What exactly is a Regulated Stablised Power Supply?

[avinsinanan]

Hi,

Ok i know this sounds like a very easy question, but jus please take a read.

A Regulated Stablised Power Supply

a) Keeps the Voltage stable over a wide range of currents
b) Keeps the Current stable over a wide range of volatges
c) Keeps the power constant by changing the current and voltage to suit.

I was doing a multiple choice past paper and I this question had me thinking and reading a lot.

Could anyone please clear this up for me?

Thanks

Avin Sinanan

 

[Agent 009]

I'm no electro-wiz, but that's what I think:
Regulated Stabilized power supply should supply a constant voltage, no matter what current is drawn, so I would choose a...
But still I think we need Nigel's supervision on this one...
The terms regulated stabilized just "unstabilized" me...

 

[Agent 009]

I know that regulators just "clamp" voltages so that there's no overshoot, or goin' outside a specific range. And stabilizers, from the "house appliance", it should provide constant output... I really think that it's answer a)

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Option a) is the answer they are looking for.

 

[mechie]

A Regulated Stablised Power Supply

I would have thought "Regulated" and "Stablised" meant the same thing here ... ?

a) Keeps the Voltage stable over a wide range of currents

Constant voltage supply - the common case

b) Keeps the Current stable over a wide range of volatges

Constant current source - still needs a regulator - just controlling a different degree of freedom. Industry uses these by the million but they are 'normally' referred to as 'current sources' rather than supplies.

c) Keeps the power constant by changing the current and voltage to suit.

Is this actually feasable? isn't this an over-controlled system?

I agree with Nigel that answer (a) is the one they will be expecting but I see your point - another poorly worded exam question.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

I agree with Nigel that answer (a) is the one they will be expecting but I see your point - another poorly worded exam question.

I very carefully worded my answer! :lol:

 

[Agent 009]

So I was right :wink: ...