DIN-rail power supplies. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: daddario
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 01:38:37 pm
content: Hi!I'm in search for some decent DIN-rail power supplies and have narrowed my selection down to basically three options:*MeanWell DR-120-12*TDK-Lambda DPP120-21*PULS ML100.102Now, I've never really had a go with any of these, nor could I find any pictures of the innards of them, so it's really hard to judge the (long term) reliability of them. I've seen Mike's videos on the PULS Dimension line and they really look impressive. However, the only one with suitable parameters they have is the plastic MiniLine one. CT5.121 would come close, but I only have 1-phase power to use. The MeanWell lower end has so far been pretty good bang for the buck, but now I'm looking for something a bit more serious. Has anyone used, and even better - looked inside, of any of those series? I'm specifically thinking construction and thermal design-wise. I also don't want to see any tiny elkos in the feedback circuitry.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 01:51:46 pm
content: I mainly use TDK Lambda ps myself for projects. Look at thier specs as for instance the MTBF running in the 600000 to 900000 hours for some of their ps,s.Also build quality is good, only rubycon 105C caps for the ones i bought (around 20 or so)If you buy the Din version you got the real stuff they guarantee those for a long time.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 02:00:25 pm
content: Used the Meanwells before (not that exact product, but a similar one), they're good.Also managed to blow one up, but I think that was understandable given the circumstances. I mean, who knew 480VAC and water don't go together?Tim

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 02:25:15 pm
content: In order of "goodness" Puls, then TDK-Lambta then Meanwell.I had a Traco DIN rail PSU that was reaching about 70 degrees C output air temp at slightly under full load so wouldn't reccommed them.An advantage of Puls is they have active inrush limiting (not sure if across the whole range), which can be useful if using lots of them on a single supply.

author: gman4925
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 02:45:43 pm
content: Meanwell are good but the DR-120-12 is quite old. They also have EDR-120-12, NDR-120-12, SDR-120-12 and WDR-120-12 which are newer, slimmer, more efficient, wider temperature range, more features etc.Something to consider.

author: daddario
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 06:54:22 pm
content: Quote from: gman4925 on February 06, 2015, 02:45:43 pmAh, indeed. I didn't at first glance notice the better efficiency figures. I rejected the SDR for just being the slim version - which isn't particularly needed in my case as space isn't an issue - I'd rather have a larger supply with better airflow and the wide input range of the WDR doesn't also particularly have a benefit for me. But the NDR and EDR are advertised as "economical" and "low cost". Economical and power supply in a single sentence sound like trouble.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 09:12:54 pm
content: Quote from: daddario on February 06, 2015, 06:54:22 pmDo you really need a DIN rail PS then, since they are far more expensive (up to four times) and worse in airflow than the standard power supplies as pictured below?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 09:30:51 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on February 06, 2015, 09:12:54 pmNot generally true - DIN supplies are specifically designed for vertical mounting with good convction airflowGood ones like PULs are deigned with caps at the bottom so they're at the coolest location.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2015, 09:38:46 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 06, 2015, 09:30:51 pmThese ones also have their 105C Rubycon caps on one place and the advice to place them only in a few ways to keep the heat away.And yeah I take your word for it, the Pulse PSs are probably better. Looking at the selling prices my question is it for the TS business or for the hobby, does it have to last 30 years or is 20 good enough? The pulse PS costs 8 times more then the TDK's I showed in my last post, I always compare product specs and their prices and make an evaluation which is good enough.I rather buy another one in 10 years and still be 4 times cheaper (interest not even calculated) but if it is for business the hours for someone to replace it outweigh the initial costs of buying the best PS from the start. Decisions.....

author: daddario
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2015, 12:17:34 am
content: DIN rail mounting is pretty much imperative. If it should ever run to seed (and a power supply is generally the weakest link) a technician can conveniently swap it. Those freeform modules usually have tapped mountings on the back, which would make the replacement troublesome, or just holes on the sides, which would in my case make the assembly look just... awkward.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2015, 12:22:56 am
content: Don't forget that you can get DIN rail clips for some of the non DIN rail mount Mean Well power supplies. It was checking this only yesterday with a RS-75 series unit.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2015, 08:55:41 am
content: Quote from: daddario on February 07, 2015, 12:17:34 amTrue and they have their connections 90 degrees forward instead of 180 upward so more difficult to get to. That said these PS if operated within their design zone will last forever. A candy factory stopped completely and its interior was stripped. I found some electric machine cabinets i stripped for the connectors. In these were din smps still working though they looked sugar coated caramel brown toasted awfull but still working, they were from 1992! Didnt even know they had smps back then

author: daddario
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2015, 09:03:23 pm
content: Although I didn't plan to use them anyway, out of pure interest I cracked open an MDT series MeanWell DIN rail supply as I had one on hand. Mechanical-wise it wasn't all that bad, but it had some 5 small size elkos in it, most of them near heat sources and at the top of the supply, one of them was actually tied to a heat sink with silicone!! (But then again silicone doesn't actually have all that good thermal conductivity figures.) On the positive side they were all Rubycons and Nippon Chemicons, 105C rated.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2015, 09:20:37 pm
content: Also give consideration to Automation Direct, Sola, and Phoenix. I'm not sure if Automation Direct sells in the EU, but the Rhino series is an excellent value.Phoenix offers a 24VDC combination power supply / UPS which really helps save panel space.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2015, 09:27:18 pm
content: I've been meaning to pull one of those Rhino ones apart and have a look. Have you already?What I like about them is how narrow they are.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 04:01:43 am
content: Quote from: Paul Moir on February 07, 2015, 09:27:18 pmMine appear to be glued or sonic-welded together. I don't have spares of these, so I'm not going to crack the cases open.Through the vents, they look nice. Made in Thailand. Single layer board. All the components look well placed and spaced out properly for air flow. I can't read the manufacturer on the electrolytics, but the caps appear to be the correct size for the value & ratings printed on the side. Is it Phoenix, TDK, Puls, or Sola quality? Nope. But, it's a very good value. The output voltage has a decent range of adjustment. And the ones that I've checked in the past have had good ripple and regulation. What I have not done is stuff one into an environmental chamber and run it up to its maximum temp and load and see what happens.I have the Rhinos solely as auxiliary bench power sources and have never fielded one. The Phoenix power supplies I have beat the living *&(*^ out of and they survived just fine. I have taken issue with how Phoenix handles their firmware in the past (I think they finally fixed it), but I haven't experienced a field failure.The above and two bucks get you a small drip coffee.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 04:23:12 am
content: Thanks, I'll getcha the coffee!All of mine are in service, but I'll try to crack one open anyway.I don't have many in service, and frankly they live a good easy life except for the vibration which is kind of extreme. So far so good.

author: briselec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 11:21:45 pm
content: I've used PULS and meanwell in a number of industrial installs. I don't recall any failing.