Like a few of you, I've always been intrigued by electronics, but my academic/professional path took a very different turn. As a result, there's a number of very simplistic questions I've been wanting to ask a "pro", but found it difficult to do this without appearing a fool. But on this forum I'll be brave, as usual - my apologies if these turn out to be extremely banal, or poorly worded.
I invite any others with such questions to "confess" them in this thread!
1. Why do certain ATX PSUs "post-regulate" their relatively unused 3.3v line with a mag-amp via a "returning" sense-wire, but not the more heavily-loaded 5v and 12v lines?
2. In a situation in which one is dealing with a predictable, relatively constant load - is it possible (in your opinion/experience) for a PSU using linear regulators to be as efficient (or more so) than a switching/inverter-based PSU?
3. I understand that with AC power transmission, when the load's apparent power is greater than real power, this translates into some form of "loss", from the generator's point of view. So in a hypothetical scenario with a PF of zero, no work is done, but the generator is running, so where would all the "lost" energy wind up? Heat at the generator? On the wiring leading to the load?
4. And what is that component, always found in ATX power supplies between the output rectifiers and the smoothing capacitors - a prominent, large, toroid, with multiple, separate windings, usually of red and yellow wire? It's placed in series with the circuit, so my guess is that it's an inductor to reduce high frequency ripple - is this correct? If so, why is it done this way, as opposed to simply using separate coils for each 'rail'?
I invite any others with such questions to "confess" them in this thread!
1. Why do certain ATX PSUs "post-regulate" their relatively unused 3.3v line with a mag-amp via a "returning" sense-wire, but not the more heavily-loaded 5v and 12v lines?
2. In a situation in which one is dealing with a predictable, relatively constant load - is it possible (in your opinion/experience) for a PSU using linear regulators to be as efficient (or more so) than a switching/inverter-based PSU?
3. I understand that with AC power transmission, when the load's apparent power is greater than real power, this translates into some form of "loss", from the generator's point of view. So in a hypothetical scenario with a PF of zero, no work is done, but the generator is running, so where would all the "lost" energy wind up? Heat at the generator? On the wiring leading to the load?
4. And what is that component, always found in ATX power supplies between the output rectifiers and the smoothing capacitors - a prominent, large, toroid, with multiple, separate windings, usually of red and yellow wire? It's placed in series with the circuit, so my guess is that it's an inductor to reduce high frequency ripple - is this correct? If so, why is it done this way, as opposed to simply using separate coils for each 'rail'?
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