Power Integrations' Rapid Transformer Sample Service (RTSS) FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Power Integrations' RTSS:

• How do I create a design suitable for the RTSS?
• Which Power Integrations products can be used with RTSS?
• When will support for TinySwitch-III, LinkSwitch-XT and PeakSwitch be available?
• I can’t find PI Transformer Designer. How do I access this tool?
• How do I choose between having samples made by Power Integrations or one of the other participating vendors?
• Why does the primary inductance value in PI Transformer Designers not match the value from PI Expert / PIXls?
• I've opened a design in PI Transformer Designer and received error 501. What does that mean?

Q: How do I create a design suitable for the Rapid Transformer Sample Service?

A: The Rapid Transformer Service (RTSS) - Compatible Design Creation guide contains an overview of how to create a design file that is compatible with the Rapid Transformer Sample Service.

Q: Which Power Integrations products are supported for Rapid Transformer Sampling?

A: All PI products supported by PI Transformer Designer can be used with the RTSS. Please see the PI Expert Suite page for information for more details.

Q: When will support for TinySwitch-III, LinkSwitch-XT and PeakSwitch be available?

A: Please see the PI Expert Suite page for these details.

Q: I can’t find PI Transformer Designer. How do I access this tool?

A: Make sure that you are using the latest version of PI Expert Suite: start PI Expert and select Help -> About. RTSS supports version 6.1 and later.  You can upgrade your software fro free from the PI Expert Suite page, or using the auto-update feature in PI Expert (select Help -> Check Latest Updates in the PI Expert program).

Q: How do I choose between having samples made by Power Integrations or one of the other participating vendors?

A: The PI sample service is generally a little faster. Other vendors specialize in transformer production and therefore give you the option of ordering production quantities.

Q: Why does the primary inductance value in PI Transformer Designers not match the value from PI Expert / PIXls ?

A: Most transformer vendors prefer to see the primary inductance specified as a nominal value with a tolerance. Therefore PI Transformer Designer states the minimum primary inductance values from PI Expert and PI Xls as a nominal value with a specified tolerance. The actual values are equivalent.

Q: I've opened a design in PI Transformer Designer and received error 501. What does that mean?

A: Error 501 is usually caused when a design that was saved in PI Transformer Designer has been subsequently opened and altered in PI Expert or PI Xls. Error 501 indicates that PI Transformer Designer has resets the mechanical design of the transformer back to defaults and removed any user changes. To solve this issue simply check the design in PI Transformer is still acceptable, making changes as necessary, and re-save the design from within PI Transformer Designer.