In modern military operations where electronic systems are the cornerstone of a mission, delivering reliable power is critical. This requires power supplies that are specifically tailored and configured for the harsh environments experienced by the military, and can seamlessly integrate with a range of electronic hardware. In this blog, we look at the types of rugged power supplies available and their key features.
In the digital age we live in, the importance of power delivery cannot be understated. That’s true for every aspect of modern life, but it’s particularly important for the military, where digital systems play such a crucial role in operations and are in the hands of most soldiers, aviators and sailors.
While most of us can plug our computers and electronic devices into a wall plug with universal interfaces and in a comfy, warm office, the same cannot be said for the military. Equipment often operates in remote locations, in extreme cold or hot environments, and where infrastructure can be basic or even non-existent. A standard power supply would simply not be up to the task.
In addition to environmental challenges, varying voltages and electromagnetic interference can also pose a problem for power supplies and could ultimately lead to mission failure and lives being put at risk if a computer is not able to power up. So not only does the tablet or laptop need to be rugged, the power supply does too.
Commercial power supplies are therefore likely to be inadequate and a more reliable power supply needs to be selected.
User needs must also be considered, including the ability to employ connectors tailored to their particular operational requirements. This is one area in which GRiD excels – we offer multiple connector types for our laptops and tablets, as well as multiple interfaces on a single connector. It is this experience and expertise that we can also apply to our power supplies. With all of this in mind, GRiD is well positioned to offer a rugged and tailored power supply solution that suits both environmental and user needs.
What does a rugged power supply require?
A conventional power supply has an AC side that connects to the AC power output – typically a mains plug, an AC to DC converter in the middle, and a DC side that connects to the laptop or tablet.
The principle is the same for military use, although when out in the field, a standard mains wall plug is rarely available. The DC connector may need to connect to the nose of an aircraft, the inside of an armoured vehicle or even a generator – each requiring a different connection method.
As we know, the military uses a wide variety of connector types, including legacy ones that are no longer a requirement for commercial computers.
Rugged computer suppliers like GRiD, need to be able to accommodate these user requirements, and this experience also lends itself to providing tailored power supplies that truly meet operator requirements.
It is worth noting that military connectors require having a leading earth to meet safety standards. So, on the AC side you need to make sure your connector has a leading earth pin so that the earth connects first for safety.
Read more about connectors in a recent blog here.
GRiD’s solution
GRiD is able to offer 65W and 100W variants of its power supply solution, both of which can withstand the harshest environments while balancing power, size and portability.
Both are housed in a fully-sealed, IP67-compliant chassis and comply with military EMC and environmental standards with fully shielded cables on both the AC and DC sides.
You can find out more spec information on the 65W version here and 100W version here.
GRiD is proud to employ in-house prototype wire experts, who are specialists in wiring. They are able to build both our laptops and power cables, making sure they are well shielded for both EMC and against the harsh environments they will operate in.
We do of course offer standard power supplies for more conventional computer use, such as office use when the environment is more stable, but rugged solutions are where we excel, delivering a rugged kit that enables users to be ready for the demanding operations that they face.
As mentioned earlier, GRiD is a leader in developing bespoke electronics that meet user requirements, and this includes integration of many types of interface and connector. For power supplies, we can design them to accommodate multiple interfaces on one connector, for example, both power and Ethernet on a single cable assembly. A feature typically offered to those wanting to reduce the number of connections they need to make when setting up a system.
This is testament to our design expertise, and our belief that there is no one-size-fits-all all approach to designing military electronics.
This also extends to the application you require the power supply for. We are able to help customers by supplying power supplies that can run their bespoke electronics – not just laptops and tablets – designed with their particular needs in mind.
Conclusion
In summary, just like we do with our laptop and tablet designs, we work with customers to tailor our family of power supplies to their particular needs.
We have experts in-house who can design bespoke electronics that meet both user and environmental requirements for this type of solution, which provides operators with a robust and high-performance computing solution.
If you are interested in talking to our team about your power supply needs, please get in touch: sales@griduk.com.
