Powerstax and Drake Power Intro POWERSAVE Controller

Powerstax plc (formerly Advanced Power Conversion plc, Farnborough, England) and Drake Power Systems have teamed up to provide a simple and effective way to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve process results with the POWERSAVE constant current density controller for transformers and rectifiers. The Powersave is suitable for thyristor-controlled rectifiers or transformer/rectifiers with motorized output control used in plating and electrophoretic painting processes.

The Powersave electronically maintains an average constant current density over a complete range of loads. Not only does this promote energy efficiency and help save costly electricity, but also means that it is easy to get the optimum results from a wide variance of work loads, whether the process is continuously changing on conveyor systems or if the component size and load density varies. The Powersave helps speed production and improves versatility as once installed and calibrated, further adjustment should not be required provided the other parameters of the process remain reasonably constant.

By employing the "positive slope" principle of straight line relationship between current density and applied voltage, the Powersave automatically predicts the slope of voltage increase or decrease, which needs to be set to counter-rise or fall in surface area and/or environment. With loading from 10 percent to 100 percent, accuracy of control of five percent for repeat identical work and 10 percent repeat accuracy on work with a different configuration can be achieved. This not only increases overall efficiency and precision in the process, but also helps reduce material waste and decreases time and costs due to possible re-work.

The compact (188 mm x 110 mm x 70 mm) Powersave units operate on a 110 V or 240 V, 50 Hz, single-phase supply with alternative electrical supplies available upon request. The Powersave can be factory-fitted to new rectifiers and power supplies, or retro-fitted to existing equipment as part of the Preventive Maintenance Plans and On-site Service packages available via Powerstax.