The Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA) has published its ground-breaking Power Supply Software/Firmware Reliability Improvement Report. This report, the result of a year-long project undertaken by PSMA’s Reliability Technical Committee, addresses recommended reliability improvements for power supply digital control software and firmware. This new report attempts to present key findings related to the challenges of and solutions to reliability in the digital control of power electronics.

“This is the first report from the work of PSMA’s newest committee, which aims to spearhead industry initiatives that identify and attempt to address the pertinent industry challenges related to the reliability performance of power supplies and associated products,” noted Brian Zahnstecher, Co-Chair of the PSMA Reliability Committee.

Tony O’Brien, Reliability Committee Co-Chair, added “Moving from power electronics with analog control to power electronics with digital control is a significant transition. Software engineering best practices are being adopted for digital power electronics control for power supplies to ensure that reliability does not suffer with the transition to digital control. Some of the best practices are relatively new, evolving and unfamiliar to the power electronics world.”

This 166-page report, divided into nine chapters, examines a wide array of problems and challenges in the field of digitally controlled power supplies, then proceeds to present observed and proposed improvements and best practices. Brian Zahnstecher further noted, “The ongoing tasks of the PSMA Reliability Committee will include efforts to support adoption of the recommended best practices and to update and refine our findings. We welcome the involvement of knowledgeable industry experts in this important work.”

A copy of the printed and USB memory drive versions of the 2019 PSMA Power Supply Software/Firmware Reliability Improvement Report has been sent to PSMA Regular member companies as a benefit of their membership. Additional copies may be purchased at the member price of $US290. PSMA Affiliate members may also purchase the report for $US290. The report is available to non-members for purchase on the PSMA website (www.psma.com) for the price of $US2,490.