[sdiy] Testing a power supply

[Tom Bugs]

That looks to be a great help -- thanks John!

John Luciani wrote:
> How involved to you want to get?
>
> I would replace the dummy resistors with an active load
> (see the active load schematic at http://tinyurl.com/6cbn6h)
> This will allow you to easliy test under different loading conditions.
> It is a very simple circuit.
>
> The basic tests would be
>
>   Line regulation which defines how a change in input voltage produces
>   a change in output voltage
>
>   Load regulation which defines how a change in output load produces
>   a change in output voltage.
>
>   Efficiency which is the ratio of output power to input power
>   This can be difficult to measure with high accuracy.
>
>   Output ripple AC component of the output voltage
>
> You could also add dymanic tests and fault testing. Power supplies usually
> have over-current and over-voltage fault modes that you test.
>
> For a switching supply a basic test sequence would be ---
>
>    Low Line, Max Load   (highest operating frequency)
>    High Line,  Min Load  (lowest operating frequency)
>    Nominal Line, Nominal Load
>    Efficiency (nominal line, nominal load)
>    Output ripple
>
> For a linear supply I would add High Line, Max Load which would
> produce the maximum heating in the linear regulator.
>
> You could also perform the basic tests at different ambient temperatures.
>
> (* jcl *)
>
>   
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