Isolated power supply portable

What is an isolated power supply?

An isolated power supply is a power supply that is electrically isolated from the rest of the circuit that it is powering, often by an isolation transformer. This means that power and voltage is transferred from the input to the output without a direct electrical connection between the two sections.

What does it mean if a power supply has multiple isolated outputs?

When a power supply has multiple isolated power outputs, it means that the output voltages are independent of one another and there is no connection between the outputs. Safety. Safety is perhaps the most important reason for a power supply's outputs to be isolated from the AC supply voltage.

What is the difference between isolated and non-isolated power supplies?

For example, with a non-isolated power supply powering your medical PCB, there is a greater risk for dangerous shocks or surges surge through the supply and into your device, potentially harming the user (and maybe even the patient!). An understanding of isolated vs. non-isolated power supplies is all about designer and user safety.

What if a power supply's control inputs are isolated?

In addition to isolated outputs, you might also want to consider whether or not a supply's control inputs—both analog and digital—are isolated. Isolated inputs will help ensure that control circuits don't affect the power supply output and vice versa. For more information on power supply isolation, contact AMETEK Programmable Power.