TDK-Lambda News

Lambda has unveiled an unpotted version of its X Series of industry standard 2 x 1 sized DC-DC converters. The new 20W UX20 allows designers to take full advantage of forced-air cooling to achieve higher output powers over a wider temperature range. The UX20 is ideally suited to distributed power architectures, either used on its own or as an extremely cost efficient solution when coupled with a point of load DC-DC converter. It is the perfect choice for a wide range of telecom, IT and industrial applications.

The fact that the new UX20 is manufactured at Lambda’s world-class production facility in Ilfracombe also brings significant benefits to European OEMs. Maximum production flexibility means that Lambda can offer low minimum order quantities, ideal for prototyping and pre-production designs. Samples can be delivered within one week of order and volume quantities can be supplied in under four weeks.

The UX20 is offered with a choice of operating input voltages: 24V or 48V with ranges of 18-36VDC and 36-75VDC respectively. The new converters can be supplied with either a single 3.3V or 5V output, with a maximum output current of 5.5A and 4.0A respectively. Switching frequency is 265kHz.

‘Removing the lid’ brings two benefits. First, reduced packaging means reduced material and assembly cost. Secondly, being able to use forced-air system cooling means the designer can get more power out of the unpotted device than he can out of a similarly rated potted version. For example, using standard convection cooling a 5V UX20 provides a maximum output current of 3A up to 50°C. Thereafter it derates to 2.4A at 70°C. Applying forced-air cooling at the rate of 1.5m/s to the same device allows the designer to achieve a maximum output current of 4A right up to 70°C.

Standard features include output current limiting, output over-voltage and under-voltage lockout and over-temperature protection. Options include output voltage adjustment, which allows a user to increase or decrease the output voltage set point via an external resistor. Two remote on/off options are available: positive logic remote on/off turns the module on during a logic high and off during a logic low; while negative logic remote on/off turns the module off during a logic high and on during a logic low. A choice of pin lengths are also available as standard.

All unpotted and potted versions of Lambda’s X series of DC-DC converters are CE marked and UL, CSA and VDE compliant. Operating temperature range is from –40 to 70°C.