Select A Power Supply for Peak Load Applications

Peak load defines a set period of time during which power is required to keep equipment running on demand. Whether you are in the telecommunications industry, manufacturing, or any other application that requires high power, having a reliable, efficient power supply is essential.

Frequently, a system or device might need elevated power levels for a brief duration while remaining capable of functioning at a slightly lower power threshold.

By employing a 200W power supply designed to accommodate peak loads exceeding 300W, engineers can effectively manage costs associated with acquiring more robust and power-intensive converters.

In this blog post, we will discuss the factors to consider when selecting a power supply for peak load applications and provide you with valuable insights to make an informed decision.

Difference Between Base Load and Peak Load

The base load represents the essential minimum electricity demand needed over 24 hours. It involves supplying power to components that operate continuously, known as continuous loads.

On the other hand, peak loads refer to periods of heightened demand, usually of shorter duration. Peak demand can be defined as the variance between the fundamental demand and the maximum demand during peak periods.

What is the load curve?

During daylight hours, energy consumption in commercial buildings tends to be higher. This is attributed to the reduced usage of energy for lighting and computers during the night, coupled with the ability to turn off the HVAC system when heating or cooling is unnecessary for the unoccupied space.

Examining the load curve graph reveals a notable decrease in the building’s energy consumption from around 8:30 pm to 4:00 am.

The base load encompasses essential equipment that operates overnight, including refrigerators, emergency lights, and minimal heating to prevent winter pipe freezing.

While the peak load in this building signifies the highest local demand, it is not expected to significantly surpass the average occupied load.

Why do Utilities Set Rates Based on Peak Demand?

Storing energy efficiently poses significant challenges, and predicting surges in demand is not always feasible. Consequently, utilities must generally be ready to supply sufficient energy at all times to meet peak customer demand.

In buildings with energy management systems, engineers can monitor real-time or slightly delayed energy usage, enabling strategic planning of equipment activation to minimize unnecessary energy consumption and peak loads.

This proactive approach enables utility companies to decrease overall production, subsequently lowering a building’s utility costs and contributing to a reduced carbon footprint.

What is The Difference Between Rated Power and Peak Power?

The RMS power handling capability denotes the sustained power level a device can manage continuously. For instance, if you have speakers with a 30W RMS rating and a peak power rating of 60W, it implies that the speakers can consistently handle 30W but are capable of withstanding power bursts of up to 60W.

On the other hand, the maximum power rating signifies the power a PN junction or diode can dissipate before sustaining damage.

Understanding peak power helps determine the appropriate voltage rail to use, while the power rating indicates the device’s ability to dissipate power without experiencing any detrimental effects.

Various devices, such as printers, POS systems, monitors, and embedded systems, utilize both rated and peak power. In the case of POS systems, these encompass a range of components like touch screens, computers, kiosks, terminals, scanners, keyboards, cash drawers, and additional elements.

How to Choose A Peak Load Application Power Supply？

It is particularly advised for inductive loads, such as motors and relays, to utilize a power supply with high peak power capability. This can be specially observed in applications that usually exhibit increased peak loads.

Such instances are not limited to but predominantly encompass industrial control cabinets, intelligent access control systems, and specific white goods’ control panels.

A potential strategy to manage peak current occurrences is the incorporation of a current-limiting resistor. This is arranged in series with the capacitive load to establish an upper limit for the output current.

Alternatively, a more feasible approach would be selecting a power supply equipped with distinctive overload protection mechanisms.

By adopting a power supply capable of handling peak loads but featuring lower power ratings, engineers can utilize compact-sized power supplies, thereby decreasing both weight and overall system size relative to their circuitry configurations.

Here are some additional factors electrical designers should consider before selecting a power supply for peak load applications:

The duty cycle

Before choosing a power source, engineers have the option to initially calculate the estimated on/off durations of the targeted machine or equipment.

The on-time is evaluated as a fraction of the overall cycle time.

The duty cycle of the peak load emerges as a crucial factor influencing the power supply, as it directly impacts the thermal response of the power supply system.

Average power requirement

Engineers have the option to seek out power supplies explicitly crafted for high-peak load applications.

In such cases, the peak power rating of a power supply is usually 100% higher than its average power rating.

Power supplies tailored for peak load applications are equipped with sufficient thermal design and overload protection mechanisms, ensuring their capability to anticipate and meet peak power demands effectively.

Overcurrent tolerance

The majority of power supplies incorporate output overcurrent detection and protection features to safeguard their internal circuitry from harm in instances of excessively large load currents.

Opting for a power supply engineered with a high overcurrent tolerance proves especially beneficial in terms of cost and size, especially when dealing with loads exhibiting a crest factor greater than 1.8.

Weho Electronics’ Power Supply Solutions

In your pursuit to select the optimal power source for your device, you are bound to encounter an extensive range of options at Weho Electronics. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].