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From: mikey@trsvax
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: surplus power supply
Message-ID: <53400057@trsvax>
Date: Wed, 17-Jul-85 09:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: trsvax.53400057
Posted: Wed Jul 17 09:52:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 05:16:20 EDT
References: <731@abnji.UUCP>
Lines: 18
Nf-ID: #R:abnji.UUCP:-73100:trsvax:53400057:000:851
Nf-From: trsvax!mikey    Jul 17 08:52:00 1985




As with most switcher designs, they have a range, both minimum and
maximum, of current for the voltage regulation to operate.  Operating
a switcher "no-load" can damage it and cause it to do exactly what you
described, i.e. put out the full unregulated DC on the output.

mikey at trsvax

Of course, these are my own opinions and may or may not reflect those of 
my employer.  To be honest, I haven't even looked at the switcher we sell
in the stores, although I probably am going to pick one up now, just to
have it around for future projects.  Personally, I would NEVER use a 
switcher on a prototype.  Wait until you have it debugged and you
know what it's operating parameters are.  Then if you have a switcher
that will work, change over to it, but its foolish to expect a 
switcher to work on a device whose current needs are widely varying.