(for example, railway, industrial automation and automotive, remote radio control), reducing inventory, time to market and documentation.
The MAD-MAE-MAF series are designed to meet the railway specifications EN50155, EN50121-3-2, EN61373, and EN45545, as well as ISO7637-2 for 24V vehicles, EN12895 for industrial trucks, and other industrial applications such as robotics. The 8W MAD33 comes in a standard industrial DIP24 package, while the MAD32, MAE35, and MAF35 are housed in a 2x1" enclosure. All four series have a typical efficiency of 86%, which, considering the extra-wide input range of up to 13:1, is an outstanding figure.
With the development of connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), the number of interaction points and sensors is rapidly increasing. System designers face challenging situations, having to develop products capable of operating in many different applications, powered by a wide range of voltages—versatility is key. As an example, the railway standard EN50155 specifies no fewer than six different bus voltages (24V, 37.5V, 48V, 72V, 96V, and 110V), including transient voltage drops and surges during startup.
Given that many devices could be connected to any of these six voltages, system designers must be able to ensure their equipment will operate from 14.4V to 154V, including voltage dips (down to 14.4V) and a one-second transient of 154V as specified in EN50155. With an operating input voltage range of 12V to 160V and a power rating range of 8W to 20W, Powerbox's new MAD-MAE-MAF series converters are the "Swiss Army knife" of power solutions, simplifying design, shortening time to market, and reducing documentation and inventory.
“Time to market is very important to system designers, as is the simplicity of supply chains to minimize downtime for train maintenance or hardware upgrades. Both are driving forces behind extra-wide input range converters, and we find similar needs in other industries such as industrial automotive,” said Martin Fredmark, VP Portfolio Management at Powerbox. “Designing 13:1 input range DC/DC converters is a significant challenge to optimize all parameters while maintaining the highest possible efficiency levels across the entire input voltage range, and we are proud that our designers have achieved this in the new MAD-MAE-MAF series.”.
The new converter series are suitable for low-power loads and devices in railway applications, such as communication devices, GSM-R phones and their docking stations, Wi-Fi routers/access points, small displays, USB charging sockets (both in the seats and in the driver's cab), sensors, and backup power for larger devices
Available in four output voltages of 5, 12, 24, and 48V under natural convection conditions, the MAD33 delivers 8W and the MAD32 10W. The MAD33 is available in a dual in-line package (31.8 x 20.3 x 12.7 mm - 1.25 x 0.8 x 0.5 inches) and the MAD32 in a standard 2x1-inch package (50.8 x 25.4 x 10.2 mm - 2.00 x 1.00 x 0.40 inches). The 15W MAE35 and 20W MAF35 models are available in three output voltages of 12, 24, and 48V and are available in 2x1 formats. All series deliver full output power at ambient temperatures up to 60°C and continue to deliver power, with linear drift, up to 100°C in the enclosure. The MAD32, MAD33, MAE35 and MAF35 are encapsulated in a plastic case.
Designed for harsh environments, the MAD-MAE-MAF series meet the thermal shock and vibration requirements specified in EN61373 and MIL-STD-810F standards, and all comply with the Fire and Smoke standard EN45545-2.
All models in the MAD-MAE-MAF series feature comprehensive protection systems, including input voltage blocking, short-circuit protection, and current limiting. All units operate at a fixed switching frequency and include PI-type input filters. The operating temperature range is -40 to +85°C ambient (maximum 105°C inside the enclosure), and the storage temperature range is -55 to +125°C.
The new Powerbox converter series meets the requirements of UL60950-1, EN60950-1, and IEC60950-1 standards, and bears the CE mark 2014/30/EU. All products have an input-to-output isolation voltage of 3,000 VAC. The MAD, MAE, and MAF series are RoHS compliant.
The MAD33 (8W), MAD32 (10W), MAE35 (15W) and MAF35 (20W) complement the PQB50U-72S (50W) and PFB600W-110S (600W), offering a complete range of power module solutions, from 8W to 600W, for demanding railway and industrial applications.

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