What are the most important specs to look for when purchasing a power supply?
There are several important specifications when considering a power supply. First is the number of channels. Having additional channels means a user can set different voltage and current levels on different channels, to power different devices. Next is the output power, current, and voltage per channel. It is important to note these to ensure the power supply is sufficient for the user’s needs. Both setting resolution and accuracy are important to ensure the exact voltage and current levels needed can be achieved. Some users may find they only need whole V steps, in which case high resolution isn’t needed, while others may need to set voltage levels down to the mV level. Ripple and noise are also important as higher noise will lead to a less precise output and measurement. Lastly, it is important to check for programmability and additional features. Many power supplies offer remote control functionality to control the supply from a PC. Many power supplies also additional functionality such as programmable sweeps.