Just an idle question really - not of much relevance.
Looking at a number of reviews of PSUs I've found that they all pretty much use the age-old design (even the new 'high efficiency' ones).
Essentially a rectifier (or high power factor active rectifier), a multi-output forward converter and then a magnetic amplifier post regulator.
What's slightly surprising is that manufacturers persist with these inefficient designs, when higher performing technologies have been around for several years now: active clamp coverters are signficintly more efficient than forward converters, in the same way as synchronous buck regulators are more efficient than mag-amps. Heck, there are dozens of engineering papers recommending these designs as reference designs - but they just don't seem to get used.
I suppose, that all the manufacturers want to do is get 'good enough' - and the 80 plus certification raised the bar a bit. However, with modern designs it shouldn't be particularly difficult to get a bit higher. Maybe someone needs to come up with an 85 plus certification. 🙂
Looking at a number of reviews of PSUs I've found that they all pretty much use the age-old design (even the new 'high efficiency' ones).
Essentially a rectifier (or high power factor active rectifier), a multi-output forward converter and then a magnetic amplifier post regulator.
What's slightly surprising is that manufacturers persist with these inefficient designs, when higher performing technologies have been around for several years now: active clamp coverters are signficintly more efficient than forward converters, in the same way as synchronous buck regulators are more efficient than mag-amps. Heck, there are dozens of engineering papers recommending these designs as reference designs - but they just don't seem to get used.
I suppose, that all the manufacturers want to do is get 'good enough' - and the 80 plus certification raised the bar a bit. However, with modern designs it shouldn't be particularly difficult to get a bit higher. Maybe someone needs to come up with an 85 plus certification. 🙂
