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POWER REGULATORS

Off-line Switchers

Date Published:	June 28, 2016
Last Modified:	June 28, 2016

Overview

Off-line switchers convert a usually high AC input voltage (e.g. 240VAC mains supply) down to a IC level DC voltage (e.g. 5V). Their design is based on a flyback regulator circuit.

Terminology

The term “off-line switchers” comes from the fact that the DC output voltage is derived straight from the AC input (the DC voltage comes straight “off” the line (AC)).

IMHO, this was a bad name choice, as many people would assume it is related to being offline (disconnected), rather than online. Remember back to when dot-matrix printers had a “online” LED?

Isolation

Both isolated and non-isolated off-line switchers exist on the market.

Schematic of a isolated off-line switcher by TI. Image from http://www.ti.com.

And here is an example of a non-isolated version:

A typical application schematic for the LinkSwitch-TN family of non-isolated off-line switchers by Power Integrations. Image from www.power.com.

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