Solar bypass switches
28 November 2012
Power Electronics / Power Management
STMicroelectronics has introduced its latest generation of high-efficiency cool bypass switches for photovoltaic modules, enabling a higher percentage of harvested energy to reach end users and further reducing the cost per Watt of renewable energy.
The devices combine efficient power switching and intelligent control in a single chip, to compensate for the variable effects of hotspots and shadows on the solar panel surface. The new devices can save up to 1% of the energy produced and normally lost through conventional bypass diodes.
ST’s latest cool bypass devices feature new technology and control techniques that minimise energy losses in all operating modes, by ensuring the integrated power switch has ultra-low leakage current when turned off and very low voltage drop when turned on.
Thanks to the reduced power losses, a further advantage of these devices is a reduction in typical operating temperature, leading to increased reliability and longer lifetime.
The SPV1512 and SPV1520 are rated for operation up to 12 V and 20 V respectively. Other voltage options (up to 120 V) will be introduced in industry-standard D2PAK and TO-220AC packages.
The SPV1512 is available in a 5 x 6 x 0,75 mm VFQFPN package, which enables the bypass circuitry to be laminated on the back of each solar panel. This simplifies design and installation by eliminating large numbers of junction boxes and interconnects, and can reduce the cost of each panel by around 5%.
Further reading:
Powering the IoT
Uniross Batteries
Power Electronics / Power Management
Choosing the right battery is not simply a technical detail, but a defining factor in the longevity and cost-effectiveness of any IoT deployment.
Read more...
The move to DC infrastructure
IOT Electronics
Power Electronics / Power Management
The shift toward direct current infrastructure in data centres is accelerating as operators pursue higher efficiency, improved reliability, and stronger alignment with renewable energy goals.
Read more...
Power inductor for automotive applications
Würth Elektronik eiSos
Power Electronics / Power Management
The WE-MXGA inductor features RDC values up to 25% lower and a saturation current up to 47% higher compared to other components currently available on the market.
Read more...
High-performance DC-DC converter
Conical Technologies
Power Electronics / Power Management
With a wide 9 - 40 V DC input range, the Claf Power DWHB400-F24xxN series is a high-performance DC-DC converter family ideally suited for 12 V and 24 V battery-based systems including vehicles, off-grid installations, and distributed power architectures.
Read more...
DC-DC converters for next-generation IoT
iCorp Technologies
Power Electronics / Power Management
AIPUPOWER’s K78XXJT-500R3 and K78XXJT-500R3-LB give designers a compact, high-efficiency power option for battery-powered and space-constrained systems, combining up to 96% efficiency with no-load input current as low as 0,2 mA.
Read more...
240 W in compact form factor
Brabek
Power Electronics / Power Management
The cost-effective and reliable RECOM RACPRO1-S240E DIN-rail mount AC-DC series is only 125 x 139 mm and 39 mm wide, yet provides 240 W output.
Read more...
You cannot manage what you cannot measure
Power Electronics / Power Management
South African sites are generating solar energy. Most still have no idea what is consuming it… or when, or why. Intelligent load management hardware is changing that.
Read more...
Scalable and intelligent power solution
Power Electronics / Power Management
Designed for Africa’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, Bluetti’s ES125 offers a scalable, intelligent power solution that delivers reliable and cost-efficient electricity for uninterrupted operations.
Read more...
Simulating grid abnormalities
Conical Technologies
Power Electronics / Power Management
Simulating grid abnormalities has become an essential part of validating systems such as inverters, UPS units, photovoltaic inverters, and EV charging infrastructure.
Read more...
Evaluation board for STPMIC25 PMIC
Power Electronics / Power Management
The STEVAL-PMIC25V1 is a power management IC evaluation board for the highly integrated STPMIC25, which is designed to manage the power requirements of the core, memory, and interfaces of the STM32MP2x series MPU.
Read more...