Reason for failure of DCDC modules

Hi,
We are powering some circuitry at some 5W on a 5V rail with a Traco DCDC module (THL 20-4811WI).
Its output is diode OR’d with the output of a XP Power DCDC module which is part number JTK3048S05. This is just in case the Traco DCDC module fails.

The circuitry being powered is a radio Transceiver and a micro.

Since the load is less than 50% of the DCDC modules’ rated power I asked why we were bothering to have the redundancy in DCDC modules. (The temperature of the module was not exceeding the datasheet rated temperature.)

The answer was that the DCDC modules had failed in the past. This company uses no ESD protection. Would you agree that the most likely reason for the failure of DCDC modules, which are not running at overtemperature, is ESD damage?

The DCDC modules have electrolytic input capacitors, and a mixture of ceramic SMD and SMD aluminium polymer caps at the output.


JTK3048S05 datasheet:
https://www.xppower.com/portals/0/pdfs/SF_JTK30.pdf

THL 20-4811WI datasheet:
https://www.tracopower.com/products/thl20wi.pdf

zenerbjt said:

This company uses no ESD protection.

Click to expand...

How do you know this? Or are you referring to your company - the "This" is ambiguous?

Mike.