If you need a power adapter, you may not be sure what type you should buy. Before you do your shopping, it is important to understand some of the basic concepts regarding power adapters. Here I have mentioned few things to consider when buying a power adapter. This will ensure that you purchase the right adapter for the specific piece of equipment or application you will be using. Let’s take a look at the differences between unregulated and regulated adapters:
1. Unregulated DC Power Adapters
What do regulated and unregulated mean?
A power supply’s constant voltage output is controlled by a device known as a voltage regulator. Most of the time, this is an electronic circuit. The majority of DC voltage output power adapters do not contain a built-in voltage regulator. You will be able to find some that have the voltage regulator, but they will cost more.
The most common type of power adapter is the unregulated DC output variety. This means the adapter has no voltage regulator. The DC output voltage depends on two things:
– The amount of current used by the electrical load (The device that gets power from the adapter is known as the load)
– The internal voltage reduction transformer
Concept #1
DC voltage output power adapters are rated and designed so they will produce a specific voltage at a specific maximum output load current. This is an important concept for people to understand. When the current the load receives from the adapter is increased, an unregulated power adapter’s output voltage will decrease. Therefore, you will need to buy a power adapter that matches the load’s requirements for current power and voltage as closely as possible.
Concept #2
Another important concept is the fact that the load’s maximum current requirement should never exceed the adapter’s rated output current. This is the case for both unregulated and regulated adapters.
Concept #3
This third concept applies to unregulated adapters. A DC voltage that is pure and “clean” is not produced by DC power adapters that are unregulated. However, if the load’s power requirements are closely matched to the chosen power adapter, the resulting DC voltage will be sufficient for the successful completion of many jobs.
How do you Choose an Unregulated Power Adapter?
By carefully considering all of the concepts mentioned above, here is what you need to do:
If you are replacing a power adapter, you should buy one that matches the current specifications and voltage of the original adapter as closely as possible. Find out the polarity and DC output plug size of the adapter you need. You can remove or change the DC output connector located at the cord’s end, but you will not be able to return it for a refund after you do this.
Here is what you need to do if you require an unknown power adapter for your own application:
You need to figure out the circuit’s or load device’s power requirements. Based on these requirements, find a power adapter that has a current and voltage rating that is close to them. It should be noted that a power adapter capable of producing a greater amount of current than is needed by the load can sometimes be used. However, if the difference in current is too big, there could be a greater amount of ripple voltage than is expected. If this happens, you may need a filtering capacitor to smooth out the adapter’s DC output voltage. Always be certain to never exceed the load device’s maximum input voltage.
2. Regulated DC Power Adapters
There is not as much to consider when choosing a regulated DC power adapter. This is because the DC output voltage of an adapter that is regulated will constantly remain within the rated value. This will always be the case, no matter how much current the load uses, provided the power adapter’s rated output current is never exceeded. You will no longer find the internal voltage reduction transformers that were sold in years gone by. These were known for being very heavy and creating a lot of heat. As a replacement for these dinosaurs of technology, high speed digital circuitry is now used that allows the overall weight and size of the adapter to be decreased.
You may be wondering why every power adapter is not regulated. This is primarily an issue of cost. Regulated power adapters will always cost more. If you are not opposed to paying a little more, this type of adapter can make your life a lot easier.
The Bottom Line
If you have a complete understanding of the advantages, limitations, performance requirements and power of these adapters, selecting the correct one for your needs should not be a difficult task. If you have dedicated applications where power sensitivity and portability will be important, you should use an unregulated DC output power adapter. However, in terms of efficiency and versatility, regulating switching power adapters are the better choice.
I hope you can utilize the knowledge about power adapters to buy one. Please remember the things to consider when buying a power adapter.
