Re: +5V Adjustment??


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Posted by Exidor on 21, 2000 at 12:10 PM:

In Reply to: +5V Adjustment?? posted by Brian on 20, 2000 at 9:34 AM:

: What does the +5V adjustment do? Is this a switching power supply and if so, how does it work and what does it "switch"?

Why, a +5V adj. (if that is what is says there, the picture is a little hard to make out) adjusts the voltage of the +5 V supply of course. It probably only adjusts over a small range, maybe +-10%.

It is almost certainly a switching power supply. And since you asked, it gets its name because it switches the current going through an inductor. Roughly speaking, it takes the input power (from your wall plug) and uses it to store energy in an inductor. Then, it takes the energy out of the inductor to power the +5 and whatever other voltage supplies.

Why a switcher? Well, the other main way to generate something like +5V from your AC wall power is a 'linear' power supply that would include a fairly large, heavy transformer. Switching power supplies vs. linear power supplies are generally smaller, lighter, cheaper, but are electrically noisier.

Any further questions?


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