J
Jeff Layman
I was thinking of changing a wallwart 12v 1000mA PS from linear to SM, as
the latter is more efficient, but now I'm not so sure.
What is the no-load power consumption of each type? I understand from
Wikipedia that a SWPS must operate with a minimum current, so needs a dummy
load when it is not being used.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply#Switched-mode_power_supply). In
that case, depending on the full and standby consumption of the device being
powered, the SMPS may actually cost more to run if the SMPS "standby"
consumption is higher than the equivalent linear supply. It will, of
course, depend on the relative full/standby operation times, but I assume
there is a crossover point where one type of power supply will cost less to
run in the long term than the other.
Also, I have generally assumed that SMPS efficiency is in the region of
70%+, whereas linear efficiency is only 30 - 40%. However, this 1250mA
multi-voltage SMPS has an efficiency of only 51%
(http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=96864). To be fair, the
higher-power version (2500mA) has an efficiency of 75%.
Does that mean there is little point in going to an SMPS if the power
consumption if on the low side? Or will it always win out in terms of cost
of operation?
the latter is more efficient, but now I'm not so sure.
What is the no-load power consumption of each type? I understand from
Wikipedia that a SWPS must operate with a minimum current, so needs a dummy
load when it is not being used.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply#Switched-mode_power_supply). In
that case, depending on the full and standby consumption of the device being
powered, the SMPS may actually cost more to run if the SMPS "standby"
consumption is higher than the equivalent linear supply. It will, of
course, depend on the relative full/standby operation times, but I assume
there is a crossover point where one type of power supply will cost less to
run in the long term than the other.
Also, I have generally assumed that SMPS efficiency is in the region of
70%+, whereas linear efficiency is only 30 - 40%. However, this 1250mA
multi-voltage SMPS has an efficiency of only 51%
(http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=96864). To be fair, the
higher-power version (2500mA) has an efficiency of 75%.
Does that mean there is little point in going to an SMPS if the power
consumption if on the low side? Or will it always win out in terms of cost
of operation?