DIN rail power supplies
Get an overview of the various categories of DIN rail power supplies and useful hints on what to look out for when making your selection.
Efficient and innovative.
DIN rail power supplies for every application.
DIN rail power supplies have become the standard for a reliable and efficient power supply. They are an integral part of numerous application areas – such as mechanical engineering, industrial automation, logistics, automotive industry, wind power, process industry and many more.
As a manufacturer, PULS has specialised 100% in DIN rail power supplies. All our power supplies are characterised by their high energy efficiency, compact design, long lifetime and high reliability.
On this page you can find out more about the benefits of our power supply solutions and receive tips for choosing the right unit for your application. If you would like to go directly to the product search, please .
Definition.
What is a DIN rail power supply?
A DIN rail power supply is a switched-mode power supply that converts unstabilised input voltage into regulated output voltage. Switched-mode power supplies are characterised by their significantly higher efficiency and lower weight as well as a more compact design than linearly regulated power supplies (transformers).
The special feature of DIN rail power supplies is their type of mounting, to which they owe their name. The power supplies are attached to the standardised DIN rail, which is also known as a top hat rail.
The DIN rail is a mounting rail made of metal with fixed standard dimensions. These dimensions were originally defined by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN). This type of mounting has been established worldwide and adopted into a European (EN) and international (IEC) standard.
The term top hat rail (TS 35) comes from its U-shaped or hat-shaped profile.
The DIN rail is found in most industrial applications around the world. It has become a fixed component of cabinets, distribution boxes and machines. The selection of available electrical components (power supplies, circuit breakers, relays, industrial PCs, etc.) for this type of mounting is almost unlimited.
Potential.
What are the benefits of DIN rail power supplies?
Lower operating costs
PULS achieves efficiency values of more than 95% with its DIN power supplies thanks to an innovative switch design and high-quality components. The high efficiency – also in stand-by mode and the partial load range – leads to lower no-load losses and thus less heat generation in the entire system.
This saves you energy costs on the one hand. On the other hand, you can also reduce the size of the cooling in your application and save additional costs here.
PULS DIN rail power supplies are optimised for the highest possible level of efficiency throughout the entire load range.
Easy operation
Installing and commissioning PULS DIN power supplies is very easy and can be carried out quickly. The device is simply attached to the DIN rail and is then wired to the mains and load.
Connection options such as spring clamps or push-in terminals allow the power supplies to be installed without tools in just a few seconds. The DIN rail power supply is then immediately ready for operation.
More space in the cabinet
The less heat is generated in the power supply, the more compact the units can be designed.
Therefore, PULS power supplies can easily be installed in confined systems or small on-site control boxes. This increases the possible packing density and the entire system can be reduced in size.
Cool design.
Why are PULS DIN rail power supplies so reliable?
PULS DIN rail power supplies are convection-cooled. This means that the electronics are cooled only by a natural air flow. No fans are used, which has a positive effect on the reliability of the power supplies. With every mechanical element, such as a fan, the probability of failure and thus the maintenance requirements also increase.
To ensure the convection cooling is sufficient even under peak loads, PULS develops its DIN rail power supplies according to the Cool Design principle. The components that determine the lifetime, such as the electrolytic capacitors, are positioned at the coolest points in the unit.
The combination of the robust switch design and excellent efficiency values of PULS DIN rail power supplies lead to a high reliability and an extremely long lifetime of the units. As a user, you benefit from a low maintenance requirement and high system availability.
7 tips.
What should you consider when selecting a DIN rail power supply?
1. Parameters for input and output
This is the first piece of basic information you should find out.
Do you require a power supply for a 1-phase or 3-phase system? Does the power supply also need to be capable of being run with DC voltage at the input?
What voltage and current do you require at the output?
Would you like to use the power supply in single or parallel operation? Not every DIN rail power supply automatically features a paralleling capability.
2. Operating environment
The second criterion concerns the environment in which the DIN rail power supply will be used.
How high is the average and maximum ambient temperature? Please note that most power supplies require derating above a certain temperature and the full power is no longer available.
Where is the coolest point in your cabinet? The power supply should be installed here.
Is the application located in an environment with high humidity, a lot of dirt or vibration? Then it is recommended to consider a .
3. Dimensions
Knowing the correct dimensions makes it easier for you to select the suitable power supply.
How much space is available for the DIN rail power supply?
Can you also install the power supply in its vertical standard alignment? If you can only install the power supply horizontally, the air flow will be impaired, and derating can be necessary.
The power supply unit needs some distance to the right and left so the air can circulate, and the unit remains as cool as possible. Please consider the distance stated in the instruction manual and datasheet when planning your cabinet.
Can the power supply be mounted on the DIN rail or do you have to attach it to the cabinet? PULS offers appropriate solutions for
Tip: Does your engineering team work with EPLAN?
PULS provides all relevant information and 3D macros for most units. This allows you to integrate the virtual PULS products directly into your system and check all dimensions. You will find a direct link to EPLAN on the respective product detail page on our website.
4. Approvals and standards
A lack of approvals can slow down a project considerably. It is therefore important to know in advance which approvals the power supply should have.
In which regions (e.g. UL, Class I, Div 2) and target markets (e.g. ATEX) do you plan to sell your products?
Are certain approvals or standards necessary in your application, e.g. for ship building (ABS / GL), medical technology (IEC 60601-1, 3rd Edition) or railway applications (rail standard EN 50155)?
5. Efficiency and lifetime
A long lifetime, low heat generation and high energy efficiency are the most important characteristics for any application.
Efficiency has a direct influence on all factors mentioned above. For this reason, it is important that you check the actual efficiency for your required load and consider the power losses. The higher the efficiency, the less you will notice the power losses in the form of heat in the system. An efficient DIN rail power supply stays cool even at full load, which has a positive effect on the surrounding system components. In addition, a high efficiency is an important factor for a longer lifetime of the power supply. An increase in the temperature of only 10°C, for example, reduces the lifetime of electrolytic capacitors by half. These electrolytic capacitors in turn have an enormous influence on the lifetime of DIN rail power supplies.
Your application benefits most from a DIN rail power supply with the highest possible efficiency over the entire load range. For PULS power supplies, you can find the detailed efficiency information in each product's datasheet.
Find out more about the meaning of high efficiency.
6. Additional features
Consider what additional power supply features you require for your application:
- DC-OK relay contact
- Extended DC input range
- Hot swap plug connector
- Remote control
- Special approvals
All PULS DIN rail power supplies are among the best in their class in terms of basic functions and differ from each other primarily through the various feature packages.
7. Supplementary units
Do you require further units for your system to increase the reliability or availability? You can achieve this, for example, by setting up a redundant power supply system or using an uninterruptible power supply.
In this case it can be helpful to purchase the power supply and suitable supplementary units from the same manufacturer. The modules are usually perfectly synchronised, which makes the installation easier.
PULS provides a variety of compatible supplementary units:
Application service.
Would you like to analyse your application in detail?
To assist you in selecting the perfectly dimensioned power supply and determine the actual requirements of your system, PULS provides a free application analysis. For this, we have developed the SmartFab Box.
The SmartFab Box is a diagnostic tool used to determine the power requirements and thermal conditions in systems.
Find out what this analysis looks like and how you can lease the SmartFab Box from PULS free of charge here:
