Contents
- Preface
- Protect personnel from physical and electrical injuries
- Protect backend load devices and systems
- Improve common mode interference suppression performance and anti-interference ability
- Adjustable positive and negative output voltages
- Battery and Cross Platform Compatibility Applications
- Summary
Preface-What Are the Isolated DC-DC Converters?
Direct current to direct current power converter, also known as DC-DC power converter or DC transformer, is a product that converts one type of DC (direct current voltage level) to another type of DC (direct current). Different load equipment has different operating voltage ranges, so power converter manufacturers need to provide matching voltages for them.
Based on different application scenarios, electronic equipment engineers need to consider different power converter specifications, the first and foremost is usually "Is it necessary to use an isolated dc-dc converter? If the equipment is planned in the wrong direction at the beginning, it may cause system instability during operation, damage to the back-end system, or jeopardize the safety of users. Therefore, it is important to consider the need for isolated dc-dc converters before designing a product.
Considering the common demand for power converters in industrial environments, all MINMAX power converters are designed as isolated DC-DC Converters. What are the benefits of choosing an isolated DC-DC converter? Let's get to know it!
Protect personnel from physical and electrical injuries
In equipment systems such as railways, power, and renewable energy industries that require high input voltage, choosing non-isolated power converters may result in physical and electrical damage, while medical industry applications have strict regulations on leakage current. Power converters for the above industries must meet the isolation capability requirements of reinforced insulation.
Figure 1- Medical power converters require higher isolation and insulation capabilities
Protect backend load devices and systems
There is no direct current electrical or ground circuit connection between the input and output of a isolated converter, so if there is a sudden high voltage anomaly at the current power supply end, an isolated power converter can protect the back-end load equipment and system from direct impact of the sudden high voltage, or when the equipment is suddenly struck by induced lightning, the isolated converter can appropriately protect the system from the risk of direct destroy.
Figure 2- Isolated converter can effectively protect back-end devices
Case description:
The input voltage and current are analog signals that need to be converted into digital signals through digital circuits and output to back-end devices for reception. The impedance in the ground plane can cause interference between analog and digital circuits, and engineers often need to isolate analog and digital signals to avoid common ground interference.
Figure 3- Isolated power converter can effectively reduce environmental interference
Improve common mode interference suppression performance and anti-interference ability
Isolated type power supply can remove the grounding loop between isolated circuits, cut off the propagation path of common mode, surge and other interference signals, effectively reduce the influence of ground potential difference and wire coupling interference, improve the common mode interference suppression performance and anti-interference ability, which is beneficial for back-end systems that are sensitive to interference signals. For example, in remote industrial communication power supply, isolated power supply can provide separate power supply for each communication node, while also having higher safety and reliability.
Figure 4- isolated converter can effectively solve the problem of common mode interference
Case description (1):
High potential isolation
For the control of electric motors, battery management systems, and many other cases, the system control circuit used has a different potential than the power circuit, and the use of high isolation power converters can ensure that low-voltage components are not affected by high-voltage circuits.
Case description (2):
The serial communication bus transmits data through physical networks such as RS-232, RS-485, and Controller Area Network (CAN). Each of these interconnected systems is equipped with its own power supply and has a long distance between them. Therefore, it is usually necessary to isolate the power supply for electrical isolation to ensure the physical safety of the system, and to protect the backend load system from transient high voltage surges and reduce signal distortion by disconnecting the grounding circuit through isolation.
Adjustable positive and negative output voltages
Isolated converters can provide positive or negative voltage to a single device. Due to its floating output, isolated converters can provide isolation between the casing, input, and output circuits. They can also be used with positive or negative input voltage sources as long as the relative polarity of the device input is maintained.
Battery and Cross Platform Compatibility Applications
Taking the following diagram as an example, it may not be necessary to use an isolated converter in applications, but an isolated converter can provide a convenient method to boost the input voltage to the desired output voltage.
Summary
| Items | Use an isolated converter | Use a non-isolated converter |
|---|---|---|
| Personal protection | Higher security | Lower security |
| System load protection | If there is an abnormality in the power supply, it will cause less load loss | If there is an abnormality in the power supply, it will cause more load loss |
| Common mode anti-interference | High anti-interference level | Low anti-interference level |
| Positive and negative voltage adjustment | Able to adjust positive and negative output voltages | Unable to adjust positive and negative output voltages |
| Common ground and current circuit | There is no electrical connection between the input and output, presenting an insulated state | There is a common ground between the input and output, with a direct current loop |
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