Marsh Electronics, Inc.

Power Integrations welcomes you to stop by and check out their new web site.  While you are there check out the new features to help you with your innovation in power conversion.  At www.powerint.com you can:

• Download PI Expert v7.0 power supply optimization and transformer design software
• Use our fuzzy-search engine to locate the best fit power supply reference design for your target application
• Download datasheets and reference designs
• Search energy efficiency regulations by region or application
• Log on to our new power supply design forum and get direct answers to technical questions
• Find contact points, sales offices, distributors, partners and corporate background information

And, of course, visit the popular AppsTV and Mr. Green’s power supply efficiency blog.

In efforts to help you make those decisions regarding which type of sound should be coming out of your audio indicator. Mallory Sonalert has prepared an article to help you with your decision making.

These days, it seems that we are constantly being alerted with everything from beeps to buzzers with the many different audio indicators available.  Personal Computers, virtually all types of home appliances, cars, farm implements, golf carts, medical equipment, instrumentation, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These all contain audible alarm devices which notify us of events warranted by the manufacturer.  But what types of alarms are available? And how does a manufacturer decide what specific alarm is best suited for their particular application?  First of all, there are many different kinds of audible alarms out there which can create a myriad of continuous and intermittent sounds. Two of the most popular technologies used in audio indicators are piezo-ceramic transducers and electro-magnetic type technology. Both of these audio indicator technologies have two primary components: 1) A base material mounted within a sound chamber. 2) A drive circuit which supplies an output that is applied to the base material causing deflections.  The deflections of the base materials, in turn, cause variations in the air pressure within the sound chamber and create the audible sound. Different base materials mounted in various sized sound chambers (with specifically designed drive circuits) create the variances in the audible alarms. (more…)

ASC Capacitors has researched the benefits of custom capacitors.  In the past the idea of buying custom components would send chills through purchasing personnel.  The fear of being locked into using one specific supplier and the possibility of some unforecastable event delaying, or worse, completely eliminating future shipments from that supplier.  They were also hesitant about specifiying a part that may prove troublesome to obtain from other sources in the event of delivery or quality issues.  Another very legitimate barrier was the cost from the manufactures to develope custom comonents.  Often times the price of the final component justified this concern.  Recently this perception has been changing because of various industry and management practices currently being employed.  Long term supplier contracts and mandatory supplier reduction programs are indirectly limiting the options sought by demanding standard parts usage with multiple sources availability.  In contrast, ASC Capacitors, along with other manufactures of various types of components, can make custom components affordable and in many cases more cost effective than any standard part.  This is not always the case, but customization should not be blindly ruled out when sourcing components just because a past opportunity did not warrant customization.  To read more of the indepth article please visit ASC Capacitor’s website.