150W Switcher's PFC Goes Passive

By employing passive rather than active power factor correction (PFC) technology, the PAS150 switching power supply is said to provide considerable economic benefits to OEMs. Passive PFC reportedly is less complex and more reliable than the active version, with the active-to-passive transition largely made possible by the recent de-classification of many Class D end devices to less stringent Class A types per EN61000 3-2 harmonic distortion standards. The new 150W switcher is said to meet all Class A PFC requirements, as well as providing greater reliability and higher MTBF through use of fewer components. Representing the first member of the new PAS Series, the PAS150 accepts universal, 115/230 Vac and delivers a single, factory-set output of 3.3V, 5V, 12V, 24V or 48V. Other standard features include excellent heat dissipation, DC "OK", AC power failure, and protection against overload, overvoltage, reverse-voltage, and thermal conditions. Numbered among the switcher's many options are: current-sharing capability for 1+1 redundancy with no special interconnection requirements; remote on/off; and droop or single-wire current sharing with OR-ing diodes. Pricing is under $40 each in OEM quantities. For more details, contact Bill Effner at TAIYO YUDEN (U.S.A.) INC., San Marcos, CA. (760) 510-3200.