DC power supply fundamentals

R&S®ESSENTIALS | Power supply fundamentals

Basics of power supplies and source measure units

Step-by-step guides to mastering the fundamentals

Bench power supplies provide a stable, adjustable output of electrical power - they are central to any electronic test setup! Key features include variable voltage and current settings, precise voltage and current regulation and multiple output channels.

These articles will walk you through the fundamentals of power supplies and source measure units (SMU), along with related applications. From learning the basics to understanding a specific test setup, we are your go-to resource for mastering power supplies.

Want to talk to someone about a specific product? Please get in touch with us or reach out to our distribution partners.

Learn about DC power supply fundamentals

Understanding benchtop power supplies

This is a technical introduction to benchtop DC power supplies, their most important functions, parameters, and features in modern T&M applications.

More information

Common types of power supplies

What is the difference between linear and switsched mode and how many quadrants should a DC power supply have to fit your application?

More information

Understanding Constant Voltage & Constant Current

What is the difference between constant voltage and constant current modes in benchtop DC power supplies? Find out here.

More information

Output response

Learn why load recovery time is important and whether to choose voltage priority or current priority mode.

More information

Power supply in series vs. parallel

Learn about connecting power supplies in series and connecting power supplies in parallel. Understand how to increase maximum output voltage or current.

More information

Understanding Derating Curves

Derating curves are used to graphically represent the combinations of voltage and current supported by a power supply. Learn how to read them.

More information

Understanding remote sense

Power supplies offering remote sensing, also known as four-wire sensing, are able to compensate for voltage drops. Learn how to achieve this.

More information

Arbitrary and ramp function

Learn about arbitraty and ramp functions of DC power supplies and what is the best way of viewing arbitraty function.

More information

5 reasons to use an SMU

Discover how a Source Measure Unit (SMU) can optimize testing accuracy, flexibility, and efficiency for precision electronic measurements.

More information

How to measure power consumption of a device

Learn how to measure the power consumption of a device. Understand the basics of energy consumption measurement and configuring readback and logging settings.

More information

DC power supplies Knowledge+

Explainer video: Precision in under 10 minutes: Simulating battery performance

Explore how the R&S®NGU power supply can be used to simulate and test battery performance, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of your devices. Ideal for engineers and tech enthusiasts, this episode provides a clear path to mastering battery simulations with practical tips and real-world applications.

Watch Video

Webinar: Fundamentals of DC Power Supplies

This webinar is intended for any engineer who uses bench top power supplies and would like a better understanding of their fundamentals. The webinar goes through the basics of DC power supplies, such as configuration, standard operation and maximum output power, but also dives into more specialty features.

More information