Table of Contents
Bench power supplies are a versatile power source. They are usually used when temporary power is needed. But can also be used in pretty much any situation that requires electric power.
- Power circuits/loads directly.
- Recharge certain batteries.
At a minimum, most bench power supplies let you use a dial or buttons to set a voltage and a current.
- Voltage:
- Current:
Usually you set the voltage that you want to power your load at (voltage source), and the current that you don’t want to exceed (over current protection).
- Set voltage to the voltage you want.
- Set current to the maximum current you want it to provide (the load will limit the current instead of the power supply).
Sometimes you want to set a certain current (current source), and have the power supply lower the voltage that it is providing in order to maintain that current.
- Set the current to the amount that you desire.
- Set the voltage higher than what is needed to provide that current. The power supply will lower the actual voltage it applies in order to maintain that current. But if the load needs more voltage for that amount current than what the bench power supply is set to, then less current will actually flow.