What is a Switching Power Supply?

a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
edited June 2003 in Hardware
I see PSU's that say "Switching" on them but I don't know what it means. Can anyone tell me where to go to read up on this?

Comments

  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited June 2003
    I think a switching PSU draws only the power it needs from the AC line. Hence saving you a bit of money on the electricity bill.
  • dodododo Landisville, PA
    edited June 2003
    From http://www.smpstech.com/tutorial/t01int.htm
    A switching-mode power supply is a power supply that provides the power supply function through low loss components such as capacitors, inductors, and transformers -- and the use of switches that are in one of two states, on or off. The advantage is that the switch dissipates very little power in either of these two states and power conversion can be accomplished with minimal power loss, which equates to high efficiency

    ~dodo
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited June 2003
    Thanks to both of you! =)
    Spinner said
    I think a switching PSU draws only the power it needs from the AC line. Hence saving you a bit of money on the electricity bill.

    dodo said
    From http://www.smpstech.com/tutorial/t01int.htm


    ~dodo
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