SMPS: Switched Mode Power

Supply
Switch mode power supplies (SMPSs) are used in a range of
applications as an efficient and effective source of power. This is in
major part to their efficiency. For anybody still working on a desktop,
look for the fan output in the central processing units (CPU). That’s
where the SMPS is. SMPS offers advantages in terms of size, weight,
cost, efficiency and overall performance. These have become an
accepted part of electronics gadgets. Basically, it is a device in which
energy conversion and regulation is provided by power semiconductors
that are continuously switching “on” and “off” with high frequency.

The SMPS essentially has

1. Input rectifier

2. Inverter

3. Voltage converter

4. Output regulator
 Fig. 2: Figure Showcasing Diifferent Parts of a SMPS 122V Transistor

Input rectifier

The AC input from mains is first rectified in the SMPS using a rectifier to convert it into DC. The
rectifier consisting of a full wave diode bridge or module that produces an unregulated DC
voltage to the Smoothing capacitor. The input AC passing into the rectifier has AC voltage
pulses that may reduce the power factor. So control techniques are used to force the average
input current to follow the sine wave.

Inverter

This stage converts the rectified DC into AC using a power oscillator. The power oscillator has
a small output transformer with a few windings at the frequency 20-100 kHz. Switching is
controlled by a MOSFET amplifier. The output AC voltage is usually isolated optically from the
input AC by using an Optocoupler IC for safety reasons.
Components of SMPS Contd..

Voltage converter

This stage has a high frequency transformer and the inverted AC drives its primary windings.
This creates the up and down voltage at the output. If DC is required, the output AC is
converted to DC using a rectifier circuit using Silicon diodes or Schottky diodes (fast recovery
and minimum loss of current and low forward voltage drop) . The rectified output DC is then
filtered using the filter section consisting of inductors andcapacitors. Some non isolated
SMPS contains an inductor instead of the transformer and the circuit act as boost
converter or buck converter. In high voltage SMPS,Capacitor-Diode multiplier is used
instead of inductors or transformer.

Output regulator

The output stage always monitors the output voltage by comparing with a reference
voltage using a feedback system. For safety reasons, the output stage is isolated by an
optoisolator as seen in the SMPS of computers. In some SMPS, Open loop regulation is used
without feedback circuit and constant voltage is fed to the transformer input.

The feedback circuit needs power to run before it can generate power, so an additional non-
switching power-supply for stand-by is added.
 Added advantages of SMPS over the conventional linear power regulators are:

1. Light weight since the transformer is too small and it it operates at high frequency of 50Hz-
1MHz.

2. Output voltage is well regulated and controlled by duty cycle and there is little resistive loss
since the transistor fully on or off during switching.

3. Greater efficiency since the switching transistor dissipates very little heat. The SMPS can fail
and can cause very high output voltage that destroys the equipment.

Trouble shooting

Breakdown of SMPS can cause the PC either restarts automatically or shutdown instantly.
Confirm the SMPS complaint as follows:

1. Confirm whether the power cord is tight in the socket of SMPS and is connected well in the
UPS.

2. Remove the 4 pin connector and connect a 10 Ohms 10 Watt resistor across the yellow (+
12V) and black (Gnd) pins of the connector.

1. Connect the power code to UPS and connect the 24 pin cord to the Mother board

1. Short the pin 16 (Green) with the adjacent black pin (pin17) using a short wire.

2. If the Fan runs normally, SMPS is working normally.

3. If not, unplug the fan and check it with 12 volt supply. If the fan is OK, then the check the
voltage at the output pins of the connecter. Voltage levels in the 24 pin connector are shown
below.

Pin
Wire Color Output
No

1 Orange +3.3 V

2 Orange +3.3 V

3 Black GND

4 Red +5 V

5 Black GND

6 Red +5 V

7 Black GND

8 Gray

+5 V
9 Purple
Standby

10 Yellow +12 V

11 Yellow +12 V

12 Orange +3.3 V
13 Orange +3.3 V

14 Blue -12 V

15 Black GND

16 Green

17 Black GND

18 Black GND

19 Black GND

20 White -5 V

21 Red +5 V

22 Red +5 V

23 Red +5 V

24 Black GND

If the voltage in the pins is not as specified, replace the SMPS before powering the PC again.