[sdiy] Testing a power supply

[Barry Klein]

I spend a lot of my time testing switching supplies as
well as embedded linears on bridge boards.  Some thoughts:
1) if your design is the reference design it should be fine. Make sure you
use the correct type capacitors.
2) do you have appropriate heat sinking?  Is the load appropriate?
3) your layout is now the critical factor.  Look for oscillations with a
scope during normal and test operation.
4) if you have the supply in standalone form a variable load is useful with
a scope to view the output.
5) make sure the input to the supply never drops below minimum input voltage
spec with max. output loading.

I get a 1" thick test report on supplies from the vendors and still find
things that they miss...



Barry