What's the difference: linear power supply vs switching power supply

There are two main designs for the DC power supplies: Linear DC Power Supplies and
Switching DC Power Supplies. The traditional linear power supplies are typically
heavy, durable, and have low noise across low and high frequencies. For this reason
they are mostly suitable for lower power applications where the weight does not
pose a problem. The switching power supplies are much lighter, more efficient,
durable, and have limited high frequency noise due to the design. For this reason,
the switching power supplies are not suitable for high frequency audio applications
but are great for high power applications. Other than that, these two types are
pretty much swappable for various applications, and they cost about the same to
make. Switching power supplies are used more broadly nowadays than linear power
supplies, we have seen some online seller saying that the switching power supplies
are not suitable for plating (electroplating) or ionization, it is misleading and
not true.

If you are interested in finding out more about the linear DC power supplies and
switching DC power supplies, please read the more detailed introduction below.

Linear DC Power Supply

Linear DC power supplies were the mainstay of power conversion until the late
1970�s. With the advancement of switching power supply technology, linear power
supplies are less popular today but still find themselves indispensable in
applications that require very low ripple and noise. A linear power supply uses a
big transformer to drop voltage from AC line to much lower AC voltage, and then
uses a series of rectifier circuitry and filtering process to produce a very clean
DC voltage. That low DC voltage is then regulated into the desired voltage level
by a dropping the difference in voltage across transistor or IC (the shunt
regulator). Typical applications of linear DC power supplies include but not
limited to:

studio mixer/audio amplifier

low noise amplifiers

signal processing

data acquisition - including sensors, multiplexers, A/D converters, and sample &
hold circuits.

automatic test equipment

laboratory test equipment

control circuits

anywhere that excellent regulation and/or low ripple is required

For three decades, Mastech has made variable regulated linear power supplies with
exceptionally low ripple and noise, at a fractional cost of established brands. Our
success has attracted a number of copycats with look-alike products. Over the last
three years, we have adopted new designs that bring reliability and fault tolerance
of a linear DC power supply to the next level. After three years of testing, we are
happy to confirm that the new Volteq line of linear DC power supplies has met all
of our expectations in terms of voltage and current regulation, noise, and
reliability, and is the linear DC power supply of choice for most of our customers.

If you have an audio application, you should stay with the original design of
Mastech linear DC power supplies for fan-less operation.

For all other applications, we recommend the Volteq linear DC power supplies
because of the improved robustness due to over-voltage and reverse-voltage
protection.

Have a technical question? check our Support Forum.

Need help finding the right product? Check out our Selection Guide.

Switching DC Power Supply

Switching DC power supplies were first introduced in the late 1970's, today they
are the most popular form of DC power supplies in the market due to their
exceptional power efficiency and great overall performance. A Switching DC power
supply (also known as switch mode power supply) regulates the output voltage
through a process called pulse width modulation (PWM). The PWM process generates
some high frequency noise, but enables the switching power supplies to be built
with very high power efficiency and small form factor. With a good design, a
switching power supply can have excellent load and line regulation. Typical
applications for switching DC power supplies include:

general purpose use including R&D, manufacturing and testing

high power / high current applications
communications systems, mobile stations, network equipments, etc.
electroplating, anodizing, electroforming, electrophoresis, etc.
Battery charging and equalization for Lithium Ion batteries, aviation, marine and
vehicle batteries
electrolysis, waste treatment, hydrogen generator, fuel cell applications, etc.
DC motors, slot cars, aviation and marine applications, etc.

For three decades, Mastech has built the regulated variable switching power
supplies with the least noise and ripple in the industry. Our switching power
supplies are widely used in R&D and lab environment because of their exceptional
noise performance. The design choice to minimize the noise does come with some
drawback: slower response and more sensitive to reverse EMF from the load. As a
result, the Mastech switching power supplies are not suitable for battery charging,
anodizing, LED applications, electroplating (use as plating rectifiers) and
anodizing, electrolysis, electroforming, hydrogen generation and any
electrochemical applications.
Recognizing the shortcomings, we have launched in 2012 a new line of switching
power supplies under Volteq brand to address the growing customer needs in battery
charging, LED applications, DC motors, electroplating and anodizing, electrolysis &
hydrogen generation, slot cars, automotive, aviation and marine applications. The
Volteq switching power supplies, with built-in over-voltage and reverse-voltage
protection, are tough as rock, and yet still provide excellent noise and ripple
performance by employing the state of art technology.