
Therefore, the transformer can be small.įor example, when compared with a power supply that can output a DC voltage of 18V, the linear power supply ( R4G18-2) measures 124 x 84 x 325 mm (HxWxD) and weighs about 3 kg. In a linear power supply, the frequency input from an outlet or other source is input directly to the transformer, whereas in a switching power supply, the current after rectification is sent to the transformer as a high-frequency pulse. If the voltage is varied by the same amount, the transformer will be smaller at higher frequencies. The reason for this stems from the size of the transformer. Linear and switching power supplies are smaller, with switching power supplies being smaller. In other words, in this case, the voltage noise of a switching power supply is ten times greater than that of a linear power supply, and the current noise is five times greater than that of a linear power supply. In terms of noise, linear power supplies produce less noise than switching power supplies.Ĭomparing a linear power supply and a switching power supply that can produce the same output, the noise of the linear power supply ( R4G18-2) is 0.5 mVrms and 1 mArms in the datasheet specifications, while the switching power supply ( R4K18-2) is about 5 mVrms and 5 mArms. Let us first explain the difference in noise.Īs mentioned above, the switching power supply repeatedly turns the switch on and off at high speed. The typical difference between a linear power supply and a switching power supply is the amount of noise and the size of the power supply itself. Therefore, each device has a fixed capacity and requires a power supply with a dedicated transformer for each application.Ĭomparison of linear power supply and switching power supply The difference between the input voltage and output voltage is heat, so a large heat sink is required.Ī linear power supply requires a dedicated AC transformer according to the input voltage, output voltage, and power. Both methods monitor and control the output DC voltage to keep it constant. There are two types of control circuits: shunt and series. Therefore, the voltage is converted to a constant level through a smoothing circuit consisting of a capacitor and then through a stabilizing circuit (control circuit).
On off switch power supply series#
The voltage output from the rectifier circuit is a series of positive peaks of a sine wave, which is not a stable Direct current. The voltage is then rectified by a diode in a rectifier circuit and smoothed by a capacitor in a smoothing circuit to a stable voltage. In a linear power supply, an AC transformer consisting of an iron core and coil is first used to reduce the voltage to the incoming alternating current (AC). Linear power supplies are also called series power supplies. Of the linear and switching power supplies, the linear power supply appeared first. Since each type of device and each internal circuit of such electronic equipment requires different voltages, a Direct current source appropriate for each voltage is necessary. P.S.Mechanism of linear power supply and switching power supplyīoth linear and switching power supplies are power supplies that provide a stable Direct current (also abbreviated as "direct current" or "DC").ĭirect current flows through circuits of common electronic devices, such as smartphones, computers, air conditioners, and factory robots. Recall your computer science, logic, electrical engineering, whatever classes: In any case, an easy way to remember what the circle and line mean is to think of it as a 1 and 0. I checked the original specs and they do not indicate what the inspiration for the 0 and 1 was, so unless someone can come up with a reference either way, it's unknown. Now, the page has been edited to contest this origin. Previously, the Wikipedia page on this symbol had said the circle comes from 0 and the line comes from 1.


And glue guns take a few minutes to heat up so that’s annoying (and possibly dangerous) The next day we got home to find our new glue gun had arrived.

Quality German engineering made the heater silent so there was no way to tell by listening.

We were recently in a hotel in Berlin Germany and the room heater had the line-circle (| O) symbol on it and we couldn’t remember whether line means on and circle means off, or the line means off and circle means on.
