GE's 800-Watt DC-DC Converter Provides Space-Constrained Power Designers With Highest Power Density Available Today

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Jul 23, 2015) - GE's Critical Power business (NYSE: GE) has introduced its new QBVE067A0B Barracuda-series DC-DC converters, providing up to 800 watts (W) of 12-volt DC output power from an input voltage range of 40 to 60 volts. The new converters provide the highest power density available in the industry today for 12-volt solutions.

The Barracuda-series QBVE067A0B converters feature an industry-standard, DOSA-compliant quarter-brick footprint, measuring just 58.4 by 36.8 by 10.7 millimeters. Previously, two parallel 400-W converters would need to be installed to facilitate 800 W of power. The need for two modules to convert the power greatly reduces the amount of space available for other components. With GE's new QBVE067A0B converters, however, the amount of required space is cut in half.

"When developing our new Barracuda-series DC-DC converters, we worked directly with customers who frequently use high-power bus converters to gather feedback and data on what aspects are important to them and their operations," said Karim Wassef, general manager of Embedded Power, GE's Critical Power business. "The recurring theme was the need for improved power density. Our new Barracuda-series DC-DC converters couple the power performance our customers require without using up valuable, and often limited, space."

The new Barracuda-series DC-DC converters are able to convert power from a wide range of input voltages to a low output voltage of 12 volts at a maximum load current of 67 amperes. The output is fully isolated at 2,250 volts from the input, allowing for versatile polarity configurations and grounding connections. In addition, the converters feature built-in filtering for both input and output, minimizing the need for external filtering. 

The module's tightly regulated output voltage makes GE's latest DC-DC converters ideal for installations such as 12-volt intermediate bus applications where multiple low voltages are subsequently generated using point-of-load converters. Other ideal applications include distributed power architectures, servers and storage applications, supercomputers, automatic test equipment and networking equipment such as Power over Ethernet and high-speed 5G networks.

The QBVE067A0B DC-DC converters incorporate digital control, synchronous rectification technology, a fully regulated control topology and innovative packaging techniques to achieve efficiencies in excess of 96 percent at 12-volt output voltages. This leads to lower power dissipations, reducing the need for a heat sink in many applications. However, the units do include a heat plate to attach an external heat sink or contact a cold wall if needed. Additional standard features include on/off control, output over-current and over-voltage protection, input under- and over-voltage lockout and over-temperature protection.

Key Features and Benefits of GE's Barracuda-Series QBVE067A0B DC-DC Converters:

• 800-W output power from an input voltage range of 40 to 60 volts.
• DOSA-compliant quarter-brick footprint.
• Highest power density available in the industry today for 12-volt solutions.
• 96 percent efficiency rating at 12-volt output voltages.
• 2,250-Volt Input-Output Isolation.
• Output over-current and over-voltage protection.
• Over-temperature protection.

Availability and Pricing:

GE's new QBVE067A0B DC-DC converters are now available in volume quantities. Pricing begins at $63.08 per module at OEM quantities. For more information, please call +1 877-546-3243.

GE's Critical Power business powers rapidly changing, disruptive markets where massive data, communications and computing capacity is redefining how business is done. Customers in data center, super computing, telecommunications and digital content industries rely on GE to provide the reliable and energy-efficient power to keep networks flowing and transactions moving 24/7. To learn more about GE's Critical Power business, visit www.gecriticalpower.com.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don't, builds things others can't and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com

Follow GE's Critical Power business on Twitter @GEcriticalpower.