An adjustable power supply, also known as an adjustable DC power supply or an adjustable regulated power supply, is an electronic device that can provide variable voltage and current output. It is widely used in electronic circuit testing, battery charging, LED lighting and other fields. The core function of an adjustable power supply is to allow the user to adjust the output voltage and current as needed to meet the power supply needs of different devices.

Basic components of an adjustable power supply

An adjustable power supply is mainly composed of the following parts:

Input circuit: responsible for converting AC power into DC power.

Control circuit: including a microprocessor or integrated circuit for controlling the output voltage and current of the power supply.

Output circuit: including transformers, rectifiers, filters, etc., for providing stable DC output.

Display and adjustment device: used to display the current output voltage and current, and allow the user to adjust these parameters.

Principle of current output adjustment

The adjustment of current output usually involves the following aspects:

Voltage control: indirectly control the current by adjusting the output voltage.

Current limit: set a maximum current value to prevent overcurrent from damaging the load.

Feedback control: automatically adjust the voltage to maintain a constant current output by monitoring the output current.

Methods for adjusting current output

1 Voltage adjustment method

Set initial voltage: Set the output voltage of the adjustable power supply according to the voltage requirements of the load.

Observe current changes: After adjusting the voltage, observe the reading of the ammeter to determine whether the current meets the requirements.

Fine-tune the voltage: If the current is too large or too small, fine-tune the voltage value until the desired current is reached.

2 Direct current control method

Set current limit: Set the maximum current limit on the control panel of the power supply.

Adjust output voltage: Adjust the output voltage according to the voltage requirements of the load.

Observe current reading: Make sure the current does not exceed the set limit.

3 Feedback control method

Enable feedback control: Enable the current feedback control function in the settings of the power supply.

Set target current: Set the desired current value on the control panel.

Auto adjustment: The power supply automatically adjusts the output voltage to maintain the set current value.

Technical details and precautions

Load matching: Make sure the output capacity of the power supply matches the requirements of the load.

Overload protection: Most adjustable power supplies have overload protection, but users still need to be careful not to exceed the maximum current limit for a long time.

Temperature influence: The power supply may heat up when working under high load, and good heat dissipation conditions need to be ensured.

Voltage and current stability: A high-quality adjustable power supply should provide stable voltage and current output.

Practical operation steps

Connect the load: Connect the load device to the output terminal of the adjustable power supply correctly.

Set the voltage: Set the output voltage of the power supply according to the voltage requirement of the load.

Set the current limit: Set the current limit of the power supply according to the maximum current requirement of the load.

Turn on the power: Turn on the power switch and observe the reading of the ammeter.

Adjust the current: If necessary, fine-tune the voltage or directly adjust the current setting until the desired current value is reached.

Monitor and record: During operation, continuously monitor the current and voltage readings and record the data for subsequent analysis.

Common problems and solutions

Unstable current: Check the stability of the power supply and the matching of the load.

Overheating: Ensure good heat dissipation of the power supply and load to avoid long-term high-load operation.

Output voltage fluctuation: Check the filter circuit of the power supply and the stability of the load.