Find high-quality power converters and rectifier modules from Murrelektronik – directly from the official manufacturer’s online shop. These modules offer reliable, compact, and efficient solutions for voltage and current conversion in control cabinet applications, ensuring smooth integration into industrial automation systems.
A converter is an electronic component that transforms electrical current or voltage from one form to another. Depending on the application, different types of voltage converters are used:
Converter modules serve a wide variety of purposes. Inverters transform direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). Rectifiers perform the opposite function. Frequency converters adapt the frequency of AC signals, while transformers modify voltage levels. Some transformers, known as isolation transformers, maintain the same voltage and current but electrically separate the output from the input. These are vital for maintenance operations where safe, isolated power is required—even while equipment is live.
In high-voltage and power distribution systems, converters are often used to scale electrical currents down to levels that can be measured. This makes them essential in electrical power monitoring and measurement applications.
A rectifier is used to convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). Rectifier modules are necessary whenever a DC-powered device needs to be connected to an AC power source. Common examples include battery chargers, where a rectifier converts the 230 V mains voltage into a usable DC output. These modules typically include an integrated voltage converter as well, ensuring devices receive the appropriate power level without risk of overload.
AC (alternating current) changes direction many times per second, whereas DC (direct current) flows in only one direction. Most electronic devices require DC power, making rectifiers crucial in many control cabinet setups. A rectifier ensures that current flows in one direction only, eliminating the reversal inherent in AC power.
Modern rectifiers use diodes – semiconductor components that allow current to pass in one direction only. By "cutting" one half of the AC waveform, they create a pulsed DC signal. However, this signal is not yet stable. That’s where capacitors come in. Acting like rapid-charge batteries, they smooth the pulsed current by storing and releasing energy quickly. A final stage – a voltage converter – then adjusts the output to the desired level. Together, these elements form a multi-stage converter module that ensures stable and precise power delivery.
High-performance converters from Murrelektronik are built with durable components and modern circuit designs, ensuring dependable operation in a wide range of industrial applications.