Switching Power Supply??

[billbill242000]

What does "Switching Power Supply" mean?:confused: Are they talking about the switch in the back that lets you decide what AC voltage to run it on or something else?:o
Thanks!!

[r40734]

It refers to the method of voltage regulation. The switching power supply (automatically) switches a power transistor on and off at a specific duty cycle to provide the desired voltage.

[billbill242000]

So this means that a fixed rate power supply (or an adjustable rate) maintains that advertised output...correct?

[RC Accessory]

http://www.acopian.com/linear-power-supply-vs-switching-power-supply-vs-unregulated-power-supply.html

[Graiskye]

As far as I have been able to tell all it means is that the adaptor is made to run in America or Europe. I.e. the input voltage can be either 120vac, or 240vac.
But I have been wondering if this is the olny difference. As I have a few better power supplies than the el cheapo that came with the el cheapo charger, and wondered if I could use them, so long as the input was 120vac. The output is the same as the output on the charger ???
Grais.
PS: just had a thought, this is not necessarily the case I don't think, because don't the Europeans use a different plug system than we have. Sorry just kinda thinking out loud.

[wlfk]

As far as I have been able to tell all it means is that the adaptor is made to run in America or Europe. I.e. the input voltage can be either 120vac, or 240vac.



Either switching or non-switching power supplies can have this feature. For linear power supplies, you generally have to flip a switch on the back to set the operating voltage.

K