DC/DC with Major Technology Upgrade

Popular DC/DCs and switching regulators upgraded for better performance

RECOM has made a breakthrough in enhancing the performance of their standard low power isolated and non-isolated DC/DC converters, while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Traditionally, modular, board-mounted low power DC/DCs have involved significant manual assembly in low-cost manufacturing locations, which has the benefit of economical production of short runs of a wide number of variants. However, this approach limits the circuit complexity possible, impacts repeatability, and constrains electrical performance.

Now, through advanced circuit techniques and manufacturing automation, RECOM can offer machine-built products that can be easily and economically configured in production as alternative variants without a price premium, while also providing performance enhancements. These include wider input voltage and temperature operating ranges, along with higher-grade isolation ratings, making single parts suitable for a wider variety of applications. This in turn reduces the number of variants required, providing better economy of scale in manufacturing and for the end-user.

An example of this new approach to design and production is the use of planar transformers for low assembly cost and repeatability. Other innovations include elimination of potting in selected parts for material cost and weight savings and the introduction of synchronous rectification to improve efficiency, allowing a wider temperature operating range and energy savings.

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Isolated DC/DC converters

The K-series of isolated DC/DC converters are latest generation designs that combine higher-grade isolation, improved reliability and wider input voltage range specifications without increasing cost. This balancing act is made possible by using sophisticated internal controller ICs, manufacturing automation and advanced magnetics to offer best-in-class performance with an unbeatable price/performance ratio.

Industry standard pinout/case sizes allowing drop-in replacement without PCB changes.
High efficiency over a wide operating range with no minimum load requirement.
Wide operating temperature range of up to 105°C without derating.
4kVDC/1s or 3kVDC/1min Isolation.

Short Circuit Protected (SCP) with enable pin for remote on/off control.
Heavier duty pins for improved shock/vibration resistance.
Lower weight to reduce transport costs and CO² emissions.
62368-1 safety certified.
2.5 Mio. hour MTBF.

Isolated DC/DCs are more versatile

The new RKK is an upgrade to the popular existing RKE/RFMM series, a 1W un-regulated, isolated, SIP-7 DC/DC. The RKK now has lower EMI, operation to 105°C with no derating, longer lifetime figure and higher efficiency which is maintained to light loads. Elimination of potting saves cost and weight, nearly halving to just 1.7g, adding to its ‘green’ credentials. An additional new series, RYK, has a fully linear-regulated output with otherwise similar enhancements.

		Series	Power (W)	Vin (V)	Main Vout (V)	Isolation	Package Style
1		RKK Focus	1.0	5.0	5	Isolated	SIP7	Datasheet
2		RYK Focus	1.0	5.0	3.3, 5	Isolated	SIP7	Datasheet

Wide input SIP-8 has upgraded isolation

The popular 1W, SIP-8 regulated 4:1 input RSO RECOM product has also been upgraded to the RSOK-Z series, which now features 3kV/1min agency-rated ‘basic’ grade isolation compared with the previous 2kV/’functional’ rating. The new part has a lower isolation capacitance, halved to 50pF and a higher operating temperature to 88°C without derating. There is also now no minimum load requirement for the product to meet its full specification.

		Series	Power (W)	Vin (V)	Main Vout (V)	Isolation	Package Style
1		RSOK-Z Focus	1.0	9.0 - 36.0	3.3 to 17, 5	Isolated	SIP8	Datasheet

Replacement for RSE series now has 8:1 input range

The RSE, 2W, regulated SIP-8 DC/DC series is superseded by the RSK-RUW series, now with 8:1 input range compared with 4:1. Efficiency is improved by nearly 10%, isolation is 3kVDC/1 minute, up from 2kVDC/1 second, operating temperature is now 85°C without derating compared with 75°C and isolation capacitance is now just 50pF.

		Series	Power (W)	Vin (V)	Main Vout (V)	Isolation	Package Style
1		RSK-RUW Focus	2.0	4.5 - 36.0	3.3 to 17, 5	Isolated	SIP8	Datasheet

3W regulated RS3K has enhanced performance

The RS3E, 3W, regulated, SIP8 DC/DC is superseded by the RS3K-Z series with extended 4:1 input range and 3kV ‘basic’ isolation compared with 2:1 input and 3kV ‘functional’ isolation. The new RS3K-Z also has better efficiency, a wider operating temperature range to +80°C without derating and lower isolation capacitance at 50pF maximum.

		Series	Power (W)	Vin (V)	Main Vout (V)	Isolation	Package Style
1		RS3K Focus New	3.0	4.5 - 9.0, 9.0 - 36.0	12, 15, 24, 3.3, 5, 9, ± 12, ± 15, ± 24, ± 5	Isolated	SIP8	Datasheet

Non-Isolated DC/DC converters

The K-series of switching regulators are latest generation designs that combine high reliability, lower energy consumption and wider input voltage range without increasing cost. This balancing act is made possible by using a combination of fully automated manufacture and sophisticated controller ICs to offer best-in-class specifications with an unbeatable price/performance ratio.

Industry standard pinout/case sizes – drop-in replacement for linear regulators.
High efficiency over a wide operating range – no heatsinks required.
Low EMI magnetics.
Heavier duty pins for lower impedance and improved shock/vibration resistance.

Lower weight to reduce transport costs and CO² emissions.
62358-1 safety certified.
Excellent price/performance ratio.

New non-isolated switching regulators

One of the first uses for non-isolated switching DC/DCs was to replace lossy, standard, ‘78’ series three-terminal linear regulators. RECOM’s R-78 series switching regulator is a drop-in replacement and has become an industry standard for high efficiency and a compact form factor, with current ratings of 0.5A, 1A and 2A. Now, the new enhanced, R-78K version offers a wider input voltage range – up to 36V, even better efficiency at up to 96%, and more output options down to 1.5VDC to suit modern end-applications. Operating temperature is now up to 90°C without derating. The 0.5A and 1A versions also have reduced case sizes and lower weight.

	Series	Current (A)	Vin (V)	Main Vout (V)	Isolation	Package Style
1	R-78CK-0.5 Focus New	0.5	5.0 - 40.0, 6.5 - 40.0, 15.0 - 40.0, 18.0 - 40.0	12, 15, 3.3, 5	Non-Isolated	SIP3	Datasheet
2	R-78K-0.5 Focus	0.5	4.5 - 36.0, 6.5 - 36.0, 8.0 - 36.0, 12.0 - 36.0, 15.0 - 36.0, 18.0 - 36.0	1.5, 1.8, 12, 15, 2.5, 3.3, 5, 6.5, 9	Non-Isolated	SIP3	Datasheet
3	R-78K-1.0 Focus	1.0	4.5 - 36.0, 6.5 - 36.0, 12.0 - 36.0, 15.0 - 36.0, 18.0 - 36.0	1.8, 12, 15, 2.5, 3.3, 5, 9	Non-Isolated	SIP3	Datasheet
4	R-78K-2.0 Focus New	2.0	4.5 - 36.0, 6.5 - 36.0, 11.0 - 36.0, 14.0 - 36.0, 18.0 - 36.0	1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 12, 15, 2.5, 3.3, 5, 9	Non-Isolated	SIP3	Datasheet