Power supply is crucial for system performance, but designers often struggle to balance factors such as external dimensions, power density, efficiency, and certification. Usually, it seems inevitable to make compromises. At this point, if considering the option of using MEAN WELL, compromise may not be necessary, and there is no need to sacrifice design goals due to material cost budget issues.
With the increasing demand for fashion design in applications, meeting performance requirements has become increasingly challenging. Many power sources, especially general power sources, may be unreliable, poorly ventilated, and lack safety certifications.
MEAN WELL's LOP series AC-DC converters achieve an attractive balance between cost, size, performance, and global compliance. Designers can flexibly adopt a flat open frame layout and are also compatible with printed circuit board (PCB) integration.
The power supply has a significant impact on thermal performance, external dimensions, compliance, and long-term reliability. Choosing the wrong power source can cause more trouble than it can solve, and in fields such as medical and industrial equipment, there is almost no room for error.
Product designers face a series of familiar challenges when providing power for their applications. Space is often the main limiting factor. Designers are seeking a low profile solution that does not affect power output. They also need to manage the heat dissipation well, and usually cannot adopt forced air cooling. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is another obstacle, as power harmonics and switch noise may affect the compliance of radiation and immunity testing. In addition, global shipping of products requires communication of input compatibility and obtaining multiple security certifications.
Low profile, high efficiency
The LOP series of MEAN WELL has a power range of 200 W to 600 W and an output voltage range of 12 V to 54 V, supporting medium to high power applications such as motors, LED lighting, actuators, and industrial control systems.
The LOP series was designed with full consideration for the needs of system integrators and product engineers, combining low form factors as low as 25.4 mm with high efficiency (up to 94%), making it suitable for compact, sealed, or fanless designs.
All LOP models support fanless operation with convective cooling, but due to thermal limitations, the power level may be reduced. In order to achieve full output, forced air cooling is required, with a general air volume of ≥ 10-23 CFM, depending on the model. The reduced fanless output also varies by model.
The LOP series features a universal 85-264 VAC input, built-in protection, and complete safety certification (including IEC/EN/UL62368-1, 60601-1, 61558-1, and 60335-1), which helps simplify compliance and global deployment.
Its working temperature range is -40 ° C to+80 ° C, in compliance with OVCIII, 2xMOPP, and BF medical application standards, suitable for various industries. The wide voltage range of 12V to 54V and powerful safety features make it suitable for Class I and II systems, with applications covering communication, networking, medical, industrial control, safety, and home automation.
This product line started with LOP-200-12: a 200 W, 12 V device in a compact open package with dimensions of 4.00 inches long x 2.00 inches wide x 1.00 inches high (101.6 mm x 50.8 mm x 25.4 mm) (Figure 1). It is highly suitable for space constrained applications such as LED lighting, control panels, or access control systems, where reliability and simplicity are key factors. The LOP-200 model can provide a reduced power of 140 W when using fanless convection cooling, and a full power of 200 W when using forced air cooling.