Switching power supply

If the SMPS has an AC input, then the first stage is to convert the input to DC. This is called rectification.
A SMPS with a DC input does not require this stage. In some power supplies (mostly computer ATX
power supplies), the rectifier circuit can be configured as a voltage doubler by the addition of a switch
operated either manually or automatically. This feature permits operation from power sources that are
normally at 115 V or at 230 V. The rectifier produces an unregulated DC voltage which is then sent to a
large filter capacitor. The current drawn from the mains supply by this rectifier circuit occurs in short
pulses around the AC voltage peaks. These pulses have significant high frequency energy which reduces
the power factor. To correct for this, many newer SMPS will use a special PFC circuit to make the input
current follow the sinusoidal shape of the AC input voltage, correcting the power factor. Power supplies
that use Active PFC usually are auto-ranging, supporting input voltages from ~100 VAC 250 VAC, with
no input voltage selector switch




Transformers are required for galvanic isolation between input and output voltages and for
voltage and current scaling. It also helps in optimizing the device voltage and current ratings.
The switches, diodes and other circuit elements on the high voltage side of the transformer are
subjected to higher voltages but only lower currents. Similarly the devices put on the low voltage
side are subjected to less voltage stress but higher current stress. The dc-to-dc buck converter
shown in Fig..1, which is used to get a low voltage output from a high input dc voltage
illustrates this point clearly. The circuit in Fig.1(a) uses a step down transformer with proper
turns ratio and has the advantages discussed above. On the other hand the switch and diode and
the filter inductor in Fig.1(b) need to withstand both input side voltage and output side
current. Also, the switch in case (b) will be constrained to operate in a narrow range, which may
cause lesser accuracy in output voltage control



Fig. 1: DC to DC buck converters: (a) Isolated type (b) Non-isolated type
Transformers used in switched mode power supply circuits are significantly different
from the power transformers that are used in utility ac supply system. Following are
the important differences:
(i) The input and output voltages and currents of a SMPS transformer are
mostly non-sinusoidal, whereas the transformers connected to utility ac
supply are almost always subjected to sinusoidal voltages and currents.
(ii) The currents and voltages of SMPS transformer are of very high frequency
where as utility type transformers are subjected to low frequency supply voltages.
(iii) SMPS transformers generally handle much smaller power than the
utility transformer.

Advantages
The main advantage of the switching power supply is greater efficiency because the switching
transistor dissipates little power when acting as a switch. Other advantages include smaller size
and lighter weight from the elimination of heavy line-frequency transformers, and lower heat
generation due to higher efficiency. Disadvantages include greater complexity, the generation of
high-amplitude, high-frequency energy that the low-pass filter must block to avoid
electromagnetic interference (EMI), a ripple voltage at the switching frequency and the harmonic
frequencies thereof.
Disadvantages
Very low cost SMPSs may couple electrical switching noise back onto the mains power line,
causing interference with A/V equipment connected to the same phase. Non-power-factor-
corrected SMPSs also cause harmonic distortion.