Differences between switching power supplies and linear power supplies
Switching power supplies and linear power supplies are two different types of power supplies, which have significant differences in technical principles, efficiency, volume and weight, stability, etc.
The working principle of the switching power supply is based on the use of switching devices (such as MOSFET) to control the change of the input voltage in the switching state. It converts the input DC voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage, then transforms it into the required output voltage through a transformer, and obtains a stable output through rectification and filtering circuits. The efficiency of the switching power supply is usually between 70% and 90%, and can even reach more than 95%, which makes it more economical in power consumption, generates less heat, has high power density, and is suitable for applications that require smaller volume and weight.
The working principle of the linear power supply is based on the stability and efficiency of the linear circuit. It outputs the DC voltage of the input power supply as a stable DC voltage through a linear regulator. The efficiency of the linear power supply is low, with a typical efficiency of about 40% to 60%, because it controls and adjusts the voltage through a voltage regulator device, and its power consumption will be relatively high, resulting in a relatively large energy loss in the process of converting the voltage.
In terms of volume and weight, the switching power supply can greatly reduce the size and weight of the required devices due to the use of high-frequency switching and energy storage, making it more compact and lightweight. The linear power supply requires the use of larger power transistors and voltage regulator devices to support it, so it is larger in volume and weight.
In terms of stability, the linear power supply has very good carrier suppression capability and high stability. Because the output voltage of the linear power supply is obtained by adjusting the power transistor and voltage regulator devices, its output voltage fluctuates less and can provide a relatively stable power supply. The stability of the switching power supply is affected by the switching frequency and the filter circuit, and its output voltage will have greater ripple fluctuations for the input voltage.
In general, the choice of which power supply type depends on the specific application requirements, such as the trade-offs in efficiency, volume, weight, stability and cost.
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