5 kW Power Supplies Target Charging and Renewable Energy

XP Power has released additions to its HPT5K0 series of AC-DC power supplies, which expand the voltage range up to 800 VDC.

The broader industry push toward electrification in transportation and grid-tied storage has increased demand for power supplies capable of supporting higher-voltage charging infrastructure and distributed energy systems. XP Power’s expansion of its HPT5K0 range offers designers flexible integration options.

The HPT5K0 series’ range has increased up to 800 VDC. Image used courtesy of XP Power

HPT5K0 Series Additions

The HPT5K0TS400 and HPT5K0TS800 models offer programmable output voltages ranging from 0 to 105% of their nominal values of 400 VDC and 800 VDC, respectively. With support for output currents of up to 12.5 A and 6.5 A, respectively, both models maintain 5 kW output from a 3-phase 180-528 VAC input using a three-wire plus ground configuration. To scale up, the system supports active current sharing across up to five units up to 25 kW, with synchronization and parallel operation features built into the design.

According to the datasheet, efficiency reaches up to 94%, which allows for reduced thermal management demands and operating costs in high-power applications. The devices also include a dynamic “Smart Preload” circuit to guarantee safe voltage discharge during shutdown.

Suggested circuit for fan fail/temperature warning. Image used courtesy of XP Power

Digital control and monitoring are supported via I2C, RS232, and RS485 interfaces, with PMBus, CANopen, Modbus RTU, and SCPI protocols. Analog control options include 0-5 V programming inputs for both voltage and current, with setting accuracies of ±0.1% for voltage and ±2% for current. All units feature remote ON/OFF, DC OK, AC OK, and fan-fail warnings.

The models also include a safety interlock compliant with ISO13849-1 (Performance Level d), which independently disables the power stage through opto-isolated control, bypassing the digital controller. This feature, along with 5 V housekeeping outputs and SEMI F47 compliance, is marketed as a major boon for automated safety systems in industrial and research settings.

Active Current Sharing in High-Power Systems

Active current sharing is a technique used in power electronics to distribute load current evenly across multiple power supplies operating in parallel. This capability helps high-power systems where a single unit cannot meet the total load requirement, or where redundancy and scalability are needed.

In traditional parallel configurations without active current sharing, slight differences in voltage setpoints or output impedance between supplies can lead to unequal current distribution. This imbalance may cause one unit to become overloaded while others operate below capacity, potentially reducing system reliability and increasing thermal stress on individual components.

Scalable active current sharing with the HPT5K0. Image used courtesy of XP Power

Active current sharing overcomes this by using a feedback mechanism to continuously adjust each unit's output in real time. In XP Power’s HPT5K0 series, each power supply includes a dedicated current share pin that synchronizes load distribution across up to five units. These units exchange current data and modulate their output to maintain a uniform share of the total demand.

By maintaining thermal equilibrium and preventing overcurrent conditions, active current sharing contributes to longer equipment life and simplified system integration.

Future Applications

According to XP Power, the 400 VDC and 800 VDC models of the HPT5K0 series will improve the product’s applicability in high-growth industrial sectors. The units are currently available through major distributors including Avnet Abacus, Digi-Key, Distrelec, Farnell, Mouser, RS, and TME, or directly from XP Power. Each model ships with a 3-year warranty.