ABB Power Conversion: 1500W Quarter-Brick Converter – High Power Density for Critical Applications
July 4, 2022
ABB Power Conversion is expanding its already robust line of DC/DC bus converters with multiple new modules, including a 1500-watt (W) converter –– which is among the highest-powered quarter-brick DC/DC converters currently available.
The 1500W converters provide power densities of up to 810W per cubic inch and are available in both digital (QBDS128A0B) and analog (QBVS128A0B) versions. This high power density coupled with efficiencies of 97% or higher and IPC 9592B Class II qualification help to meet the quality and reliability needs of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) developing solutions for networking, data center, and industrial applications.
In addition to the 1500W versions, ABB has developed two 1300W modules (the QBDS108A0B and QBDS125A10R4) and a 1000W QBDS095A10R61-PHZ. The new Barracuda-series bus converters add feature- and power-level flexibility to the product family to address unique power challenges. For example, the QBDS128A0B1-FZ features an integrated, high-performance heatsink which offers enhanced thermal performance in a low profile, while the QBDS095A10R61-PHZ is designed to support power over ethernet (POE) applications which require increased levels of isolation.
“As computing and networking equipment continues to evolve and increase in capacity, every spare inch of space on a printed circuit board and in a rack or cabinet will become even more valuable to squeeze out as much functionality as possible,” said Vito Savino, data center segment leader at ABB Power Conversion. “With increased functionality and capacity also comes the need for more power – and in ever-shrinking footprints. We’re helping to address our customers’ power challenges with high-density solutions like these latest additions to our Barracuda DC/DC converter family.”
The new Barracuda-series bus converters support input voltage ranges from 45 to 60 volts (V) DC (with exact input ranges depending on the module) and convert it down to the 12V DC output required by many point-of-load modules. This makes them well suited for server and storage applications, supercomputers, automatic testing equipment, intermediate bus applications, and distributed power architectures, to name a few.
Additional Features
Additional features of the latest Barracuda-series DC/DC converters include:
- – High and flat efficiency of 97% or higher, improving overall thermal performance.
- – Remote firmware upgradeability for installed modules.
- – Black box event recorder functionality to help diagnose system and/or module problems.
- – Heat plates to attach external heat sinks or contact cold walls.
- – Fully isolated output, allowing for versatile polarity configurations and grounding connections.
- – PMBus interface for digital versions (analog interface for the QBVS128A0B41-HZ).
To learn more about the expanded high-power Barracuda-series product family, click here.
