25
CHAPTER
Power Supplies
A POWER SUPPLY CONVERTS UTILITY AC TO PURE DC OF THE SORT WE GET FROM AN ELECTROchemical or solar battery. In this chapter, we’ll examine the components of a typical power supply.
Power Transformers
We can categorize power transformers in two general ways: step-down or step-up. As you remember, the output, or secondary, voltage of a step-down transformer is lower than the input, or primary, voltage. The reverse holds true for a step-up transformer, where the output voltage exceeds the input voltage.
Step-Down
Most electronic devices need only a few volts to function. The power supplies for such equipment use step-down power transformers, with the primary windings connected to the utility AC outlets. The transformer’s ...
Get Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics, Sixth Edition, 6th Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
