Family. The basic version is equipped with interfaces such as display port, DVI-D, USB 3.1, RS232/422/485.... Further expansions will be done over the internal expansion interfaces such as mPCIe, m.2 or PCIe/104. WLAN, LTE, GPIOs, CAN... can be easily and quickly integrated into the systems. This makes the solution flexible, cost efficient, and customizable.  Mass storage options include SATA, mSATA and m.2.pip40-mpl

    Your application needs TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform) support? No issue, it is available as add-on module. The PIP40 Family can be put into various standby mode levels (even below 95 mW) and with Wake On LAN (WOL), the system can be started. The operational power consumption is between 5w and 65W and the power consumption level can be limited. This enables the use for power saving as well as for power hungry applications. The vPro technology expands the use of the PIP40 Family solution. Further finesses and gadgets of the PIP40 Family can be found on MPL's homepage www.mpl.ch.

    The first solution of the PIP40 Family MPL is offering is the PIP46 with the i7-8850H embedded CPU. The PIP46 is now available in MPL standard housing with DIN-Rail or flange mounting. Further housings such as MIL and 19" racks are in preparation. The open frame version (CPU board on cooling plate) is best suited for installation in an existing cabinet and tight areas. For applications with vibrations, the solution can be supplied with lockable headers. Customized versions are MPL's strength!

    The PIP40 Family will be available for at least 10 years. MPL's own component stock guarantees repairs for up to 20 years. Extended temperature ranges can be fulfilled and are tested in MPL's own climatic chambers according customer's request.

    The PIP40 Family is 100% engineered & manufactured by MPL AG in Switzerland and meets or exceeds the most common standards. Particular references are: EN 55022, EN 55024, EN 61000, MIL-STD-461E, EN 60068, EN 50155, MIL-STD-810G, EN 60601, EN 60950, CE, IEC 60945, IACS and E10.

    For more specific information, please visit www.mpl.ch/t24g0.html or contact Tri-M

    HECS 1000 Series

    The HECS is a durable robust processor system ideal for data applications and concentration. This low power solution leverages over 20 years of Tri-M’s experience building and supplying PC/104 solutions. Heavy duty and rugged to sustain shock, vibration and temperature the HECS is designed to meet your industrial needs.

    Read more: HECS 1000 Series

    Tri-M's new TBP4xxx series

    Tri-M's new TBP4xxx series of ultra capacitor backup power modules when mated with a Tri-M HESC or HPSC smart charging power solution creates a complete uninterruptable power system (UPS) in a PC/104 footprint. The TBP4xxx are extended temperature, maintenance free, high cycling and designed for hostile environments of extreme temperatures and vibration. This rugged backup energy module is ideal for applications that have either a large number of discharge cycles or where a “maintenance free” solution is required such as remote and hard to access locations.

    Read more: Tri-M's new TBP4xxx series

    Tri-M has a new home

    On July 1, 2013 Tri-M Technologies Inc began operating from its brand new facility in Mission, BC, a suburb of Vancouver. Tri-M is adding its name to a growing list of high tech businesses in Mission’s burgeoning high tech sector.

    Ed Foster, President of Tri-M and long time resident of Mission adds, “All business owners like to have their operations close to where they live, but Mission is also where many of our employees live as well.”

    Read more: Tri-M has a new home

    Tri-M's TCB1000 series

    Tri-M's TCB1000 series provides PC/104 communication solutions for rugged and hostile environments. The TCB1000 includes isolated RS232 and RS485 serial ports, isolated CANbus port, Multi-Tech® Universal Socket compatible SocketModems and programmable isolated LED status indication. The jumperless module is easy to configure and once configure the settings can be locked.

    Read more: Tri-M's TCB1000 series

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    Fax: 888.831.5149

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    Tri-M Technologies Inc.
    208 – 31510 Gill Avenue
    Mission, BC, Canada  V4S 0A1

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