Technical Service Center / Zhendong Wang
wangzd@meanwell.cc

MEAN WELL's DRS Series DIN rail power supplies integrate power supply, battery charging, and system monitoring functions. They are widely used in intelligent security, fire protection, and related systems. To meet the growing demand for smart applications, the DRS series continues to optimize its product features. The latest version introduces new features such as the Wake_Up mechanism and Buffering time settings, enabling the power system to provide stable power delivery while offering flexible, comprehensive solutions tailored to different system architectures and application scenarios.

To help users quickly master the latest features and application advantages of the DRS series, this article combines the DRS user manual to detail the Wake_Up mechanism, Buffering time settings, and practical functions such as Force Start.

■ Wake_Up Mechanism Explanation

The figures below show the output voltage waveforms during the Wake_Up process under two conditions: with and without a battery connected to the BAT terminal. The yellow trace represents the main output voltage waveform, while the blue trace represents the output voltage waveform at the BAT terminal.

 

In cases where no battery is connected, the Wake_Up process repeats every 5 minutes. For deployments without batteries that are sensitive to output voltage fluctuations, periodic wake-up can be disabled via communication command (UPS_CONFIG: Wake_UP_EN=0), keeping only the initial wake-up at startup.

■ TIME_BUFFERING Function Explanation

In practical applications, simple "discharge immediately upon power outage" hardware logic can no longer satisfy complex grid requirements and unmanned intelligent operations. Therefore, the DRS series introduces three configurable parameters—TIME_BUFFERING (backup time setting), UPS_Delay_Time (backup shutdown delay setting), and UPS_Shutdown_Time (backup restart delay setting).

 

■ BAT_Test (Battery Test) Function Explanation

The DRS series is typically paired with batteries. To ensure backup reliability, it includes a built-in BAT_Test function to periodically check if the battery is over-discharged or abnormal.

The figure below shows the output voltage waveforms during the battery test procedure. The yellow trace represents the main output voltage, while the blue trace represents the output voltage at the BAT terminal.

 

■ Supplementary Features

AC Priority: When AC grid power is present, the system prioritizes supplying power via AC to conserve battery energy. Force Start cannot switch power supply to the battery while AC power is available. Force Start: When AC power is absent, Force Start can switch system power to the battery so the DRS functions normally, catering to construction commissioning and testing scenarios.

 

MEAN WELL is actively expanding the DRS family with the design of the DRS-960 (a 960W security power supply), which is scheduled for official release in the first half of 2027.

For detailed information, please refer to the full article.

For related products and application needs, please contact MEAN WELL distributors or technical support directly, and stay tuned for product updates and online solution courses at MEAN WELL's Virtual Exhibition.