Application brief: Linear versus switching power supplies

A validation testing technician, responding to a Control Engineering survey on dc power supplies, provided insights on linear and switching power supplies, including....

By Control Engineering Staff June 5, 2008

Oak Brook, IL Control Engineering survey on dc power supplies, Ron Storteboom, validation testing technician, Medallion Instrumentation Systems , provided insights on linear and switching power supplies.Storteboom says, “We have applications, in our validation lab, that seem more suited for a linear power supply. We test flashers that drive as many as 18 automotive bulbs at a time. The in-rush current, with the bulbs at -40 °C, is in the neighborhood of 170 A for the first flash and drops off, in a logarithmic fashion, to ~20 A per flash after 5 to 7 flashes.“There may be switching power supplies out there that can handle this type of dynamic load.“We use the older HP6267B supplies for these types of tests. I have avoided the move to the switching supplies as long as I can; but, my antiquated power supplies are starting to let the smoke out, and they need to be replaced. The challenge is finding power supplies that meet our dynamic load requirements and budget constraints,” Storeteboom concludes.For research, more comments, and new products on this topic, watch for the June 2008 Control Engineering Product Research article and report on dc power supplies at www.controleng.com/archive .– Mark T. Hoske , editor in chief Control Engineering System Integration eNewsletter Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .