Industrial power supplies may not draw the level of attention garnered by artificial intelligence-powered analytic software, but they are no less critical. In fact, it could be argued that they’re even more critical to industrial manufacturing because they supply the power needed for industrial equipment to operate.
Given their importance to industry, following are five key aspects in modern industrial power supplies:
Data aggregation and monitoring—The introduction to this article noted that industrial power supplies don’t often receive the attention of data-intensive industrial software applications. However, industrial power supplies are keeping up with the times. More and more industrial power supplies are now equipped with monitoring and communication capabilities allowing them to collect and transmit data about power use, voltage fluctuations and equipment performance. As a result, power supplies are increasingly becoming part of manufacturers’ data arsenal for predictive maintenance needs and to make better decisions regarding the productivity and sustainability improvements.
Reliable power—This has long been the core function of industrial supplies because even momentary power outages or voltage fluctuations can lead to production downtime, costly repairs and an increase in product defect levels. That’s why industrial power supplies are used to provide a consistent and stable source of electricity. These power supplies regulate voltage levels, filter out electrical noise and protect equipment from power surges.
Efficiency—Efficient use of power is not just a cornerstone to industrial sustainability initiatives; it’s also key to the profitability of any successful manufacturing operation. That’s why, beyond their delivery of reliable power, industrial power supplies are also critical to the efficient conversion of electricity from the grid into usable industrial power with minimal waste. This capability reduces manufacturers’ electricity costs and decreases the environmental footprint of their operations.
Customizability—Because manufacturers use an array of different machinery in their plants, the power requirements for these machines can vary. That’s why some industrial power supplies are configurable, enabling them to be tailored to the specific needs of different equipment. This capability also makes it easy for manufacturers to adjust their power supplies as needed when adding new equipment.
Safety—Most modern industrial power supplies employ safety features that mitigate risks associated with electrical hazards. These features include: overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection and short-circuit protection.
