All electronics turn on, a process that requires the delivery of electrical power of the appropriate format and voltage to their circuits. The power they need, however, is usually not AC power —alternating current, which comes from the mains, alternates its polarity 50-60 times per second, and is useable directly by devices like motors and lights.
What electric circuits usually require is DC power—direct current, which only flows in one direction. And to get circuits the DC power they require you need a DC power supply, a unit that, in most cases, converts AC current (120 volts in North America) to DC current. Common DC power supply output voltages are 3.3, 5, 12, 15, and 24 V. Other typical DC supply voltages are 1.2, 1.8, 6, and 48V.
What are the Components of a DC Power Supply?
A DC power supply, sometimes called an inverter, can be a separate standalone piece of equipment or it can be built into the load appliance that they power, such as in a desktop computer or other consumer electronics device. This article is focused on the former. Generally, such units convert AC to DC with appropriate voltage using the following components:
1) Transformer: A transformer is a static device that, in most cases, steps down 120-volt AC to lower-voltage AC. Electrical current enters the primary coil of the transformer and induces a current in the secondary coil, which has fewer coils, resulting in a lower voltage.
2) Rectifier: A rectifier is a circuit that straightens out (rectifies) the periodically reversing AC current, making it DC. The input power supply may be either a single-phase or a multi-phase supply with the simplest of all the rectifier circuits being that of the half-wave rectifier.
3) Filter: When AC power changes to DC, it still has waves that need smoothing out. The filter circuit does not completely smooth out the waves, but it does reduce them considerably. The output from the filter is unregulated power.
4) Regulator: A voltage regulator reduces the ripple voltages left by the filter, getting rid of any voltage surges or drops that could damage devices plugged into the power supply.
A DC power supply is one of the most useful tools you could possibly have on an electronics workbench. For engineers and technicians working with electronics it is essential. A DC power supply can be used for a multitude of tasks involving electronics, including development of prototypes, maintenance of existing electronics, measurement and testing.
Three Types of DC Power Supplies
Constant Voltage/Current Power Supply
The constant voltage/constant current power supply does exactly what its name indicates: provides constant voltage and constant current. It is the most common type of power supply. When they operate in constant current mode, these power supplies maintain their set current even as the resistance of the load changes. Constant voltage/constant current power supplies frequently have features such as remote sensing, master/slave connections, and analog programming (remote programming terminals).
Multiple Output DC Power Supply
Multiple output power supplies typically have two, three or even four outputs. If you often use multiple voltages while testing, a multiple output power supply is the cost-effective choice. Many users opt for a triple-output power supply that provides one output for digital logic and two outputs for bipolar analog circuitry. Some common features include timed operation, settable voltage limitations, storage registers for up to fifty instrument states, and the ability to connect two channels in parallel or series for higher current or voltage.
AIM-TTI MX100Q Quad Output DC Power Supply
Programmable DC Power Supply
Since they are generally used in conjunction with a computer-operated system for production and testing, programmable power supplies are often referred to as “system” power supplies. System power supplies have used a number of computer interfaces in the past, two of which — IEEE-488, or GPIB (general purpose interface bus), and RS-232 serial communications — have been widely used. Ethernet and USB interfaces have also been quite common. Most benchtop DC power supplies come with test sequences, or at least some amount of programmability, which allows you to change the output voltage at set times so that you don’t have to fiddle with your power supply while running your test. This allows testing to be conducted safety over extended periods of time, ensuring the validity of the testing process.
TDK-LAMBDA GENESYS+ 3U 15KW Programmable DC Power Supply outputs from 10V (0-1500A) to 600V (0-25.5A)
In addition, these power supplies have command languages for sending instructions to the instrument through the digital interface. These languages include proprietary, SCPI (standard commands for programmable instruments), and SCPI-like. The ability to control a programmable power supply via your computer, instead of pushing keys on the instrument’s front panel, makes this type of power supply especially useful when working on complex setups.
Next Steps: View Leading DC Power Supply Products and Brands
To learn more about DC power supply units, view ACA-TMetrix’s inventory of DC power supplies