PowerSupply DesignSoftware

1.
7 Basic Test Equipment Needed 9
that you can measure any subsequent changes in the power supply’s per-
formance. Conduct tests with the final product connected to the supply to
check for unwanted interactions. And by all means, begin to measure items
related to safety and RFI/EMI prior to submitting the final product to the
approval bodies.
6. Finalize the physical design. This would include physical packaging within
the product, heatsink design, and the PCB design.
7. Submit the final product for approval body safety and RFI/EMI testing
and approval. Some modifications are usually required, but if you have
done your homework in the previous design stages, these can be minor.
8. Production Release!
It all sounds simple, but the legendary and cursed philosopher, Murphy, runs
wild through the field of power supply design, so expect many a visit from this
unwelcome guest.
1.6 A Comment about Power Supply Design Software

There is an abundance of software-based power supply design tools, particu-
larly for PWM switching power supply designs. Many of these software pack-
ages were written by the semiconductor manufacturers for their own highly
integrated switching power supply integrated circuits (ICs). Many of these ICs
include the power devices as well as the control circuitry. These types of soft-
ware packages should only be used with the targeted products and not for
general power supply designs. The designs presented by these manufacturers
are optimized for minimum cost, weight, and design time, and the arrangements
of any external components are unique to that IC.
There are several generalized switching power supply design software pack-
ages available primarily from circuit simulator companies. Caution should be
practiced in reviewing all software-based switching power supply design tools.
Designers should compare the results from the software to those obtained man-
ually by executing the appropriate design equations. Such a comparison will
enable designers to determine whether the programmer and his or her company
really understands the issues surrounding switching power supply design.
Remember, most of the digital world thinks that designing switching power
supplies is just a matter of copying schematics.
The software packages may also obscure the amount of latitude a designer
has during a power supply design. By making the program as broad in its
application as possible, the results may be very conservative. To the seasoned
designer, this is only a first step. He or she knows how to “push” the result to
enhance the power supply’s performance in a certain area. All generally applied
equations and software results should be viewed as calculated estimates. In
short, the software may then lead the designer to a result that works but is not
optimum for the system.
1.7 Basic Test Equipment Needed

Power supplies, especially switching power supplies, require the designer to view
parameters not commonly encountered in the other fields of electronics. Aside
10 Role of the Power Supply within the System and Design Program
from ac and dc voltage, the designer must also look at ac and dc current
measurements and waveforms, and RF spectrum analysis. Although the vision
of large capital expenditures flashes through your mind when this is mentioned,
the basic equipment can be obtained for under US $3000. The equipment can
be classified as necessary and optional, but somewhere along the line, all the
equipment will have to be used whether one buys the items or rents them.
Necessary test equipment

1. A 100 MHz or higher bandwidth, time-based oscilloscope. The bandwidth
is especially needed for switching power supply design. A digital oscillo-
scope may miss important transients on some of the key waveforms, so
evaluate any digital oscilloscope carefully.
2. 10 : 1 voltage probes for the oscilloscope.
3. A dc/ac volt and ampere multimeter. A true RMS reading meter is
optional.
4. An ac and/or dc current probe for the oscilloscope. Especially needed for
switching power supply design. Some appropriate models are Tektronics
P6021 or P6022 and A6302 or A6303, or better.
5. A bench-top power supply that can simulate the input power source. This
will be a large dc power supply with voltage and current ratings in excess
of what is needed. For off-line power supplies, use a variac with a current
rating in excess of what is needed.
Note: Please isolate all test equipment from earth ground when testing.
Optional test equipment

1. Spectrum analyzer. This can be used to view the RFI and EMI perfor-
mance of the power supply prior to submission to a regulatory agency. It
would be too costly to set up a full testing laboratory, so I would recom-
mend using an third-party testing house.
2. A true RMS wattmeter for conveniently measuring efficiency and power
factor. This is needed for off-line power supplies.

PowerSupply DesignSoftware

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PowerSupply DesignSoftware

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

PowerSupply DesignSoftware

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1.

7 Basic Test Equipment Needed 9

1.6 A Comment about Power Supply Design Software

1.7 Basic Test Equipment Needed

Necessary test equipment

Optional test equipment

You might also like