Among the many challenges of AC-DC converters and Power Factor Corrected (PFC) AC rectification is maintaining the desired performance across the worldwide mains, from low through high line, 85VRMS to 264VRMS. Maintaining high efficiency and power-factor usually forces design tradeoffs and operating compromises. The thermal system, as well as active and magnetic power components, has to be specified for worst-case scenarios. An alternative approach for the OEM is to “regionalize” the supply, but this also results in other design and supply chain drawbacks.
