Eaton has introduced a new, high-capacity low-voltage 48-volt DC/DC converter designed for commercial and off-highway vehicles operating in harsh environments. 

“Our new converter has up to 40 amps of output current capacity and can be installed on the vehicle in areas that are subject to very harsh conditions, including frame rails, battery and engine compartments,” said Ben Karrer, head of engineering, low voltage and power conversion at Eaton’s mobility group, in a news release. “These are environmental extremes with adverse conditions, shock and vibration that require robust protection features.”

The newly released converter takes power from a 48-volt system and steps it down to 12 volts to run accessories and other low-power systems. The company claims this design helps essential equipment — including antilock brakes and power steering — work even in the case of a power failure.

The design features air-cooled, natural convection for easy integration. The converter can operate in temperatures up to 85 C, and is engineered for high efficiency to prevent power loss across a broad operating range, Eaton said in a release.