Talk:Switched-mode power supply applications

FYI
Administrators'_noticeboard/IncidentArchive690 Electron9 (talk) 07:53, 24 May 2012 (UTC)

Suggestions
Andy Dingley (talk) 11:28, 28 July 2012 (UTC)
 * Move away from the list of "Foo uses SMPS" to a more editorially structured narrative, that explains why SMPS are used.
 * What are the advantages that SMPS convey, and why are they chosen?
 * SMPS used to be expensive and were only used in specialist fields. Recently this has expanded enormously. Why? What has changed? What are the conditions that lead some PSUs to be iron and linear-based, others to choose SMPS.
 * SMPS come in several types: why are different types selected for different applications?
 * SMPS implementation technologies have changed, especially recently. How has this changed their applications, both for the fields they are used in, and also as their costs fall.
 * Some technologies, LED lighting in particular, rely on SMPS and can't practically be built otherwise. How has SMPS availability (technical and falling cost) influenced such applications?
 * These are all good points. Many of them are already explained at Switched mode power supply for the general case. Having an article with "applications" in the article forces focus on particular cases. Are we really including LED drivers and CFL ballasts here? --Wtshymanski (talk) 15:14, 3 August 2012 (UTC)
 * It would be illustrative to compare and contrast the linear power supply in the Commodore PET with the switch mode supply in the contemparary Apple II. Off to Commons to look for pictures. --Wtshymanski (talk) 15:17, 3 August 2012 (UTC)
 * Well, I found Pet2001a.jpg and Apple II Plus Inside w cards.JPG on Commons, but they don't really convey the difference well; all you can see is a big brick (which is mostly empty air inside) in the Apple power supply and its hard to make out the iron core in the PET. I suspect the Apple II probably was a higher-rated supply but I need references. --Wtshymanski (talk) 15:39, 3 August 2012 (UTC)
 * The BBC micro might be a relevant example here. 1982 examples used a linear PSU, but after a few hours' use these overheated the motherboard and the machine crashed. In 1983, they switched to a cooler-running (but more expensive) switched mode that cured the problem. Andy Dingley (talk) 12:15, 6 August 2012 (UTC)
 * That would be a particularly good illustration - now to find some old computer magazines that discuss this changeover and maybe even the reason. --Wtshymanski (talk) 15:59, 6 August 2012 (UTC)