Power Supplies
The term ‘power supply' is most commonly used in reference to a device that converts electrical power into another form or voltage, and less often to device that supply or generate electricity independently.A power supply unit provides the electrical power to run a tool, device, or a group of electrical equipment. While there is a very wide range of power supplies, generally speaking, a power supply takes electrical current from a wall socket and converts it into the appropriate number of watts required to power a particular piece of electronic equipment. It is often housed separately from the device itself and connected via a cable.
Power Supplies for Computers
The power supply for a computer is one of the most important components that is required for its operation. The power supply converts the alternating AC current from your home or office and converts it into the DC power supply that is required to power a computer. Typically, it is found in a corner of your computer, and may be visible from the back of many tower standing systems. It contains the power-cord receptacle and the cooling fan.
Power supplies use switcher technologies to convert AC input into lower 3.3 volt, 5 volt, and 12 volt DC wattages. The 3.3 and 5 volt currents are used to power digital circuits, while the 12 volt power runs the hard drives and fans. While at least six different power supplies have been used by OEMs in producing personal computers, the industry has recently standardized this by using ATX-based power supplies.
Power Supplies for Lab Equipment
Due to the precision with which laboratory work is done, being able to adjust outputs is indispensable to experimenters. Lab grade power supplies offer continuously variable stabilized output adjustments that allow current to be manipulated to any level between 0 and 30 volts of DC power. This allows lab experimenters to limit current to the maximum level that a circuit test may require, and then power it up, without having to be concerned that the something will go wrong and the test procedure destroyed.
Power Generators
Electrical power generators transform mechanical energy into electrical current that can be used for recreation, construction, home, and emergency back-up use. Some generators use spinning electromagnets found inside the coil wires of the generator's core to transform the mechanical energy of a rotating shaft into electrical current. A piston engine, commonly referred to as an engine generator, uses a fuel tank, engine speed regulator and voltage regulator to output electrical current. Modern units are often outfitted with a battery and electric starter. Standby generators can often be set to start automatically in the event of a power outage and use a transfer switch to change the electrical source from the utility line to the generator.