RE: What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do?

Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Posted by audioengr (M) on October 27, 2014 at 09:57:14

In Reply to: What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do? posted by riboge on October 27, 2014 at 08:57:54:

There very few AC voltage regulators. They operate on the 117VAC line voltage. They keep it from moving from a nominal value, such as 117VAC RMS when the load current changes. Without regulation, the voltage will sag under high loads.

DC voltage regulators are used for everything in your components. Different voltages are required for different IC's and transistors, so there are a number of them in each component. Really high-end components use many more to isolate each device in the component and enable the highest performance. DC regulators keep the DC from moving from a nominal value, such as 5 volts when the load current changes. Without regulation, then voltage will sage under dynamic loads. Digital provides the largest dynamic swings in current at very high speed, so regulators for digital must respond very quickly to keep the voltage from sagging.

Linear supplies use transformers and simple rectification of AC to DC in order to generate DC voltage. They have regulation after the rectification.

SMPS or switching supplies change the AC voltage into a high-frequency voltage by switching on and off. This HF voltage is modulated in time to generate the desired output voltage and regulation.

Steve N., EE

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do? - riboge 08:57:54 10/27/14 (8)

RE: What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do? - Hi-Fi Hokie 16:17:58 10/27/14 (1)

RE: What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do? - Tony Lauck 18:18:32 10/27/14 (0)

RE: What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do? - audioengr 09:57:14 10/27/14 (5)

So what does all that suggest in application? - riboge 11:06:51 10/27/14 (4)

RE: So what does all that suggest in application? - audioengr 19:15:41 10/27/14 (3)

RE: So what does all that suggest in application? - riboge 20:28:36 10/27/14 (2)

RE: So what does all that suggest in application? - audioengr 10:45:30 10/28/14 (0)

Regulated AC - fmak 22:14:48 10/27/14 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: What do AC voltage regulator and linear power supply do? - audioengr 09:57:14 10/27/14 (5)

So what does all that suggest in application? - riboge 11:06:51 10/27/14 (4)

RE: So what does all that suggest in application? - audioengr 19:15:41 10/27/14 (3)

RE: So what does all that suggest in application? - riboge 20:28:36 10/27/14 (2)

RE: So what does all that suggest in application? - audioengr 10:45:30 10/28/14 (0)

Regulated AC - fmak 22:14:48 10/27/14 (0)

Post a Message!