An electronic device needs to be connected to a power source to work. Power supplies are critical parts of any electronic device, including your smartphone, laptop, gaming console, and even your home’s electrical system. The power supply allows the devices to receive electronic circuits and ensures that they function properly. Without reliable and stable power, the devices would not function well.
In normal people’s language, a power supply is a device that converts electrical energy from one form to another in order to fit the electronic device’s specifications and limitations. The power supply takes power from a main electricity supply or battery and converts it into a type of energy that the device can use to do what it’s supposed to do. In order for the voltage and current to be safe for the device, the conversion has to happen. If no energy conversion occurs, the device may stop working or even worse.
Power supplies come in different forms and sizes depending on what they are being used for. Here are two different types of power supplies:
These traditional power supplies regulate the amount of voltage outputted by dispersing extra power as heat. Even though this is reliable, it’s not as efficient as other types of power supplies and is usually bulkier.
This is more efficient than linear power supplies. Instead of dispersing extra power as heat, the output voltage is regulated by using different circuit configurations to regulate how strong the power is. Because this is efficient and not bulky, SMPS is usually used in modern electronic devices.
For these different functions there are different Converters on the market.
These power supplies convert one DC (direct current) voltage level to another DC voltage level. When different levels of voltage are needed in one device, DC-DC converters come in handy.
With these power supplies, AC (alternating current) voltage is converted from the main power supply into a DC (direct current) voltage that will work to power electronic devices.
These power supplies convert one AC (alternating current) voltage level into another AC voltage level. These power supplies are typically used for devices that require different voltages or frequencies.
DC voltage from the primary energy supply is converted into AC voltage that is able to power electronic devices.
The world runs on power. Electronic devices wouldn’t work correctly and/or last without reliable power sources and supplies.
Safety should be everyone’s first and foremost priority. Power supplies designed correctly and safely incorporate safety features to protect against overcurrent, overvoltage, and short circuits. This protects both the electronic device and the person using it.
Power supplies ensure that electronic circuits receive stable and consistent voltage and current levels. If the voltage isn’t regulated, voltage spikes and fluctuations can cause serious damage.
Wasted energy costs money. So, if you want to save on operating costs, using modern power supplies, such as switched-mode power supplies, is essential.
Every specific power supply is designed to meet the specific voltage and current requirements of the devices it’s supposed to power. This ensures that the power supply is compatible with the device and that the device performs at its best.
There are certain situations when reliability isn’t that important. But when it comes to medical equipment, industrial machinery, or more, there is no room for errors or delays. That’s why it’s essential to have a reliable power supply that will reduce the risk of device malfunctions, data loss, and downtime.
At SFC, we develop and produce highly specialized power supply solutions for operating sensitive, high-power equipment such as electron microscopes, semiconductors, and laser equipment. Our power supply and power management systems ensure that the equipment is always reliably supplied with precise power. As a company, we do lifetime tests, burn-in tests, double safety interlocks according to Safety Standard ISO 13849-1, and much more on the products we develop for our customers.
Without power supplies, the world wouldn’t run as it does now. So many devices need power. The phone you use to scroll through social media, the computer you work on, the medical devices that test you for different diseases, and much, much more run because of power supplies.
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