DIN rail power supplies provide a compact, reliable, and easy to install solution for powering various equipment and systems in industrial, automation, and building applications. Choosing the appropriate DIN rail power supply for specific applications is not an easy task, as there are many factors to consider, ranging from input voltage and output power to efficiency and wiring connection options. TDK Lambda offers a range of mid-range three-phase DIN rail AC-DC power supplies that can reduce operating costs and improve heat dissipation performance in a wide range of applications.

Worldwide, the market size of DIN rail power supplies (including 1-phase, 2-phase, and 3-phase devices) has increased from $2.1 billion in 2023 to $2.18 billion in 2024, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 4.27% by the end of this decade. i

These devices are installed on industrial standard DIN rails to provide power for various control panels and electrical cabinets, which are crucial for equipment and control systems in manufacturing, commercial buildings, industrial automation, process control, transportation, and other electrical applications. They help solve the complexity of electrical control system configuration and wiring.

The DRB product series of TDK Lambda has four power levels, ranging from 120 W to 960 W, with an output voltage range of 12 V to 72 V. These products strike a balance between functionality and price, and power supply devices with the same voltage and current can be connected in parallel to provide greater power or serve as redundancy. And they use a compact packaging shell, which can save valuable space on the DIN rail.

These power sources generate less internal heat, so the temperature of electrolytic capacitors is lower. According to the company, the service life of these electrolytic capacitors can typically reach 10 years or longer. The work efficiency, heat dissipation design, and redundant overvoltage protection measures have achieved the longest system normal operation time. These devices have high efficiency and low standby losses, which can help product designers achieve lower carbon emissions.

These devices use traditional threaded terminal connections or push in connectors that can reduce assembly time by half. Push in connectors are more suitable for robot or automated assembly, with tool free wire insertion and easy disassembly that simplifies on-site maintenance and upgrades. Crimp sleeves are used for wire termination, but in the United States, twisted wires can also be used to reduce contact resistance.

Other major advantages of using these power supply devices include:

Improved thermal performance
Reduce electrical noise
Energy efficiency up to 96.3
+50% power boost capability up to 600 seconds
Supports capacitive and inductive loads
Low energy surge current avoids circuit breaker tripping interference
When using the remote switch function, the standby power consumption is as low as<2.3 W
DRB-3 models with the same voltage and current can be configured in parallel using the front panel sliding switch. Due to the shared load current between power sources, the thermal stress of electrolytic capacitors is reduced, thereby improving their on-site service life. The company's DRB-3 products have four series and 20 models.

Energy saving efficiency
The DRB120-3 series combines the advantages of low cost, reliability, and compact size, with an energy-saving efficiency of up to 92%. They offer 12 V and 24 V output options, with a maximum power of 120 W and a maximum peak power output of 144 W for 2 seconds. DRB120-24-3-A0 (Figure 1, left) is a 24V model equipped with a traditional threaded terminal connector, while DRB120-24-3-A1 (Figure 1, right) also provides 24V voltage and is equipped with a push in connector.

Figure 1:24 V DRB120-24-3 model with threaded connector (left) and push in connector (right). (Image source: TDK Lambda)

The DRB240-3 series is a 240 W model, offering 24 V and 48 V output options, with a maximum peak power of 288 W and a duration of 300 seconds. Like DRB240-24-3-A1, this series also offers a push in terminal connection model (Figure 2). The shell dimensions of DRB120-3 and DRB240-3 are the same, both measuring 5.44 "long x 5.08" wide x 2.17 "high (138.2 mm x 129.0 mm x 55.1 mm).

Figure 2: Push in terminal connector version for the 24 V DRB240-24-3 power supply. (Image source: TDK Lambda)

The maximum power of DRB480-3 model is 480 W, the maximum peak power is 720 W, and the voltage output is selected as 48 V and 72 V. The housing dimensions of these models are 5.86 "long x 2.56" wide x 5.08 "high (148.8 mm x 65.1 mm x 129.0 mm).

The DRB960-3 series (example in Figure 3) is the most powerful model. They can operate continuously at 960 W power and provide a 1440 W boost power for up to 7 seconds. This series has 24 V, 48 V, and 72 V outputs to choose from, with a housing size of 6.27 "long x 3.94" wide x 5.08 "high (159.1 mm x 100.0 mm x 129.0 mm).