Sometimes it can be tough to decide which voltage regulator is best for your application. Before you dive in too deep, learn more about what qualities it takes for a voltage regulator to perform with the highest quality.
- Voltage Regulation
The first requirement of a voltage regulator is to actually perform voltage regulation. This sounds a bit obvious, but it is absolutely necessary. The voltage regulation needs to be selectable to an accuracy of 1%. This requirement eliminates three-phase unbalance problems and minimizes voltage deviations.
- Input Voltage Range
The input voltage range is also a very important requirement in voltage regulator performance. The input voltage range should be large and shifted because line voltages drop more than they increase. This allows for more low correction, rather than high correction. It also allows the regulator to be more configurable to all buck or boost., giving it maximum voltage correction for extreme cases.
- Low Impedance
Another key characteristic that all good voltage regulators should possess is low impedance. Interaction between the load current and source impedance causes low voltage, harmonic distortion and voltage unbalance. Ideally, your voltage regulator would avoid all of this if it had low impedance.
- Load Capability
Next, is load compatibility. Accurate performance of voltage regulators requires them to be able to handle loads with high starting currents, all power factors, and high crest factors. Also, voltage regulators must work with electronic power supplies to prevent instability.
- Transient Suppression
Lastly, voltage regulators must have transient suppression of sudden overvoltage conditions. This is a big issue in many locations, but high energy transient suppression must be available.