Railway battery systems experience voltage variation, interruptions, surges and supply changeover events. Selecting a DC-DC converter therefore requires more than matching the nominal battery voltage.

CINCON offers railway converters with ultra-wide input ratios, including 8:1, 12:1 and 16:1 families. The correct choice depends on the actual continuous input limits, required power, output voltage, package, isolation and EN 50155 performance.

What Does the Input Ratio Mean?

The input ratio compares the maximum and minimum operating input voltages. However, the family name is only a general classification. Always design from the specified minimum and maximum voltage rather than the ratio alone.

When to Select an 8:1 Converter

CINCON’s 8:1 railway families generally operate from 9–75VDC. This range is suitable for low-voltage railway battery systems such as 24V, 36V and 48V.

Representative models include:

The CQB100W8 and CQB150W8 provide up to 100W and 150W respectively in an industrial-standard quarter-brick package. Output options vary by series and include 5V, 12V, 15V, 24V, 28V, 48V and 54V.

Choose an 8:1 model when:

The highest continuous input remains below 75VDC.

The system uses a 24V, 36V or 48V battery.

A compact quarter-brick module is preferred.

Power up to 150W is required.

An 8:1 converter should not be used directly on 72V, 96V or 110V nominal buses because these systems can exceed its 75VDC continuous input rating.

When to Select a 12:1 Converter

The 12:1 families extend the upper input limit to 160VDC. They can therefore support a wider selection of railway battery systems, including nominal 24V, 36V, 48V, 72V, 96V and 110V buses.

Available CINCON series include:

The CQB50W12 is suitable for compact PCB-mounted designs, while the CRT60W12 and CRT100W12 provide enclosed, baseplate-cooled turnkey formats with terminal connections.

The CHB150W12 and CHB200W12 are better suited to higher-power embedded systems requiring half-brick modules.

Choose a 12:1 model when:

One converter must support several railway battery voltages.

The input may rise above 75VDC.

The required power is between 30W and 200W.

PCB-mounted brick and enclosed chassis options are both being considered.

A 12V, 15V, 24V or 48V output is required.

For many multi-platform railway projects, the 12:1 family provides the most practical balance of input coverage, output power and package choice.

When to Select a 16:1 Converter

CINCON groups its ECRT and EDRT railway turnkey modules with a 10–160VDC input under the 16:1 category. These converters offer additional low-line margin while still supporting railway buses up to 110V nominal.

Representative models include:

Although these model names contain “W18,” the enclosed ECRT/EDRT versions have a specified 10–160VDC range and are listed by CINCON as 16:1 railway modules. The PCB-mount EC7AW18, EC7BW18 and ECB40W18 versions have a different 8.5–160VDC operating range.

The EC7AW18-ECRT/EDRT, EC7BW18-ECRT/EDRT and ECB40W18-ECRT/EDRT include features such as low inrush current, input reverse-polarity protection, baseplate cooling and output LED indication.

Choose a 16:1 model when:

• The input may fall below the minimum rating of a 12:1 converter.

• Power requirements are between 10W and 40W.

• An enclosed railway turnkey module is preferred.

• EN 50155 Class S3 and Class C2 performance without an external capacitor is required.

• Reduced external integration work is more important than minimum module size.

FAQ

Is a 16:1 converter always better than an 8:1 model?

No. Select the input range that covers the actual system voltage. An 8:1 converter may be more appropriate for a 24V or 48V bus when higher power and a compact brick package are required.

Can one 12:1 converter support both 24V and 110V railway systems?

A 14–160VDC or 14.4–160VDC converter can cover the normal operating ranges of many 24V through 110V systems. The final selection must still consider transients, interruptions, power derating and EN 50155 requirements.

Which range offers the highest output power?

Among the families covered here, the 12:1 CHB200W12 provides up to 200W. The 8:1 range reaches 150W, while the listed 16:1 turnkey modules provide 10W to 40W.

Which range is best for a 48V railway battery?

An 8:1 9–75VDC converter normally provides sufficient continuous input coverage. Select a 12:1 or 16:1 model only if the same design must support additional battery systems or lower and higher input extremes.

Do all CINCON railway converters meet EMC requirements without external components?

No. Several PCB-mounted families require external circuits to meet the complete EN 50155 and EMC specifications. Use the relevant application note when designing filters, surge protection and hold-up circuitry.

Request Price and Availability

DataStorageIC supplies CINCON railway DC-DC converters in PCB-mount, chassis-mount and turnkey configurations. Send us the nominal battery voltage, minimum and maximum input, output voltage, load power, package requirement and railway compliance target to request model recommendations, current pricing and availability.