Programmable linear power supply showing the digital and analog control circuit blocks

DC power supplies provide a regulated DC output to power a component, a module, or a device. A power supply must deliver voltage and current that is stable and precise, with minimal noise to any type of load: resistive, inductive, low impedance, high impedance, steady-state, or variable. How well the power supply fulfills this mission and where it reaches its limits are defined in its specifications.

Power supplies have two main settings, the output voltage and the current limit. How they are set in combination with the load determines how the power supply will operate. 

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