Test Question Preparedness
For Power Supplies
06/24/2001
You should be prepared to satisfactorily answer questions on the following items:
Linear Power Supplies
-- Comparisons, merits and disadvantages
| Xfmr | vs Transformerless |
| Half-Wave Rectifier System | vs Full-Wave Rectifier System |
| Full-Wave Center-Tap Rectifier System | vs Full-Wave Bridge Rectifier System |
| Simple Capacitive Filter | vs Simple Inductive Filter |
| Fixed Choke Filter | vs Swinging Choke Filter |
| RC-Filter | vs LC-Filter |
| L-Type Filter | vs Pi-Type Filter |
| Shunt Regulation | vs Zener Referenced Series-Pass Regulation |
| Amplified Shunt Regulation | vs Amplified Series-Pass Regulation |
| Pre-Regulation | vs Post-Regulation |
- Ripple Frequencies
- Rectifier Requirements
- Zener Requirements
- Advantages & Disadvantages of Amplified Regulation Systems
- Current Limiting and Current Regulation
- Sense Lines
- Expectations of Inputs vs Outputs of 3-Terminal Regulators
- Resonance Effects of the Filter System
- Likely effect on the DC Outputs due to various component failures
Switching Power Supplies
-- Component Identification and Function
- AC Input and RFI/TVI Filter Section
- Rectifier and Filter
- Switching Transistor
- Power Transformer used in the Switching Process
- Output Rectifiers and Filters
- "Crowbar" Circuit (if it exists)
- Possible Feedback Components, and method of Feedback
- Which Output Circuit(s) is/are the most likely controlled
- Likely failures, in order of probability