Power Supply technical info - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Adwaittronics
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2017, 02:27:03 pm
content: What are the different types of Power Supplies and can anyone provide detail information about them,any documents, links?

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2017, 08:00:20 pm
content: This seems a very general question. Do you mean how are power supplies made (switchmode / lineair / analog / digital...)? Or do you mean the different models available for purchase?

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 01:03:40 am
content: Quote from: Adwaittronics on February 11, 2017, 02:27:03 pmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supplySurely you can make your question a bit more specific?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 04:49:13 am
content: You will need to be a bit more specific for anyone to give you something useful.As it stands, the only information I could evenattemptto offer will be very high level.For starters, I am assuming you do not want to include battery powered solutions. I would also think you are not talking about specific chips like a 7805.I might think you are talking about mains powered units such as a lab supply - but you could also be talking about plug packs.Of these, there are two basic designs for both - generally referred to aslinearandswitchmode.Linear supplies have been around from the beginning. They consist of (basically) a big transformer designed to operate at mains line frequency (50/60Hz), with the capacity to deliver the required voltage and current to the circuit being powered. They will often have regulation to maintain a steady output voltage (In the case of a lab supply - always, but in the case of a plug pack - not always.) They are known for being capable of providing power with very low levels of noise.Switchmode supplies work on a somewhat different principle. They, too, have a transformer - but this transformer is not designed to work at mains line frequency (50/60Hz) but rather somewhere in the KHz to MHz range. The mains input is first rectified (turned into DC) and this is used to run a switching oscillator at much higher frequencies. These higher frequencies mean you can use a much smaller transformer to get the same amount of power transferred to the secondary side than a linear supply. Switchmode supplies will always have at least some sort of regulation. Because of the small transformer, weight and cost are reduced, but because of the oscillator, there will be switching noise which has to be dealt with - or lived with.Lab supplies of either type are around and they will (usually) have well regulated voltage output and often will have current control/limiting as well.If you want anything more informative, we will need some more specific details from you.

author: Adwaittronics
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 05:48:05 am
content: Quote from: _Wim_ on February 11, 2017, 08:00:20 pmMore specifically I am looking for linear regulated power supplies and Switch mode power supplies(SMPS) .What are their different types their functioning in detail.

author: Adwaittronics
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 05:50:26 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 12, 2017, 04:49:13 amCan you provide detail information on different types of SMPS's?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 06:11:36 am
content: That is still a broad and challenging request. Might I suggest you outline a typical application of your area of interest to help someone start off.Even so, you will probably be better served by someone who has designed SMPSs - which is not me.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 06:25:48 am
content: Quote from: Adwaittronics on February 12, 2017, 05:50:26 amThe Post Apocalyptic Inventor did a nice series of 5 videos on SMPSs. Here's the first one:

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2017, 06:35:00 am
content: QuoteHow is that less work than what was already put into the original question ?