Brochure
Flex Power Modules selection guide
Flex Power Modules has added two high-efficiency DC/DC converters to its PKU-D range– the PKU4911D and PKU4917VD — designed for low power radio-frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs) and microwave applications. The additions strengthen the PKU-D family of analog-controlled DC/DC converters in a sixteenth-brick format suited to the size and thermal limits typical of dense RF and telecom boards.
The PKU4911D is a 5 V nominal (4–5.5 V adjustable), 100 W converter with a 36–75 V input range. Typical efficiency is 93% at 48 V input and full load, reducing heat losses and helping engineers stay within thermal limits in compact RFPA assemblies. It provides a stable, low-noise output (2% max) for RF and microwave stages where voltage stability and ripple are critical performance factors.
The PKU4917VD is a 6 V nominal (5.5–6.6 V), 100 W converter in the same sixteenth-brick PKU-D form factor and accepts 36–60 V input. Efficiency reaches 92.7%, helping reduce heat and ease cooling requirements. The 6 V rail provides a stable intermediate voltage that can directly power driver and control circuits efficiency.
Validated thermal models are available for both modules to speed derating decisions and heatsink/airflow sizing. Sharing the established PKU-D footprint allows design teams to reuse board layouts across voltage options with minimal modification, shortening development cycles for 5G/6G network microwave links, satellite communications and radar equipment.
“In RF and microwave systems, managing heat effectively is just as critical as saving space,” said Olle Hellgren, Director, Product Management and Marketing at Flex Power Modules. “By offering 5 V and 6 V options at around 93% efficiency in a sixteenth-brick format along with ready-to-use thermal models, engineers are empowered with practical solutions to reduce design cycles and time to market.”
Both modules comply with telecom and industrial safety standards for isolated DC/DC converters, with 2250 V input-to-output isolation for use in RF/microwave equipment. They are approved to IEC/EN/UL 62368-1 safety requirements and are suitable for use in high-reliability infrastructure such as 5G/6G microwave links, satellite and radar systems.
