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February 2009 - Baby It's Cold Outside
It can get pretty cold outside, which is most certainly the case for Antarctica. In extreme temperatures it has always been tricky to find power supplies that will operate, however the PULS Dimension range does just that. PULS,the world leader in DIN Rail power innovation, has recently completed a project where the Dimension power supply unit was being used outside in Antarctica.
The Alfred-Wegner-Institute for polar and ocean research is building the Neumayer Station III, a high tech research base in Antarctica. The PULS Dimension QS10 power supply units have been carefully selected for the research station. The units, which are available in 12Vdc, 24Vdc and 48Vdc output options, are used to power different parts of the equipment. The 12V is used to power the sunshine detector and 24V is used for the humidity and wind measurement devices, which also act as a fan to keep the glass free from white frost.
Most important to the station is the PULS design low ripple and noise that protects against anonymous readings and measurements and the unique to PULS Low Temperature Start up and operation ability. The LTS(Low Temperature Start) allows the units to start and operate at very low temperatures without modification, an ability that is almost impossible with current power supply design. Current technology uses negative thermal resistance to limit input current surges, however at low temperatures this resistance is so high that starting in low temperature environments becomes virtually impossible. PULS LTS uses a completely new design for input current limitation and so do not need any negative thermal resistors.
The units are designed to fit in a box which is the hub for the meteorological instruments and their periphery. The mains voltage comes from a 300m cable that is connected to a UPS and buried in the snow. The box is located outside in the open air where temperatures of -48 Degrees are common. The box has no air conditioning and the only insulation is a 15mm wide insulation layer.
Harry Moore, Managing Director of PULS UK comments 'This is one of many great advantages of our power supply units, we know we are not cheap but when you need a job done well, PULS never fails!'
Climate conditions are changing and the UK is having more volatile weather patterns. With this in mind isn't it time we all plan for the future and make sure if our products are caught out in the cold you know your PULS power supply has already trialled such conditions and continued without failing.
