Switching power supplies (SMPS) convert voltage levels efficiently, using transistors and capacitors instead of resistors. They are smaller, lighter, and have a longer service life than linear regulators. SMPS can be used in any application where high efficiency is required, but they are more complex and expensive to manufacture and can produce electromagnetic interference. Computers and cell phone chargers commonly use SMPS.
A switching power supply (SMPS) is a type of converter that converts the voltage level of a device. A SMPS produces usable output and also allows for efficient use of energy. The general purpose of this power supply is to receive electricity from an external source and convert the power into a voltage level required by a load. These power supplies are commonly used in personal computers.
The first switching power supply was patented in 1976. The following year, Apple® Computer became the first computer manufacturer to use an SMPS in a manufacturing unit. Using this type of power supply allowed the Apple II to be lighter and more compact than other competing computers.
Before the development of the SMPS, most personal computers used linear regulators. These earlier power units produced a fixed and unchanged amount of voltage. To keep this output constant, linear power supplies typically used simple resistors. This generated a significant amount of heat and wasted voltage during the regulation process.
Switching power supplies solve this problem and do not waste energy in the form of heat. Instead of regulating the voltage via resistors, a SMPS is equipped with several transistors and capacitors. The power supply can quickly select a combination of components that is most efficient for a specific situation. Essentially, a SMPS can supply the exact amount of voltage required by a load.
In addition to the efficiency benefit, a switching power supply has several additional benefits. A SMPS is usually smaller and lighter than a comparable linear model, due to the lack of bulky transformers. Switched-mode power supplies are less prone to overheating and often have a longer service life than their linear counterparts.
However, a SMPS is not without its drawbacks. This type of power supply is more complex than older units and is generally more expensive to manufacture. The rapidly switching voltage within these power supplies will also produce electromagnetic interference, which can adversely affect nearby electronic devices. Modern power supplies often use internal filters to limit this interference.
Computers are the most common devices that use switched-mode power supplies, but other devices make use of them as well. Many cell phone chargers are in fact small SMPS units. This allows them to efficiently convert wall power without overheating. A switching power supply can be used in virtually any application where high efficiency is required.
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