A regulated power supply is a device that produces DC voltage from an AC source. It regulates the output voltage by maintaining a constant voltage despite changes in load or input voltage. The output of an unregulated power supply, on the other hand, is not regulated and can change significantly with small variations in either load or input voltage.
What is Regulated Power Supply?
A regulated power supply is an electrical device that provides a steady DC voltage regardless of fluctuations in the load or input voltage. The regulation is achieved using a feedback control loop that adjusts the current through the pass transistor to maintain a constant output voltage. The advantage of a regulated power supply is that it provides a clean and stable DC voltage that can be used to power sensitive electronic components.
What is an Unregulated Power Supply?
An unregulated power supply is an electrical device that provides power to a load without any voltage or current regulation. The output voltage of an unregulated power supply typically varies with the input voltage and load current. Because there is no voltage regulation, the uncontrolled voltage may exceed the maximum specified voltage of the load, which can damage or destroy the load. For this reason, unregulated power supplies are typically used only with loads that can tolerate wide variations in voltage, such as electrical motors. While unregulated power supplies are typically less expensive than regulated ones, they are less reliable and can pose a safety hazard if not used properly.
Difference between Regulated Power Supply and Unregulated Power Supply
Power supplies are devices that convert one form of energy into another, typically either AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current), or vice versa. They are commonly used in electronic devices, such as computers, to provide a consistent source of power. Power supplies can be either regulated or unregulated. A regulated power supply is one that uses feedback control to maintain a constant output voltage regardless of changes in load or input voltage. An unregulated power supply, on the other hand, does not have this feedback control and so its output voltage will vary with changes in load or input voltage.
Conclusion
Regulated power supplies are designed to output a constant voltage, regardless of the load or input voltage. This makes them ideal for applications where accurate and stable voltages are required. Unregulated power supplies, on the other hand, can vary their output voltage considerably with changes in load or input voltage. While this is often not an issue in low-power applications, it can be dangerous in high-power applications. Regulated power supplies are typically more expensive than unregulated power supplies, but they offer much greater safety and stability.
