Advantages of Regulated Power Supply:
A regulated power supply is an electronic device that regulates the voltage and current supplied to an electronic device. It does this by converting the AC input into DC output and then regulating the DC output.
A regulated power supply is used in devices that require a constant voltage or current, such as computers and other electronic equipment. The regulation of the power supply ensures that the equipment receives a constant voltage or current, even if the AC input varies.
Types of Regulated Power Supply:
The most common type of power supply is the linear power supply. A linear regulator is used to convert AC current to DC. The linear regulator maintains a constant output voltage by varying the duty cycle of the input AC waveform.
Switching power supplies are also common. They use switching regulators to convert the AC into DC. Switching regulators are much more efficient than linear regulators because they do not waste power in the form of heat.
A power supply can also be unregulated. Unregulated power supplies do not have any control devices; they simply convert the AC into DC. Unregulated power supplies are typically used in applications where voltage regulation is not required, such as battery chargers.
How Does a Linear Regulated Power Supply Work?
The most common type of power supply is a linear regulated power supply. It uses a linear regulator to control the voltage output.
Current is regulated by the linear regulator to control voltage. Essentially, the linear regulator is an electronic device that regulates the flow of current through it. It does so by controlling the voltage across its terminals.
There are two terminals on a linear regulator: the input terminal and the output terminal. A power source is connected to the input terminal, and a load is connected to the output terminal.
How does a linear power supply work?
The linear regulator controls the current flowing from the input terminal to the output terminal by regulating the voltage across its terminals.
The linear regulator has an amazingly simple circuit. To operate, an input voltage must be applied to the linear regulator’s input terminal. A voltage is output from the linear regulator’s output terminal after the input voltage has been applied.
The current flowing through the linear regulator is controlled by the voltage across its terminals. If the voltage across the terminals of the linear regulator is increased, the current flowing through the linear regulator will increase.
If the voltage across the terminals of the linear regulator is decreased, the current flowing through the linear regulator will decrease.
What Is a Regulated Switching Power Supply?
A regulated switching power supply is an electronic device that provides a constant, regulated DC voltage output from an AC or DC input. The output voltage is regulated by means of a feedback control circuit that monitors and maintains the output voltage at a constant level.
During feedback control, the output voltage of the circuit is compared to a reference voltage using a feedback sensor.
When the output voltage deviates from the reference voltage, the feedback sensor triggers the power supply to adjust its output accordingly. Due to this feedback mechanism, no matter how the load resistance or input voltage changes, the output voltage remains constant.
Switching power supplies are typically more efficient than linear power supplies, due to their ability to convert AC or DC input into DC output with extraordinarily little wasted energy. Switching power supplies are also smaller and lighter than linear power supplies.
