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Thread: power supply regulation question

  1. #1
    dnolan747 Newbie
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    Angry power supply regulation question

    I am a student at Penn Foster Career School and i am having a problem with a question and need a little help...plz.... the question is: the output of a power supply is measured at 12v with no-load connected. the manufacturer's specifications say the power supply has a regulation of 10%. What is the full-load output voltage of the power supply?

    A. 13.2v C. 10.8v
    B. 10.9v D. 1.2v

    I answered C.10.8v and was told that i was wrong i have a retake of this test in a few days and dont want the answer given to me just want to try to understand a little better i am leaning to D. 1.2v because i took the no load voltage and multiplied by 10% and came out with 1.2 and this is what i did the first time but then subtracted 1.2 from 12 and came out with 10.8.. i think i am confused or i am thinking further than i need to

    thanks in advanced
    Dean
    Dean A. Nolan


  2. #2
    BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent
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    I would have chosen "C" too. Guess I need to go back to school.
    Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!

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    ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent
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    Quote Originally Posted by dnolan747 View Post
    I am a student at Penn Foster Career School and i am having a problem with a question and need a little help...plz.... the question is: the output of a power supply is measured at 12v with no-load connected. the manufacturer's specifications say the power supply has a regulation of 10%. What is the full-load output voltage of the power supply?

    A. 13.2v C. 10.8v
    B. 10.9v D. 1.2v

    I answered C.10.8v and was told that i was wrong i have a retake of this test in a few days and dont want the answer given to me just want to try to understand a little better i am leaning to D. 1.2v because i took the no load voltage and multiplied by 10% and came out with 1.2 and this is what i did the first time but then subtracted 1.2 from 12 and came out with 10.8.. i think i am confused or i am thinking further than i need to

    thanks in advanced
    Dean

    Dean.

    This is not an "intuitive" thing to understand, because the answer seems so obvious, but the answer is 10.9.

    Are you aware of the formula?
    Google voltage regulation or better yet full load voltage.

    I would have answered it as you did without knowing the formula.

    edit:

    actually I got 10.09, which doesn't make sense.

    Bear with me.
    Last edited by ke5frf; 23rd October 2009 at 02:12 AM.

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    ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent
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    OK.

    As I said, I had never needed to use this formula, but judging by what I see, something is missing here.

    Are you stating this question from memory or are you typing it verbatum?

    Are you sure you didn't get it backwards, ie the 12 volts is the value under the load and you are supposed to find the no load value?
    Last edited by ke5frf; 23rd October 2009 at 02:34 AM.

  5. #5
    dnolan747 Newbie
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    i do know the formula if this is the one you are speaking of which is: %voltage regulation=Vnl minus Vfl divided by Vfl multiplied by 100 or
    %voltage regulation=Vnl-VflX100
    Vfl
    but how do i convert this formula to do what the question is asking me????? I know the no load is 12v and the percentage of regulation is 10% so how do i get the full load voltage value????
    Dean A. Nolan

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    dnolan747 Newbie
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    the Vfl was supposed to be under the Vnl-Vfl but is was somehow put all the way to the left but i think yall will understand where i was going with that
    Dean A. Nolan

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    dnolan747 Newbie
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    Are you stating this question from memory or are you typing it verbatum?


    i am copying it straight out of my text manual
    Dean A. Nolan

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    dnolan747 Newbie
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    Quote Originally Posted by ke5frf View Post
    OK.


    Are you stating this question from memory or are you typing it verbatum?
    i am copying this straight out of my text manual
    Dean A. Nolan

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    BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent BrownOut Excellent
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    I got 10.9.

    10 = (Vnl - Vfl)/Vfl*100

    After some algebra:

    Vfl = Vnl/(10/100 + 1) or

    Vfl = 12/1.1

    = 10.9
    Last edited by BrownOut; 23rd October 2009 at 02:44 AM.
    Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!

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    ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent ke5frf Excellent
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    You see, I Googled the formula and plugged in the numbers provided and each of the answer choices.

    With the values assigned, kind of reverse engineering the formula you get 10.09

    Oh wait a minute, that might be correct if you are allowed to round off your percent of regulation. Because brain farttt, the 10.09 value is what i get for the percentage after plugging in all the values.

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    Dean,

    Is this test timed? Because if it isn't, you should just memorize the formula and plug in the numbers till you get the closest answer. If it is multiple choice you have 4 numbers to plug in and find what fits.

    I encourage you to ask questions about the formula, why the value is what it is and what exactly it represents...but outside of that it is just a matter of doing the algebra.

  12. #12
    dnolan747 Newbie
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    no the test is not timed in fact it is open book but i guess where i am having the problem is that it is a home course and the biggest problen is i have a problem with algebra... but i am trying to overcome this I thought this home course would be easy but i think i just reallized that an instructor standing at the front of the class is much better.....i am still not seeing where yall are getting the 1.1 in the algebra part but thanks for all of yall's help and i will go back and study the algebra part of that post

    Dean
    Dean A. Nolan

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    1) divide both sides of equation by 100. - result 10/100 = (Vnl - Vfl)/Vfl
    2) Multiply both sides by Vfl -result 10/100*Vfl = Vnl - Vfl
    3) Subtract Vfl from both sides -result 10/100*Vfl + Vfl = Vnl
    4) Factor Vfl from lest side -result Vfl(10/100 + 1) = Vnl
    5) divide both sides by the factor in step 4. -result Vfl = Vnl/(10/100 + 1)
    6) solve -result Vfl = 12/1.1

    You're rally going to need to be able to do work like this to do electronics.
    Last edited by BrownOut; 23rd October 2009 at 04:00 AM.
    Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!

  14. #14
    colin55 Newbie
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    The whole question and concept of regulation is stupid if the answer does not intuitively mean 10% of 12v = 1.2v

  15. #15
    dnolan747 Newbie
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    Quote Originally Posted by BrownOut View Post

    You're rally going to need to be able to do work like this to do electronics.


    yes i know that i will need to be able to do this,,, i am just having a hard time with this i think because this is an at home and online course and i do not have an instructor in a classroom setting and it has been 15 years since i graduated high school and that long since i had an algebra course....but anywat thanks brownout i think that brought a little of it back... my brain is on overload!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Dean A. Nolan

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