What are a Power Supply and Its Characteristics?

Posted by Linda Hudson on October 31st, 2019

Controlled power supplies generally refers to a power supply capable of providing a variety of output energies useful for bench testing electronic circuits, perhaps with nonstop variation of the output voltage, or just some pre-set voltages. Practically all electric devices used in electronic circuits require a dc source of power to work. A controlled power supply basically con­sists of a normal power supply and a volt­age adaptable device. The production from an regular power supply is fed to the voltage changeable device that delivers the final output. The output voltage relics constant regardless of variations in the ac input voltage or differences in output (or load) current but its amplitude is varied according to the load requirement. 

Characteristics

Form factor

As with cases, the primary characteristic of a power supply is its form issue, which stipulates scopes and rising whole sites, which in turn control which case form issue(s) the power supply fits. Form feature also specifies the type of motherboard power connectors the power supply delivers, which in turn controls the type(s) of motherboards the power supply cares. 

Rated Wattage

This is the nominal wattage that the power supply can deliver. Nominal wattage is a composite figure, determined by multiplying the amperages available at each of the several voltages supplied by a PC power supply by those voltages. What really matters are the individual wattages available at different voltages and those vary significantly between nominally similar power supplies. 

Nominal voltage

Many, however, must be set manually for 110V or 220V, usually via a red sliding switch on the rear panel. Be very careful if your power supply is not autosensing. If the switch is set for 220V and you connect it to a 110V receptacle, no damage is done, although the system will not boot. But if the power supply is set for 110V and you connect it to a 220V receptacle, catastrophic damage to your motherboard and other system components is likely to occur.

Operating voltage range

This is the highest and lowest AC voltages that the power supply can accept while continuing to supply DC output voltages and currents within specifications. Less-expensive, but still name-brand, power supplies may have a range of only about 10%? i.e., 100V to 125V when set for 110/115V nominal, or 200V to 250V when set for 220/230V nominal. 

Power supplies are the vital components of every system to get electrical energy for the operation. So, some of the considerations of a power supply like design or development are more significant. The truth is that  day-by-day the invention of technology as well as power supplies are being increased for providing protection to electrical and electronic devices.