Power supplies and their features

Power supplies (PSUs) are used to convert one voltage (electrical network or battery) into another required for the operation of the equipment located,namely:

• computers;
• TVs;
• LED strips;
• welding machines;
• heating boilers, etc.

Another purpose of the power supply is galvanic isolation of power sources and loads. So, for example, it is undesirable to introduce a voltage of 220 V into the bathroom without galvanic isolation. Sometimes the power supply additionally stabilizes the output voltage, or provides for its regulation. A voltmeter or other indicator is usually connected to the power supply output to monitor the voltage.

By type, power supplies are divided into transformer and pulse. The transformer power supply reduces the alternating mains voltage with a frequency of 50 Hz, followed by rectification, smoothing of ripples, possibly stabilization and protection against overloads and short circuits.

Pulse power supply price which is higher, rectifies the alternating voltage of the network, converts the rectified voltage into pulsed voltage, changing the pulse width adjusts the output voltage with subsequent smoothing of ripples. The dimensions and weight of pulse power supplies are lower than those of transformer ones, and the efficiency is higher.

Among car enthusiasts, inverters are very popular, converting the direct voltage of a 12 V car battery into an alternating mains voltage of 220 V, suitable for powering household appliances away from a home electrical outlet.

When working on a computer that does not have a built-in power source (as in laptops or tablets), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) connected between the electrical network and the computer are very convenient. If there is voltage in the network, the UPS operates in buffer mode, but if the mains voltage is lost, it instantly starts working in inverter mode, providing power to the computer for 10-30 minutes, depending on the capacity of its built-in battery, which allows you to complete work without losing data – save files, send letters, etc.