A D V E R T I S
How To Test Switched-Mode
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is switched-mode power
conversion?
A: Switched-mode power conversion
uses a switching regulator to efficiently
convert electrical power. The switching
regulator continually switches between
‘On’ and ‘Off’ states and so dissipates
very little power. Most of the power
loss takes place in the transitions
between these states, so the emphasis
is on minimizing the transition time
to minimize losses. Actual voltage
regulation is accomplished by varying
the On/Off duty cycles. This can be
done at a fixed switch frequency
using pulse width modulation (PWM)
or, less commonly, with a fixed pulse
width but with a varying switching
frequency. The advantages of switched
mode power conversion are higher
power efficiency and better volumetric
efficiency. Basically, more power in a
smaller package.
Q: What types of devices use
switched mode power converters?
A: Switched-mode power conversion
is found in power supplies (AC to DC
converter), power inverters (DC to AC
conversion), industrial controllers,
motor controllers, and AC frequency
converters, among many other
applications. All these devices are
tested in similar ways.
Q: What sort of testing is required
for switched mode power supplies?
A: Much depends upon the sections
of the power supply being tested, but
starting at the input, tests need to be
performed on line power, efficiency,
inrush current, power quality, line
regulation, and line harmonics. On
the switching device itself, test for
switching losses, safe operating area
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E M E N T
Power Devices
AC input
Not ground
referenced
PWM
controller
Fig. 1. Block diagram of a generic switched-mode power supply showing the sections that are
ground referenced and those that are not. (Image source: ClariTek)
(SOA), dynamic on-resistance, and
turn on and turn off device responses.
The control loop should have tests for
control-loop load regulation, and step
load response. Looking at the output,
tests focus on output voltage, output
current, output power, and ripple.
Q: What are the particular
problems related to testing
switched-mode power supplies?
A: The first issue is safety. Voltages
on the line side of the supply are
usually peak line voltage so care must
be taken. Look at the generic block
diagram of a switched mode supply
(Fig. 1). The line side of the supply is
on the left tinted in yellow. The AC
DC
output
Ground
referenced
Isolated
feedback
line is rectified and stored on a large
capacitor to supply energy over the
full line cycle. As mentioned, no part
of the line or input side of the supply
is connected to ground. Connecting
a grounded instrument like an
oscilloscope will cause a short circuit
and could damage the instrument.
The load, or output side of the
supply, tinted blue, is referenced to
ground and grounded instruments
can be connected with their grounds
connected to the power-supply output
ground. Note that feedback from
the load side back to the line side
of the supply is optically isolated.
Measurements on the line side are
generally made with high-voltage
differential probes. Probes have
voltage ratings greater than the
highest voltage expected on the
input. Current measurements are
made using an AC/DC current probe.
Note that some current probes do
not have insulated cores and current
measurements on the line side should
be limited to insulated conductors.
Another issue associated with
switching supplies is the high level
of noise on the line side due to the
switching device turning on and off.
The switching can occur at rates from
20 kHz to over 1 MHz, depending on
the type of supply. For this reason, the
high-voltage differential probe has to
have a good common mode rejection
ratio (CMRR). CMRR values of 85 to
100 dB are good. This is important
when trying to measure drive voltages
at the switching device(s): drive signals
are usually in the order of volts, riding
on switching signals that are typically
several hundred volts in amplitude.
Q: What types of test instruments
are required for testing switched
mode power supplies?
A: The following equipment is useful
for testing:
1. V
 ariable AC power source
for line regulation testing.
2. E lectronic load for the power
supply for load regulation and
control loop response testing.
3. D
 igital multi-meter for
general testing.
4. O
 scilloscope with power
analysis software for all tests.
5. H
 igh-voltage differential
probe with good common
mode rejection ratio.
6. AC/DC current probe.
7. Isolation transformer for
line-side troubleshooting.
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Fig. 2. Tektronix PA3000 Power Analyzer. Use
a power analyzer for pre-compliance and
specification testing such as standby power, Fig. 3. Tektronix MSO5204B mixed signal
current harmonics and energy consumption. oscilloscope can track both analog and digital
(Image source:Tektronix) signals simultaneously. (Image source:Tektronix)
Q: What types of measurements magnetic devices using the B-H
does the power analysis software curve to evaluate core saturation
in the oscilloscope need to support? under normal operating conditions.
A: Power-analysis software packages
generally offer tests in four categories: Q: How are power supply
• Switching device measurements measurements recorded and
archived?
• Control-loop response
A: Most mid-range oscilloscopes
• Line power and harmonics include the ability to store and record
• Magnetics measurements test waveforms, screen images, and
setups. Many also include report
Switching device measurements focus generators that produce full reports
on determining losses associated with including waveforms, settings, and
the switch operation like turn on, screen images in user-formatted report
turn off, and conduction losses. The templates.
channel resistance of FET switches
can be measured. SOA plots show the Note that it’s often useful to be able to
dynamic operation of the switching track both digital and analog signals
device and confirm maximum current simultaneously to see what’s really
and voltage limits are not exceeded happening in any system. For this, the
over many operating cycles. Tektronix MSO5204B mixed-signal
scope can come in useful (Fig. 3). 
Control-loop response software
demodulates the pulse width
modulation used in the control
Sponsored by ConRes (Continental
loop and graphically displays the
Resources), an authorized source
closed-loop response of the control
for new and refurbished electronic
loop to load and line changes.
test equipment. A supplier to
business, government and higher
Line power analysis reads out key line
education for over 50 years,
parameters like power factor, real and
ConRes offers sales and rentals of
apparent power, and crest factor. Line
oscilloscopes, signal generators,
harmonics are measured and displayed
network analyzers, function
along with standard templates
generators, and general-purpose
masks for standards compliance. The
test equipment.
Tektronix PA3000 Power Analyzer
is useful for pre-compliance and
To learn more visit:
specification testing such as standby
www.conres.com/test-equipment,
power, current harmonics and
call 800-937-4688, or contact:
energy consumption (Fig. 2).
TestEquipmentTeam@conres.com
Magnetics measurements show the
behavior of transformers and other