High-performance resistors in custom power supplies

Focus:

This article describes the various uses for resistors in power supply applications. However, it reads like a short primer on power supply operation, describing how voltage regulators (zener, linear and switching), dc-dc converters, and ac-dc power supplies work and the roles of resistors in these power converters. Resistor functions discussed here include voltage dividers, dummy loads, charge bleeding, inrush limiting, load balancing, voltage balancing, and current sensing. Along the way the article offers some guidance on selection of resistor values and power ratings, but not much is said about differences in resistor types. The title refers to “custom power supplies," but from the text it’s not clear how the discussion here relates specifically to "custom" as opposed to "standard" power supply designs.

What you’ll learn:

• How to understand the roles played by resistors in voltage regulator and power supply operation
• How to understand some basic guidelines for specifying resistor values in voltage regulator and power supply designs

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Author & Publication:

Phil Ebbert, Riedon, Power Systems Design Europe, Nov 19 2013

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