4 medium Ipeco Electronics adds integral ‘hold-up’ to its 3U VPX power suppliesIpeco Electronics, specialists in the design, development and manufacture of high-reliability power solutions for aerospace and defence applications, has extended its 3U VPX range with the addition of an integral hold-up capability to its P47 and VITA 62 connector-fitted power supply units (PSUs).

Integral hold-up is of immense benefit to engineers designing space-constrained systems which must be able to tolerate brief losses of input power; but in which there is no room for separate hold-up cards/units. In addition, Ipeco’s P47 connector-fitted PSUs are now available with an integral current-limited fan supply output with EMC filter; also of great benefit to systems designers.

Ipeco’s 3U VPX PSUs accept steady state DC inputs, in the range 18 to 32V, and offer the following six DC outputs: 3.3, 5, -12 and 12V plus 3.3 and 12V auxiliaries; when fitted with a VITA 62 connector.

In addition to being subjected to Ipeco’s rigorous in-house verification processes, several of the company’s 3U VPX PSUs have also been through military customer integration and qualification programmes; proving their operational integrity and reliability in harsh environments. With the design IP resting firmly with Ipeco, and without ITAR restrictions, several PSUs are available as commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) or modified off-the-shelf (MOTS) units.

For example, the P1324 3U VPX is available now as a COTS unit. Fitted with a P47 connector, the P1324 has three DC outputs – namely 3.3, 5 and 12V – and provides an overall continuous output power of 200W (when operating at 85oC wedge lock temperature). The unit, and an associated filter, meet the requirements of Def Stan 61-5 (part 6), including the survival of electrical equipment when subjected to a load dump of 174V for 350mS. Though designed for a tracked-vehicle, the P1324 is also suitable for aerospace and marine applications.

In other examples, Ipeco’s 3U VPX models P1340 and P1342 are in their qualification phases with customers:

  • Fitted with a P47 connector, the P1340 has two regulated DC outputs (3.3 and 5V) plus a clean/filtered output that tracks the input voltage (18 to 32VDC). It provides an overall continuous output power of 241W (when operating at 85oC wedge lock temperature) and provides a maximum hold-up time of 50mS when running from its nominal input voltage of 28VDC. Though developed for bespoke aerospace application, the P1340 is also suitable for land and marine applications.
  • Fitted with a VITA 62 connector, the P1342 has six DC outputs (3.3, 5, -12 and 12V plus 3.3 and 12V auxiliaries) and provides an overall continuous output power of 230W (when operating at 85oC wedge lock temperature). The hold-up time is in excess of 40mS at 180W output power, which is available across its entire input range. It too was developed for an aerospace application but is suitable for use in land and marine applications.

Further details of all three ITAR-free 3U VPX PSU are available from Ipeco Electronics upon request.

Steve Maryniak, Ipeco Electronics’ general manager, commented: “We’re already renowned for achieving extremely high power densities, and the addition of integral hold-up to our 3U VPX power supplies means our solutions present even better systems value in the field.”

Ipeco VPX PSUs operate through normal voltage transients for MIL-STD-704F and DO-160G. In addition, Ipeco can design off-the-shelf EMC filter solutions into the system rack, offering customers a complete solution that can meet radiated and conducted emissions compliance.

Maryniak concluded: “At Ipeco Electronics we have an extremely adventurous roadmap for not only our 3U VPX PSUs but also our 6U VME units plus, as an OEM, we’re able to create MOTS versions of any of our existing COTS units. We also offer a full custom PSU design service.”