Tips for switching power supply selection

The application of switching power supply is very extensive, so the selection of the development power supply has become a required course for many engineers.
The following are some precautions when choosing a switching power supply for your reference:
1. In order to improve the reliability of the switching power supply, it is recommended to choose a product with a rated power that is about 30% more than the power required by the actual circuit.
For example, if the system requires a 100W power supply, you can choose a switching power supply with an output power of 130W or above. In this way, the reliability of the switching power supply in system design can be effectively improved.
2. Please pay attention to the ambient temperature of the switching power supply and check whether there are additional components for heat dissipation, such as fans or radiators.
If the switching power supply works in a high temperature environment, the output power needs to be reduced. The derating curve of ambient temperature and output power is usually included in the specifications, for example, the DPU-3200 series 3200W single output AC/DC power supply from MeanWell in the figure below.
3. What functions do you need in your application? The following items can be compared when selecting:

Protection function: over voltage protection (OVP), over temperature protection (OTP), overload protection (OLP), short circuit protection, etc.
Application function: signal function (normal power supply, power failure), remote control, remote sensing, etc.
Special functions: power factor correction (PFC), uninterruptible power supply (UPS) functions.
4. Please make sure that the model used complies with the safety standards and EMC regulations in your area