AC to DC Power Supplies May 2004 Product Focus Study

Research was undertaken to gain a better understanding of Control Engineering subscribers’ applications and needs regarding AC to DC power supplies.

By Control Engineering Staff May 13, 2004

•Among those specifying, recommending, and/or buying AC to DC power supplies, 74% do so for in-plant requirements, while 47% buy for OEM needs.

•One-third of those surveyed report both continuous and batch processing as their primary applications for AC to DC power supplies.

•Reliability is clearly the key to control engineers when choosing a specific AC to DC power supply.

•Four in five respondents feel product quality is a very important consideration when selecting an AC to DC power supply manufacturer. Delivery is the second most important factor, with 59% of the vote.

•Relay (contact) output is the most important power supply communication method.

•RS-232 is the most widely used communication network for AC to DC power supplies. However, usage of Ethernet TCP/IP is projected to surpass that of RS-232 in the next year.

•DIN-rail mounted linear regulated and standalone linear regulated are the most widely used power supplies among respondents, with 68% and 66% of the vote respectively. These types are expected to remain the most popular over the next 12 months.

•Sola Hevi-Duty ranks first among AC to DC Power Supply vendors purchased from in the past 12 months.

•The average number of AC to DC power supplies purchased in the past 12 months was 56. On average, respondents spent $10,907 on AC to DC power supplies in the past 12 months.

•More than one-fourth of respondents expect their need for AC to DC power supplies to increase in the next 12 months. Fifty-seven percent expect their need to stay the same.

AC to DC Power Supplies Product Focus Study