Application Note 2003-01
2Pages

PRODUCT FOCUS: Removable Terminal Carriers Using Socket Carriers to Mount Power Converters on PCBs Speeds Assembly, Saves Energy, and Simplifies Repair THE CHALLENGE High-value printed circuit boards (PCBs), used in applications such as mainframe computers, automatic test equipment, industrial control systems, and telecommunications systems, frequently incorporate single or multiple AC/DC or DC/DC converters, power supplies, and battery packs. During assembly, conventional approaches to mounting the converters typically involve soldering them to the PCB via wave or convection oven (i.e. reflow) methods. Power converters can be relatively bulky components (often about the size of a deck of cards) with considerable thermal mass. Because the converters act like large heat sinks, board makers must compensate by employing extended thermal exposure times to complete the soldering operation successfully. This lengthens proT Y P I C A L A P P L I C AT I O N S duction time, boosts the • DC/DC Converters usage of energy, and drives • Power Converters up board assembly costs, • Splitters especially for large pro• I/O Voltage Modules duction runs where • Transformers individual boards carry multiple power converters. • Test Jack Locations Aside from assembly issues, there is an important downstream concern related to potential field failures of PCBmounted power converters and the need to minimize system downtime when making repairs. In the case of boards with conventionally soldered-on converters, the repair strategy is often limited to two choices: • Swap out a bad board for a good one (fast if expensive spare boards are kept on hand; costly and time-consuming if a board must be shipped in from a depot). SocketPac Socket Carriers are custom designed to automate insertion of multiple socket terminals of the same or different style - perfect for socketing power modules, converters, battery packs, etc. • Manually remove and replace the failed converter with a good one by a hand-held soldering iron (labor intensive, time-consuming, risky to the board, and costly). Clearly, a better alternative is needed to simplify assembly, shorten production time, cut energy costs, and facilitate field rework and repair operations. T H E A D V A N C E D® S O L U T I O N SocketPac® Power Converter Socket Carriers from Advanced Interconnections utilize our proven Peel-A-Way® Removable Terminal Carrier system to overcome all of the problems relative to mounting power converters on printed circuit boards. This same approach is also beneficial for mounting heat-sensitive battery packs on printed circuit boards because it eliminates the need to subject them to the thermal stresses of wave or reflow soldering during board assembly. Continued on reverse side. 5 Energy Way, West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893 USA Tel: 800.424.9850 | 401.823.5200 | Fax: 401.823.8723 E-mail: info@advanced.com | Web:

PRODUCT FOCUS: Removable Terminal Carriers Each SocketPac® Socket Carrier consists of a flexible yet stable, transparent polyimide film carrier incorporating a precise array of low-profile (0.15” [0.38 mm] installed) socket terminals that match the footprint and pin pattern of the converter. Reliable, screw-machined terminals feature beryllium copper contacts that can carry up to 15 amps per socket, more than enough for the demands of state-of-the-art power conversion devices. Socket terminals are also available with unique solder preforms to eliminate the need for wave soldering in mixed...