Power Product of the Year
Company Name: Traco Power
Product Name: TEC 6UI
Supporting Statement:
The TRACO Power TEC 6UI series represents a major step forward in DC/DC power conversion design, addressing one of the most pressing challenges in modern electronics: delivering reliable, efficient power across increasingly variable and decentralised voltage environments.
As industrial systems become more complex and power architectures more diverse, engineers are under growing pressure to design for multiple input voltages, wider operating conditions, and longer product lifecycles… all while reducing board space, cost, and design complexity. The TEC 6UI series by TRACO Power directly responds to these market demands with a highly innovative solution: a compact 6-watt isolated DC/DC converter with an ultra-wide 8:1 input range spanning 9 VDC to 75 VDC.
This exceptionally broad input range is the defining innovation of the TEC 6UI. Unlike conventional 2:1 or 4:1 input converters, the TEC 6UI has been engineered as a true next-generation alternative capable of replacing multiple existing converter series with a single product platform. This allows design engineers to support a wide spectrum of standard bus voltages – from 12V and 24V through to 48V systems – without requiring multiple part numbers or redesigns.
The result? A significant simplification in power system design, procurement, inventory management, and long-term maintenance.
From a technical standpoint, the TEC 6UI delivers outstanding performance in an exceptionally compact SIP-8 package. Its small footprint makes it ideal for space-constrained applications where power density is critical, including industrial automation, instrumentation, transport systems, and distributed control systems.
The product’s 1600VDC I/O isolation provides robust electrical separation and system protection, helping engineers meet stringent safety and reliability requirements in industrial environments. Compliance with IEC/EN/UL 62368-1 further reinforces its suitability for modern electronic systems, ensuring safe integration into next-generation equipment.
Reliability has been designed into every aspect of the TEC 6UI. The series offers an approved operating temperature range of -40°C to +80°C, enabling deployment in harsh environments where thermal stress is a constant challenge. Its ability to operate at altitudes up to 5000 metres expands its applicability into demanding geographical and industrial conditions, including energy, transportation, and remote infrastructure.
Crucially, the TEC 6UI integrates a comprehensive suite of protection features, including short circuit protection, over current limitation, and undervoltage lockout. These built-in safeguards enhance system resilience, reduce the need for external circuitry, and improve overall product longevity. Remote ON/OFF functionality adds an additional layer of intelligent power management, enabling improved system control and energy optimisation.
What makes the TEC 6UI especially relevant in today’s market is how closely it aligns with wider industry trends. Electrification, battery-powered systems, distributed power architectures, and global supply chain optimisation are driving demand for more versatile, adaptable power solutions. The ability to consolidate multiple converter variants into one ultra-wide-range device offers a compelling commercial advantage – not only reducing BOM complexity but also improving supply chain flexibility and speeding time-to-market.
This is not simply an incremental improvement; it is a strategic redesign of how engineers approach isolated DC/DC conversion.
By eliminating the limitations of narrow input ranges while maintaining compact dimensions, industrial-grade reliability, and robust protection features, the TEC 6UI series offers a unique combination of flexibility, performance, and practicality that sets a new benchmark in its class.
In a market where adaptability and simplification are becoming as important as raw performance, the TRACO Power TEC 6UI stands out as an innovative product that solves real engineering challenges while delivering measurable commercial value.
For its originality, technical excellence, and clear alignment with the future direction of power electronics, the TEC 6UI series is a highly deserving winner of the Instrumentation & Electronics Awards 2026 Power Product of the Year.
Entry ID: 7580
