35 Cent Off-Line Switcher for European Energy Regulations

Power Integrations has introduced its latest switcher chip, TinySwitch-5, designed to comply with the newest European energy regulations. This advanced chip extends the output power of integrated off-line switchers to 175 W, achieving up to 92 percent efficiency through basic diode rectification and optocoupler feedback.

The control engine within TinySwitch-5 effectively manages switching frequency and power delivery to optimize efficiency, even at light loads. This capability allows power supplies to easily adhere to the European Commission Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive 2009/125/EC, which mandates a light-load power consumption limit of 300 mW, while still delivering up to 220 mW output power for various functions.

Moreover, the enhanced thermal package of TinySwitch-5 enables it to deliver up to 75 W without requiring a heatsink. Additionally, the chip features line under- and over-voltage protection, ensuring durability for applications in regions with unstable mains power.

With over six billion units sold globally, TinySwitch chips are extensively utilized in bias and auxiliary supplies across various sectors such as appliances, computing, communications, industrial, and medical fields.

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According to Silvestro Fimiani, director of product marketing at Power Integrations, "TinySwitch has set the benchmark for compact power supplies due to its efficiency and user-friendliness. With TinySwitch-5, designers can scale up to 175 W at maximum power, easily achieving 220 mW of output, and meeting the requirements of appliance manufacturers under the European Union ErP-mandated 300 mW standby power rule."

For those interested, reference designs are available for various power supply configurations, including a 12 W single-output power supply (DER-1017), a 26.5 W dual-output power supply with exceptional standby efficiency (RDR-1016), a 36 W single-output power supply with high efficiency at light load (DER-1040), and a 120 W power supply with 92 percent efficiency at 230 V AC (DER-1027).

The pricing for TinySwitch-5 starts at $0.35 for 10,000-unit quantities, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution for power supply needs in compliance with the latest energy regulations.