What are Bench Power Supplies?

Bench power supplies are standard types of IT, test & safety equipment used in the testing of circuit boards or other similar products. Bench power supplies provide direct current (DC) to the devices being tested and enable electrical engineers and circuit designers to carry out testing with increased convenience.

Unlike other AC-DC converters, bench power supplies & sources cater to high-performing voltage demands, however, they have a lower ripple current than consumer-based power supplies. Due to their critical nature, bench power supplies enable finer control over voltage and come equipped with enhanced safety and output capabilities. 

In short, bench power supplies can power multiple circuits simultaneously and can store outputs for future testing.

Importance of Bench Power Supplies 

Bench power supplies are designed to simulate and troubleshoot devices and different scenarios. With a bench power supply at hand, you can power your circuits before completion, as well as test and experiment with individual circuits. Additional advantages include the control over-voltage and output adjustments.

The stability of the bench power supplies allows for clean and controlled testing of devices and enables designers & engineers to make testing, repairs, and troubleshooting more streamlined and efficient.

Best practices while purchasing Bench Power Supplies

Before you purchase bench power supplies, consider the following factors:

• Check the type of load that the bench power supply can power. For instance, if you are planning for rapid expansion, then going for a higher power option will be more feasible.
• To ensure optimum performance, make sure that the power supply has characteristics like load regulation, line regulation, readback accuracy, setting resolution, transient response, sense connections, interactive interface, and low ripple & noise.
• Ensure that your bench power supply has full safety features and complete DUT protection.
• Choose a bench power supply that fits your application.