Connecting MEAN WELL Power Supplies in Series
Technical Question of the Week: Can I connect MEAN WELL Power Supplies in Series?
The answer is: Yes, you can.
Any MEAN WELL power supply can be connected in series . They have isolated outputs, so that that they can be connected in series to give you a higher voltage.
This is particularly useful if you have an unusual voltage that you need. Different power supplies with different voltages can be connected in series to give you the final voltage that you need.
However, you need to ensure that the power supplies you are connecting in series all have a very similar current rating.
For example, if you want 60V at 5A, you can put a MEAN WELL NDR-240-48 and a MEAN WELL NDR-120-24 in series and adjust the voltage to give you the 60V.
Both of these power supplies are rated at 5A so they will run without one overpowering the other.
In general practice it is recommended that you put a diode across the output of each power supply.
This is to prevent reverse voltage across the power supplies, should one start before the other. See the below diagram as an example.
Most of the MEAN WELL power supplies have circuitry that incorporates these diodes internally.
The exception is the Mean Well SDR series DIN rail power supplies. Diodes are definitely needed across the output to prevent reverse voltage damaging the output stages, as per the above diagram.
Do you have a question about using MEAN WELL power supplies? Then please do not hesitate to contact us and speak to one of our expert team today.
Power Supplies Australia is Australia’s Premier Stockist of Mean Well Power Supplies, so we are sure to have the right power supply for your application and will gladly help with any question that you may have.
