AC/DC Calc
power supply concepts
How to Choose an AC to DC Power Supply for a Defined Load
Match DC voltage, continuous and peak current, input range, derating, isolation, and protection to the actual requirements of your equipment.
power supply concepts
Explanations and examples to help you understand rectifier output.
power supply concepts
Linear vs Switching AC to DC Power Supplies: Compare the Whole System
Compare conventional linear and switching supplies by conversion stages, regulation, heat, ripple, efficiency, and the needs of the actual load.
power supply concepts
AC to DC Power Supply Stages: From Input to Regulated Output
Follow the signal through a conventional transformer supply and an isolated switching supply, and see why rectification alone is not regulation.
power supply concepts
Power Supply vs Battery Charger vs LED Driver
Understand why a DC voltage supply, chemistry-specific battery charger, and constant-current LED driver need different control and protection.
rectifier basics
Single-Phase vs Three-Phase Rectifiers: Voltage and Ripple
Compare bridge topology, line-to-line input voltage, six-pulse timing, capacitor charging, and the assumptions behind three-phase output estimates.
power supply concepts
Unregulated vs regulated DC supplies: where the rectifier model ends
Understand why a rectifier estimate is not a prediction of an adapter or regulated output.
power supply concepts
Why AC to DC output voltage varies with line, load, and components
Use controlled comparisons to distinguish arithmetic changes from effects outside a simplified rectifier model.