Highly efficient switching regulators save energy, space and cost

Free sample available from DENGROVE

Linear regulators, although widley used, have a major disadvantage; inefficiency. Once input voltage rises above the drop-out threshold a linear regulators efficiency will continue to drop. Linear regulators waste energy as heat. The losses are related to the current and the voltage dropped across the regulator. Larger the voltage drop, the greater the heat generated. This heat has to be managed, usually by costly heatsinking. Switching regulators are renowned for their efficiency, with well-designed types achieving upto 97% conversion efficiency.

Advantages of Switching regulators

Linear regulators are preferred due to low price, an argument at high volumes. But is it? It is not a question of just the component cost, but of the energy consumption during the lifetime of operation. As soon as the input voltage widens, the efficiency starts to decline. Low efficiency translates into higher energy losses. Regulating down a voltage of 32V to 5V at 1A generates losses of 27W in a linear regulator. In the case of the Recom switching regulator type R-78C this value is reduced to 0.7W. Operating the unit daily for eight hours during 10 years accrues additional energy costs of round about £165, based on 22.85p kW h, nearly 35 times more than the original buying price of a switching regulator.

The R-78C from Recom represents a cost effective solution for the equipment manufacturer, and the end user.

Power

Back to News