AND IN THIS CORNER

If power supply development scores were settled in a boxing ring, Colorado-based OnLine Power Supply could soon be hefting a giant gold belt. Its new 1000 W, 48 V AC-to-DC power supply is a contender the company hopes will make competitors' products look sluggish, overweight and weak — not exactly in tiptop fighting shape.

“Our goal is to design power supplies that are smaller and lighter and more efficient,” said CEO Kris Budinger.

It seems OPS has met this goal with the recent release of its 48 VDC power supply unit. It features a technology platform called Distributed Power Magnetics that results in higher efficiencies and product densities, proving the 48 V supply's potential to be the power industry's next champ.

The OPS 48 VDC can outpower opponents three times its size. At a featherweight of less than 3 pounds, the unit is lining up against competitors that tip the scale at 6 and 7 pounds. With a power density of 15 W per cubic inch, it packs a punch over some competitors' 5 W per cubic inch units. And OPS thinks its product can go the distance.

“It's a broad-based product built to accommodate all kinds of telecom applications, including wireless and wireline, computer servers and storage — all the markets,” Budinger said.

The OPS 48 VDC is being tested and evaluated by potential customers, with production slated for the second quarter of 2002.
— Jennifer Phipps
www.powersupply.com