Switching Power Supplies
A switching power supply is a type of power supply that utilizes a switching regulator to produce a specific DC voltage from an AC voltage source. In contrast to a traditional linear power supply, a switching power supply is much more efficient, smaller, and lighter in weight. The switching regulator, also known as a chopper regulator or DC-to-DC converter, utilizes a high-frequency switching transistor to regulate the output voltage. This type of regulator allows for high efficiency, since it does not waste power in the form of excess heat, as traditional linear power supplies do. Additionally, switching power supplies can generate higher voltages from a given AC source than a traditional linear power supply can.