Print this page Low Voltage Power Supplies I
Bart Greene, MSEE, P.E.
Course Outline
Low Voltage Power Supplies are a key component of electronics-based products. Televisions, radios, personal computers, smartphones, solar systems and almost all electronics systems require the conversion of energy from one form to another. This course provides an overview of techniques in the design of low voltage power supplies. It is intended for readers in the electronics engineering profession or serves as an introductory material for readers in related engineering fields that may make use of low voltage power supplies to monitor and control engineering processes.
This course is the first in a three part series. Part I of the series discusses the basic building blocks of low voltage power supplies, and performance measures used in comparison and design. Parts II and III go into detail about design techniques for linear and switching voltage regulators found in low voltage power supplies.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of Low Voltage Power Supplies I, the student will:
- Understand four measures of performance of power supplies;
- Be familiar with the block diagram of AC-DC unregulated power supplies;
- Understand the characteristics of each block that comprises a power supply;
- Understand factors in selecting transformers for power supplies;
- Understand different forms of rectification;
- Be able to select components for power supply rectifiers and filters; and
- Understand the two major types of voltage regulation.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for electrical and computer engineers that may need to design or understand the operation of low voltage power supplies and for engineers in other disciplines that need to understand power supplies as used in the monitor and control of engineering processes.
Benefit to Attendees
Attendees of this course will be able to understand how power supplies operate, measures of performance for selecting power supplies and principles of design of components of power supplies.
Course Introduction
Power Supplies convert energy in one form to a form useful in providing power to a load for a particular application. This course addresses fixed voltage power supplies where the input sources to the supply is either an Alternating Current (AC) source such as the AC voltage from a wall outlet or a Direct Current (DC) voltage sources such as a battery or solar panel. The courses specifically targets techniques for designing power supplies where the output voltage of the supply is 20VDC or less and the output current that can be delivered to a load is less than 20A.
Course Content
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Course Summary
Low Voltage Power Supplies are an integral part of modern electronics. Four measures of performance useful for design and selection of power supplies are defined: Power Rating, Load Regulation, Line Regulation and Efficiency. Design factors in two types of AC-DC unregulated power supplies, half wave and full wave, are discussed. The basic principles of operation of linear and switching regulators are discussed as an introduction to follow on courses for each.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
