Hi everyone, I've had several comments about the lack of a section going through the controller circuitry, this was intentional in an attempt to keep the video simple and digestible by focusing only on the "power" components. There will be videos coming soon on PWM control and MOSFET gate driving, though I should have mentioned this in the video and still given a brief overview of the circuit, so sorry about that. Thanks for all the nice comments!
I'll look forward to those. As an electronic engineer (a while ago) dealing with the digital stuff I was always a bit concerned that I didn't know enough about switched-mode supplies so this was great. Would love to see how the MOSFET switching frequency is determined and then implemented though. Great work 👏
Yeah, I was just about to ask about that. I look forward to the videos explaining those parts of the SMPS circuit. I do hope you will continue to use the same power supply from this video to explain those topics; you know, to keep the continuity (wait, does that count as an electronics pun). Thanks for the the clean and clear explanation.
@@Budreaux1973 Certainly does count as a pun :) I probably won't use this to be honest as I want to be able to show live demos which is a lot easier with a custom system, I may show this at some point though.
10:21 Nice shoes! 😉 On a more serious note: Really excellent explanation of the fundamentals of an SMPS. I’ve watched many (too many tbh;) videos with the same topic and yours is the best, by far I may add. Thank you!
I'm a 50+ year old electronics graduate and lifelong hobbyist and I have to say this is one of the very best explainer videos I have ever seen. I know how switch mode PSUs work but I still felt as if I learned a lot due to the approach taken. You are a natural educator with an engaging personality, eloquent and clear delivery, and an enthusiasm that shines through. Stripping the circuit back to basics and using the mechanical spring analogy will help a lot of non EEE folks grasp this topic. This is the first video of yours that I have watched but it certainly won't be the last. Keep up the good work, and thanks! 🙏
I'm a 77 year old retired electrical/electronic engineer and my education was obviously back in the days of poorly written books, chalk boards (as classroom visual aids), and sliderules. I couldn't have imagined the ways we teach nowadays, and I am so impressed with the way you described this power supply by starting with the basic circuit and then explaining why all the extra parts are needed. Excellent!
Exactly Some of my early education over AC theory involved WW2 era 16mm films! Black and white classified training films using billiard balls on sand to illustrate conductivity, current flow and valence shells! This material here is sensationally well executed. I don't believe I've encountered a better, more engaging approach than this. Superb Considering how for we've come, imagine what's right around the corner. Thank you Much appreciated
I really like the way you built up the schematic by starting with the basic layout and then adding components to describe the complexity. By so doing, you effectively started with the foundational components and built on that. Well done!
@@electrarc240All that scripting, recording, re-recording and editing is much appreciated! I’m looking forward to the video where you’ll explain why those GaN power supplies can be so small yet powerful. (In due time)
@@electrarc240 Maybe the things omitted in your narration, such as the optron and control chip, are also worth explaining. I've got a broken led strip driver and already blown a USB scope and a PC it was coupled with in trying to make the driver work, but I still have many unblown things to blow (throwing the driver into trash would solve the problem, but such a simplicity is for losers), so I must learn every aspect of the SMPS before I run short of unblown things. And your video is the best I've seen before in that respect. P.S. I'm even less English guy than that wantan3_6_0 dude from the other comment is, but yet hope the letters written above are at least resemble proper English.
@@electrarc240very nicely done! Only suggestion I might have is that the black on green is tough to see, so maybe think about some higher contrast colors or just black and white. Otherwise loved the content!
Yes, that gradual buildup from simple to real of the schematic was an excellent teaching tool. And I found out I didn't know as much about switching power supplies as I thought I did. 😁... But I do now! (almost) But really, great job, you're an excellent teacher.
We are truly blessed to live in an era where gems like these are completely free and accessible to everybody! In my workplace somebody would charge $$$ for the same knowledge and it wouldn’t be as lucid as your explanation. You, sir, are a hero
You beat me to it, personally I reckon they are the most important side of things. Ham here too and its all the cheap n nasty consumer electronics out there that is destroying my hobby. Currently have a neighbor with 5x split systems and any one of them wipeout all of my operating bands.
I remember when I was trying to make a simple clock circuit for a 10Mhz CPU , I didn't knew about PLL and it became an antenna "by mistake". Thank god nothing important is at 10Mhz, right ? (well, it was just a 1w signal)
Yep. Used to repair a lot of SMPS supplies to component level. Used to see filter caps fail a lot and occasionally, pop the zener reference or optocoupler in the feedback circuit, which would then allow the drive to runaway and increase output, failing additional filter caps. A good curve tracer could save the day if the zener was starting to fail, the rest it was simpler to replace the filters than to run around disconnecting the filters and checking ESR. The cost per component was cheaper than the man-hours spent testing them anyway. Never had anything in the snubbers fail, did have the EMI caps occasionally fail. Loads of techs had trouble figuring out how these rather simple circuits worked and failed. Interestingly, those that couldn't figure them out also couldn't figure out a PLL. That caused me to joke that they were refractory to proper feedback.
The explanation of how a switching power supply takes incoming voltage, rectifies it if necessary, and then chops it up at high frequencies before passing it through a transformer or inductor is particularly insightful. This method of voltage conversion is highly efficient compared to traditional linear power supplies, which dissipate excess voltage as heat. The video clearly illustrates why SMPS is favored in modern electronics for its efficiency, especially when significant voltage changes are required.
BRAVO Sir! I failed out of electrical engineering 30+ years ago. I have a successful career in IT systems, but always wanted to know how the circuits worked. Looks like I have a new favorite place to watch. I send my highest respect from Canada.
This type of explanation is what I need to see. Often, an instructor just buries you with theory. It becomes overwhelming, and my brain just turns off. Thank you for taking the time, and I welcome further videos.
It's been almost 50 years since I sat in a classroom and had one of the best instructors at the Sears Technical College explain the new switching power supplies most new portable tv's would be using. He used a blackboard to do the same type of visual association of circuits that he was lecturing on. You have the same dedication and enthusiasm and have earned my respect! Keep up the good work.
I am what people normally called "dumbass with a tool's " its means I have or can have any tools but to stupid to do anything with it. so I'm just poke something around until it's either broke or blown. your video and explanation are really godsend to me because English are not my mother tongue yet I can follow what you are explaining...keep up the hard work man....
Wow thankyou very much! I try hard to avoid using the long "show-off words" that I find to be very common place in engineering because I'm not trying to prove anything I just want as many people to understand these cool things as possible!
I'm with you. Love math and science, finished my trig book on my own ahead of the class, used to be able to solve basic electric diagrams. Can't solder a wire to save my life.
I've been an electronics engineer specializing in IC test for nearly four decades. This presentation is absolutely the clearest explanation of the individual componentry and their interrelationship to each other that I have ever seen. I especially appreciated the demonstration of of the inductor's function using the spring as an analogy. If you think about it, the spring actually looks much like a physical inductor...even the schematic symbol. It would be cool to see you do the same analogy with a capacitor. Also, the water buckets sitting side by side gave an excellent analogy of isolation. All in all, this presentation is the BEST I've seen, bar none.
@@electrarc240 had you talked about the small one that replaces all these it would have been wonderful all that can be done by a single good fuse and all it needs it two or one mosfet and an inductor and a very few others.
Yeah and I learned more about fluid dynamics from taking a shower than 4 years of physics at the university. This was a refresher course for people that already knew what these components are, how they work and why they are in the box. It was enjoyable because instead of giving a test, he just read all the answers and you recognized what he said. Nothing new, just well presented. He left out a lot.
Finally found a channel that explains the basics of household devices and electricity in layman’s terms. It helped me start my own repair shop and sparked my curiosity to take on new projects. Your channel is hands down the best when it comes to simple, detailed, and visual explanations of important electronics and their functions. It educates us "simple folks" while keeping it interesting to watch. Thank you for your contribution to making the world a more interesting and understandable place!
So many years after secondary school, a university and now epiphany. Thank God for the internet and you for sharing this in the most simple, clear and clever way possible! A talent to explain things so simply is pure gold. Subscribed instantly.
I really like the way you broke it down to the most simple possible circuit that could work and then added on the extra components sorted by function. That made it far more digestible.
Wow I’m an electronics guy and this video is a masterclass for anyone interested in learning and understanding electronics! Saved here and will be sending this link to lots of people when trying to explain something. Very very easy to digest, amazing
You make it easy to understand and comprehend these power supplies videos and I truly appreciate your hard work. By far one of the best. Keep them coming. Thanks for sharing.
You did a great job explaining SMPS’s. Your step by step approach is clear and easily understood. The piece that really made the light in my head come on was how you created the schematic as you described each component. It really made the operation of the power supply almost painfully obvious. Thanks for the video. Luckily, I just happened upon it. I will checkout your channel and I look forward to seeing what else you’ve produced, I’m sure it won’t be disappointing. Thanks again!!
All of the other comments are spot on. Just wanted to say thank you for exceptional content. One of the best electronics explanations I've ever watched, and I've watched hundreds, if not thousands!
It does my heart good to see a bright young person explaining electronics so well. I started studying electronics since 1983 or so. Yes - we have come a long way.
Thank you you are amazing. I've been involved with electronics for over 50 years. And although I've used hundreds of switching power supplies I never really understood them clearly. Your explanation was incredible. It was clear and to the point. I hope you are using your skills to teach. Thanks again
I have been an electronics enthusiast for 10 years now focusing heavily on SMPS design things although your analogies where very helpful, this video is simply brilliant.
I sat through watching the circuit building up for 20 minutes and I feel I could watch it for another 20 minutes as I've never got lost anywhere. That is one impressively easy and coherent explanation.
I learned more about electronics and circuit design than I expected. So much information packed in this video with simple and comprehensible explanation, great job. Can't wait for the video about how the controller circuit works.
Extremely well made, thorough, well-spoken, good order, good background info to prime us. I’ve seen very few instructional videos better than this. Kudos.
I've studied and worked on electronics for the last 20 years and this video finally clicked in a couple of concepts that had been banging around in my brain for years regarding smps. Hands down the best switch mode power supply video on TH-cam. Subbed
From what I remember from my electronic studies, I have the impression we spent too much time on manually analytically solving circuitry, spending hours on differential equation solving on very trivial circuits (one transistor, a capacitor and two resistor is enough to make it quite hard to solve), a thing that is way better done by computer software simulation, and not enough on this higher scale functional diagram like in this video, that seems actually way more useful to actually understand stuff 🙂
@@ThomasKundera I saw the reference to diff eq and I had a flashback to the nightmare that course was in college as an undergrad studying computer science. I did fairly well in all my other mathematics classes but I could not wrap my head around DE and I failed the class my first time take it. i'm not even sure how I (barely) passed when I took it again the next quarter. I think it was so traumatizing that my brain has blocked out all memory of those classes. I'm feeling anxious just writing this and its been like 25 years since I graduated. ugh.
Very safe and thoughtful teacher because you take the life of the listeners a priority. In the video, you drew with your pen: how we can be away from electrical shocks. With competency the video is in clear tone and practically consumed. I followed, please I need more. Be on your feet, thanks.
As a person who is not very well versed in electronics, I must say this was absolutely perfect. A very streamlined, concise and intentionally (and reasonably) basic explanation, and also well-illustrated. Thanks for taking your time to make this - I'm sure many more people will greatly appreciate it!
"Know what I like about you, you know about the system and your coherent with your explanation(Very Smart). I like your plan diagram and your input on each device. Know that you are appreciated." 👍
The best video on TH-cam explaining the workings of a power supply. Normally I would watch 4-5 videos on a subject I want to brush up on but instead I watched this one twice. Keep them coming. New subscriber here!
WoW!! I knew the basics of switching supplies but this was quite thorough examination of essentially all the components of a commercial supply! I learned a lot!
This is amazing. I met a lot of failed switch mode power supplies in my job as an industrial electrician, didn't have the know-how to repair them, nor understand the theory behind the circuitry. This helps a lot, thanks, especially if you could come up with a video on troubleshooting these power supplies.
I've been working with electronics my entire life, especially in the Ham Radio world. This was one of the best explanations of how a switch mode power supply works. Bravo, well done!
2 years ago I had a strong curiousity about phone charger and also was looking to diy one solar DC charger and ended up deep in the rabbit hole trying to understand these. I always thought I should have wrote a blog post to analyze what I learned and share also but never did so I'm glad to stumble on this amazing refresher better than anything I would have written! Thanks
I agree with the sentiments expressed in the comments. This was a great explanation. A lot of videos will explain things, but the approach you take is unmatched in my opinion. I'm a 50 year old electrical troubleshooter/technician for a fortune 500 company, my focus is in testing the final products we produce, and the processes are very exacting. So I have a really good understanding of all things electricity, both high and low voltage applications. But I learned from your excellent presentation, and can't give you high enough ratings. Please keep up the good work!
I took a power supply apart about 5 years ago to study it out of curiosity. I have no training in this, I just had one die and I was curious about how it worked. I spent a month trying to get as complete of an understanding as possible that a untrained individual can get. It was fun but there was still so much I did not understand. This video answered all the questions I still had remaining after that curious venture. I is GREAT! Thank you very much for making this.
Just fyi: I recommend DiodeGoneWild videos about SMPS if you want more details. They do however require a bit more knowledge to fully understand than this truly superb video imo.
The circuit he described would break down (well, successfully blow its fuse to isolate) in 1/3000 s. Read an actual GaN FET's manual including the power supply use thing instead. You're welcome.
This is what I needed 5 years ago. Watching the playlist of power electronics, second one for now. Very clear explanations and illustrations. I have a little background in this field but never truly had the grasp on it. Wanted to get back at it but the learning process was too tedious until now. I may be able in a near future to tweak some equipment that need some repair or parts changed. Keep it up, great teacher!
yes please more videos on smps. Diagnose and repair of common problems. Would like to see a list of common symptoms and their causes and solutions. Great presentation, Thanks
Great channel content. Been saving every power supply/adapter that's come my way for the better part of four decades. Used them for all kinds of projects. Very interesting seeing how they've provided that usefulness.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A really clear and understandable explanation from someone who has prepared well, with a clear delivery and and engaging approach. Thank you I've learned much today.
This video is one of the best educational video about inductors and smps. Thank you. I cant wait to look your other videos, water bucket analogy was really brilliant.
By far the best explanation on SMPS on youtube. Would be great if you made a full video on how to make one from scratch using formulas so that anyone can make their own specific SMPS input/output voltages.
I think if you watch a few Big Clive videos you'll see that there is an alarmingly large number of appliances from dodgy parts of the world with poor or non-existent isolation!
This is the first thing that comes to mind with modern electronics. All these huge corporations trying to continuously cut costs in a race to the bottom, and what suffers? Safety, reliability, customer satisfaction. But they only care about quarterly profits. It's disgusting what the world has become.
@@grabasandwich Completely agree, it is very unfortunate. There are still plenty of high quality products being made, just not for consumers as we just aren't worthy...
Watch DiodeGoneWild videos about USB chargers that are ‘dodgy’ and ‘super dodgy’. If you like BigClive and this channel, you’ll probably like DiodeGoneWild too. Let me know if you do ;)
I got a nice jolt from the plug of a fluorescent light fixture a few years ago. I touched the prongs right after I unplugged it. I made sure not to do that again.
As a computer engineer and power engineer, I liked your explanations and demo of increasing the frequency so that you can reduce the inductor size but with limits due to the heat, spillage in your case 🙂
Even though I've been occasionally fixing SMPS's for thirty years, this was very insightful. Would be nice if you'd address the control loop and bootstrap too in a comparably easy to digest format. If you're tempted to do that then try to find a PSU that doesn't integrate everything in a single tiny chip or find a block diagram for the chip.
h This by far is the most comprehensive detailed non long winded explanation that I've ever seen in my life on power supplies thank you sir you are such a blessing in my life for understanding how those power supplies work you broke it down like a fraction and it was totally totally not boring I could keep up I really feel that I can retain the information and you explained it in practical terms thank you keep making videos man we need more like you thank you again for not being long in the wind
The way you started with the most fundamental components in your schematic and built up the complexity was simply genius!! What a clever way to go about it. As somebody who spends a lot of time drawing electrical schematics myself, i can tell you put in a lot of work just into the drawing itself (and obviously into the rest of the video as well). What an amazing video overall. Instant sub. Please keep up the great work.
would like to see some more detailed explanation about how snubber circuit do what they do, especially how it does so without disrupting the rest of the circuit
@@electrarc240 indeed snubber networks appear to be a black art only few people understand. I've tried sizing RC snubbers in the past, but wasn't really able to find any documentation on them. Felt a bit like trial and error, especially when trying it in a somewhat practical way.
Hands down, without a doubt, the best channel Ive found on learning components of useful electronics. Instant suscribe! Thanks for your hard work and genius!
Very good!!!! Thank you. Your explanation was very much on point! It was quick, thorough and to the point. I highly enjoyed watching it as I've always wondered how power supplies work. I feel like I have a much better grasp on the components that are in the power supply because of your video.
This was a LOVELY and nicely done video. But...please, if I may ask - draw your schematics on some white or light background, not "black on green". It is rather hard to see. I´m speaking for myself, of course, since my eyesight is poor and needs a little more contrast.
Yes, it is also an interesting part, especially how the chip gets its power from the transformer and how this serves as short circuit protection for the secondary.
I decided to leave it out of this video for simplicities sake. I reconned more people would be here for the main power electronics flyback circuit than for control, plus I'm not going to lie control is not my strong suit and I wouldn't have wanted to make any major mistake in my explanation. The control circuit is far more complex to understand in my opinion and I thought introducing things like the tertiary winding may have taken away from the simple overview approach of the video. I will do many future videos on control for example I have a video planned on active power factor correction with boost converter that will delve into PI controllers and more.
The moat understandable and comprehensive, with no waffling overview of how a smps works without trying to sound clever! Subscribed! You know your stuff.
This is Art..!!!! Beautiful explanation. Please keep doing this with other circuits.. pleeeeeeaaaasee.. Starting with the basics and adding and explaining each individual block is brilliant.
Hi everyone, I've had several comments about the lack of a section going through the controller circuitry, this was intentional in an attempt to keep the video simple and digestible by focusing only on the "power" components. There will be videos coming soon on PWM control and MOSFET gate driving, though I should have mentioned this in the video and still given a brief overview of the circuit, so sorry about that. Thanks for all the nice comments!
I'll look forward to those. As an electronic engineer (a while ago) dealing with the digital stuff I was always a bit concerned that I didn't know enough about switched-mode supplies so this was great. Would love to see how the MOSFET switching frequency is determined and then implemented though. Great work 👏
Yeah, I was just about to ask about that. I look forward to the videos explaining those parts of the SMPS circuit. I do hope you will continue to use the same power supply from this video to explain those topics; you know, to keep the continuity (wait, does that count as an electronics pun). Thanks for the the clean and clear explanation.
Well done, I came looking for someone else asking about the control circuit and found this. Looking forward to the sequel. Well done otherwise.
@@Budreaux1973 Certainly does count as a pun :) I probably won't use this to be honest as I want to be able to show live demos which is a lot easier with a custom system, I may show this at some point though.
10:21 Nice shoes! 😉
On a more serious note: Really excellent explanation of the fundamentals of an SMPS.
I’ve watched many (too many tbh;) videos with the same topic and yours is the best, by far I may add.
Thank you!
I'm a 50+ year old electronics graduate and lifelong hobbyist and I have to say this is one of the very best explainer videos I have ever seen. I know how switch mode PSUs work but I still felt as if I learned a lot due to the approach taken. You are a natural educator with an engaging personality, eloquent and clear delivery, and an enthusiasm that shines through. Stripping the circuit back to basics and using the mechanical spring analogy will help a lot of non EEE folks grasp this topic.
This is the first video of yours that I have watched but it certainly won't be the last. Keep up the good work, and thanks! 🙏
Totally agree 👍
I'm very new to all of this. I feel like I got a grasp of the basics.
I did electronics way back in the late 1980's but never really understood all of it. Video's like this help the understanding.
Thank you so much! Reading feedback like this really makes it all worth it :)
my first video of his as well. First of many
I'm a 77 year old retired electrical/electronic engineer and my education was obviously back in the days of poorly written books, chalk boards (as classroom visual aids), and sliderules. I couldn't have imagined the ways we teach nowadays, and I am so impressed with the way you described this power supply by starting with the basic circuit and then explaining why all the extra parts are needed. Excellent!
Exactly
Some of my early education over AC theory involved WW2 era 16mm films!
Black and white classified training films using billiard balls on sand to illustrate conductivity, current flow and valence shells!
This material here is sensationally well executed. I don't believe I've encountered a better, more engaging approach than this.
Superb
Considering how for we've come, imagine what's right around the corner.
Thank you
Much appreciated
How many years I have been looking for someone to just plain and simply walk through a circuit like this. Thank you.
me about 27 years ...
I really like the way you built up the schematic by starting with the basic layout and then adding components to describe the complexity. By so doing, you effectively started with the foundational components and built on that. Well done!
Thank you! It took a while to edit it all nicely but was definitely worth it.
@@electrarc240All that scripting, recording, re-recording and editing is much appreciated!
I’m looking forward to the video where you’ll explain why those GaN power supplies can be so small yet powerful. (In due time)
@@electrarc240 Maybe the things omitted in your narration, such as the optron and control chip, are also worth explaining. I've got a broken led strip driver and already blown a USB scope and a PC it was coupled with in trying to make the driver work, but I still have many unblown things to blow (throwing the driver into trash would solve the problem, but such a simplicity is for losers), so I must learn every aspect of the SMPS before I run short of unblown things. And your video is the best I've seen before in that respect.
P.S. I'm even less English guy than that wantan3_6_0 dude from the other comment is, but yet hope the letters written above are at least resemble proper English.
@@electrarc240very nicely done! Only suggestion I might have is that the black on green is tough to see, so maybe think about some higher contrast colors or just black and white. Otherwise loved the content!
Yes, that gradual buildup from simple to real of the schematic was an excellent teaching tool. And I found out I didn't know as much about switching power supplies as I thought I did. 😁... But I do now! (almost)
But really, great job, you're an excellent teacher.
We are truly blessed to live in an era where gems like these are completely free and accessible to everybody!
In my workplace somebody would charge $$$ for the same knowledge and it wouldn’t be as lucid as your explanation.
You, sir, are a hero
As a ham radio op….. those “annoying” emc components are a thing of beauty!!!! This was probably the best explanation of SMP PSU’s I’ve seen - bravo!
Wow thank you so much!
@@electrarc240it really is fantastic to have RF quiet devices
You beat me to it, personally I reckon they are the most important side of things.
Ham here too and its all the cheap n nasty consumer electronics out there that is destroying my hobby.
Currently have a neighbor with 5x split systems and any one of them wipeout all of my operating bands.
I remember when I was trying to make a simple clock circuit for a 10Mhz CPU , I didn't knew about PLL and it became an antenna "by mistake". Thank god nothing important is at 10Mhz, right ?
(well, it was just a 1w signal)
Yep. Used to repair a lot of SMPS supplies to component level. Used to see filter caps fail a lot and occasionally, pop the zener reference or optocoupler in the feedback circuit, which would then allow the drive to runaway and increase output, failing additional filter caps.
A good curve tracer could save the day if the zener was starting to fail, the rest it was simpler to replace the filters than to run around disconnecting the filters and checking ESR. The cost per component was cheaper than the man-hours spent testing them anyway.
Never had anything in the snubbers fail, did have the EMI caps occasionally fail.
Loads of techs had trouble figuring out how these rather simple circuits worked and failed. Interestingly, those that couldn't figure them out also couldn't figure out a PLL. That caused me to joke that they were refractory to proper feedback.
That was the best explanation I’ve ever seen in decades of being a tech.
I wonder how the control circuit looks like and works. The whole thing is just a brick without it.
@@Oktokolo yes, he should follow up with that for people.
The explanation of how a switching power supply takes incoming voltage, rectifies it if necessary, and then chops it up at high frequencies before passing it through a transformer or inductor is particularly insightful. This method of voltage conversion is highly efficient compared to traditional linear power supplies, which dissipate excess voltage as heat. The video clearly illustrates why SMPS is favored in modern electronics for its efficiency, especially when significant voltage changes are required.
This is the only video i have ever watched fully clearly explain all the components of the switch mode power supply in my life.
BRAVO Sir!
I failed out of electrical engineering 30+ years ago. I have a successful career in IT systems, but always wanted to know how the circuits worked. Looks like I have a new favorite place to watch.
I send my highest respect from Canada.
Thank you very much!
This type of explanation is what I need to see. Often, an instructor just buries you with theory. It becomes overwhelming, and my brain just turns off. Thank you for taking the time, and I welcome further videos.
I've always felt buried- but knew it was simple and this guy knows how to explain it!
It's been almost 50 years since I sat in a classroom and had one of the best instructors at the Sears Technical College explain the new switching power supplies most new portable tv's would be using. He used a blackboard to do the same type of visual association of circuits that he was lecturing on. You have the same dedication and enthusiasm and have earned my respect! Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
I am what people normally called "dumbass with a tool's " its means I have or can have any tools but to stupid to do anything with it. so I'm just poke something around until it's either broke or blown. your video and explanation are really godsend to me because English are not my mother tongue yet I can follow what you are explaining...keep up the hard work man....
Wow thankyou very much! I try hard to avoid using the long "show-off words" that I find to be very common place in engineering because I'm not trying to prove anything I just want as many people to understand these cool things as possible!
Yeaa... :( i feel you bro...
I'm with you. Love math and science, finished my trig book on my own ahead of the class, used to be able to solve basic electric diagrams. Can't solder a wire to save my life.
@@woodstream6137Throw the conical tip that probably came with your iron in the trash, get a few sizes of compatible bevel tips and thank me later.
I've been an electronics engineer specializing in IC test for nearly four decades. This presentation is absolutely the clearest explanation of the individual componentry and their interrelationship to each other that I have ever seen. I especially appreciated the demonstration of of the inductor's function using the spring as an analogy. If you think about it, the spring actually looks much like a physical inductor...even the schematic symbol. It would be cool to see you do the same analogy with a capacitor. Also, the water buckets sitting side by side gave an excellent analogy of isolation. All in all, this presentation is the BEST I've seen, bar none.
Wow thanks so much!
As a 76 year old electrical engineer, I found this Brilliant!
Thank you!
Brilliant was my feeling throughout the video. Your pedagogic style is effective and empathetic. I hope academia takes note.
@@electrarc240 had you talked about the small one that replaces all these it would have been wonderful all that can be done by a single good fuse and all it needs it two or one mosfet and an inductor and a very few others.
I’m “only” 70, but I have also copied to my sons, who work with electronics. This video may save a finger or a life.
I have learned more within 20minutes of watching this video than I have learned in 20 lessons in electronics class. Great video!
Yeah and I learned more about fluid dynamics from taking a shower than 4 years of physics at the university. This was a refresher course for people that already knew what these components are, how they work and why they are in the box. It was enjoyable because instead of giving a test, he just read all the answers and you recognized what he said. Nothing new, just well presented. He left out a lot.
Finally found a channel that explains the basics of household devices and electricity in layman’s terms. It helped me start my own repair shop and sparked my curiosity to take on new projects. Your channel is hands down the best when it comes to simple, detailed, and visual explanations of important electronics and their functions. It educates us "simple folks" while keeping it interesting to watch. Thank you for your contribution to making the world a more interesting and understandable place!
So many years after secondary school, a university and now epiphany. Thank God for the internet and you for sharing this in the most simple, clear and clever way possible! A talent to explain things so simply is pure gold. Subscribed instantly.
Bravo!
Where were you back in the 70's when I needed you?
Impressive. Refreshing.
You are a natural educator, keep them videos coming please
I’m almost 70 years old and I’m industrial electronic technician. I found you to be a genius. Thank you very much. Joe
One of the best explanation of how a switching PSU works I've ever watched. Thank you.
The best explanation of SMPS I've ever seen so far.
Same here!
Thank you!
I really like the way you broke it down to the most simple possible circuit that could work and then added on the extra components sorted by function. That made it far more digestible.
Wow I’m an electronics guy and this video is a masterclass for anyone interested in learning and understanding electronics! Saved here and will be sending this link to lots of people when trying to explain something. Very very easy to digest, amazing
Thank you very much!
You make it easy to understand and comprehend these power supplies videos and I truly appreciate your hard work. By far one of the best. Keep them coming. Thanks for sharing.
You did a great job explaining SMPS’s. Your step by step approach is clear and easily understood. The piece that really made the light in my head come on was how you created the schematic as you described each component. It really made the operation of the power supply almost painfully obvious. Thanks for the video. Luckily, I just happened upon it. I will checkout your channel and I look forward to seeing what else you’ve produced, I’m sure it won’t be disappointing. Thanks again!!
All of the other comments are spot on. Just wanted to say thank you for exceptional content. One of the best electronics explanations I've ever watched, and I've watched hundreds, if not thousands!
Wow thanks so much!
I'm gonna say this , this is probably THE BEST EXPLANATION VIDEOS I HAVE EVER SEEN ! I hope you were my teacher during my school days
Ahah thanks a lot I really want to be a teacher one day! Maybe that day has already come 🤔
It does my heart good to see a bright young person explaining electronics so well.
I started studying electronics since 1983 or so. Yes - we have come a long way.
Are you keeping up with the commodore?
Maybe the best explanations I've ever seen regarding these components and systems. Earned a sub.
Thanks!
Thank you you are amazing. I've been involved with electronics for over 50 years. And although I've used hundreds of switching power supplies I never really understood them clearly. Your explanation was incredible. It was clear and to the point. I hope you are using your skills to teach. Thanks again
I have been an electronics enthusiast for 10 years now focusing heavily on SMPS design things although your analogies where very helpful, this video is simply brilliant.
Wow thank you so much! I'm always a little afraid of "experts" seeing my videos haha
@@electrarc240 meh, most barrels do have two bungholes. Some simply forget that one's for airflow and the other for useful product flow.
I sat through watching the circuit building up for 20 minutes and I feel I could watch it for another 20 minutes as I've never got lost anywhere.
That is one impressively easy and coherent explanation.
I learned more about electronics and circuit design than I expected. So much information packed in this video with simple and comprehensible explanation, great job. Can't wait for the video about how the controller circuit works.
Extremely well made, thorough, well-spoken, good order, good background info to prime us. I’ve seen very few instructional videos better than this. Kudos.
I've studied and worked on electronics for the last 20 years and this video finally clicked in a couple of concepts that had been banging around in my brain for years regarding smps. Hands down the best switch mode power supply video on TH-cam.
Subbed
Wow thank you very much! Glad I helped fill in those pesky gaps
From what I remember from my electronic studies, I have the impression we spent too much time on manually analytically solving circuitry, spending hours on differential equation solving on very trivial circuits (one transistor, a capacitor and two resistor is enough to make it quite hard to solve), a thing that is way better done by computer software simulation, and not enough on this higher scale functional diagram like in this video, that seems actually way more useful to actually understand stuff 🙂
@@ThomasKundera As a current student I couldn't agree more, it's such a shame
@@ThomasKundera I saw the reference to diff eq and I had a flashback to the nightmare that course was in college as an undergrad studying computer science. I did fairly well in all my other mathematics classes but I could not wrap my head around DE and I failed the class my first time take it. i'm not even sure how I (barely) passed when I took it again the next quarter. I think it was so traumatizing that my brain has blocked out all memory of those classes. I'm feeling anxious just writing this and its been like 25 years since I graduated. ugh.
Very safe and thoughtful teacher because you take the life of the listeners a priority. In the video, you drew with your pen: how we can be away from electrical shocks. With competency the video is in clear tone and practically consumed.
I followed, please I need more. Be on your feet, thanks.
Amazing how you explained the power loss as water leakage, Thanks for the great Contant !
Haha I thought of that as I was watching the footage back, it seemed too good to not add in (and pretend was intentional). Thanks!
As a person who is not very well versed in electronics, I must say this was absolutely perfect. A very streamlined, concise and intentionally (and reasonably) basic explanation, and also well-illustrated. Thanks for taking your time to make this - I'm sure many more people will greatly appreciate it!
Thank you very much!
"Know what I like about you, you know about the system and your coherent with your explanation(Very Smart). I like your plan diagram and your input on each device. Know that you are appreciated." 👍
Thanks!
The best video on TH-cam explaining the workings of a power supply. Normally I would watch 4-5 videos on a subject I want to brush up on but instead I watched this one twice. Keep them coming. New subscriber here!
WoW!! I knew the basics of switching supplies but this was quite thorough examination of essentially all the components of a commercial supply! I learned a lot!
This is amazing. I met a lot of failed switch mode power supplies in my job as an industrial electrician, didn't have the know-how to repair them, nor understand the theory behind the circuitry. This helps a lot, thanks, especially if you could come up with a video on troubleshooting these power supplies.
I've been working with electronics my entire life, especially in the Ham Radio world. This was one of the best explanations of how a switch mode power supply works. Bravo, well done!
2 years ago I had a strong curiousity about phone charger and also was looking to diy one solar DC charger and ended up deep in the rabbit hole trying to understand these. I always thought I should have wrote a blog post to analyze what I learned and share also but never did so I'm glad to stumble on this amazing refresher better than anything I would have written! Thanks
From Here.
I agree with the sentiments expressed in the comments. This was a great explanation. A lot of videos will explain things, but the approach you take is unmatched in my opinion. I'm a 50 year old electrical troubleshooter/technician for a fortune 500 company, my focus is in testing the final products we produce, and the processes are very exacting. So I have a really good understanding of all things electricity, both high and low voltage applications. But I learned from your excellent presentation, and can't give you high enough ratings. Please keep up the good work!
Wow thank you very much!
This was the best circuit explanation video i've ever seen. Please continue on this theme!! You're criminally under-rated.
This is now my essential SMPS explainer, will always point people towards this
I took a power supply apart about 5 years ago to study it out of curiosity. I have no training in this, I just had one die and I was curious about how it worked. I spent a month trying to get as complete of an understanding as possible that a untrained individual can get. It was fun but there was still so much I did not understand. This video answered all the questions I still had remaining after that curious venture. I is GREAT! Thank you very much for making this.
Please keep it up
Awesome content
Would love to see the switching ps in more detail
Thank you! I'll have a think about which parts are most exciting to delve into
More details please thank you
@@electrarc240the whole thing from start to finish
Just fyi: I recommend DiodeGoneWild videos about SMPS if you want more details.
They do however require a bit more knowledge to fully understand than this truly superb video imo.
One of the better explanations of a SMPS that I've seen. Well done!
This is insanely useful, thanks. I'd love to see more circuits broken down like this.
Perfect I have more planned :)
The circuit he described would break down (well, successfully blow its fuse to isolate) in 1/3000 s. Read an actual GaN FET's manual including the power supply use thing instead. You're welcome.
This is what makes TH-cam useful
This is a work of art! You would have saved lives in EE college
This is what I needed 5 years ago.
Watching the playlist of power electronics, second one for now. Very clear explanations and illustrations.
I have a little background in this field but never truly had the grasp on it. Wanted to get back at it but the learning process was too tedious until now.
I may be able in a near future to tweak some equipment that need some repair or parts changed.
Keep it up, great teacher!
Welcome back 🎉
Yes we'd love to see what make that charger small in size but more efficient
I'll see what I can do!
yes please more videos on smps. Diagnose and repair of common problems. Would like to see a list of common symptoms and their causes and solutions. Great presentation, Thanks
You are very good at explaining, I really liked the real life analogies.
Thank you! I like them too
Good on you! Getting into the garden with buckets and water glasses in your stocking feet! Honorary Cornwallperson!
Great channel content. Been saving every power supply/adapter that's come my way for the better part of four decades. Used them for all kinds of projects. Very interesting seeing how they've provided that usefulness.
Love the content, you really have to see all of the power supplies in person to see and feel the difference. Can't wait for the next video!
You really do
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A really clear and understandable explanation from someone who has prepared well, with a clear delivery and and engaging approach. Thank you I've learned much today.
"Not only dangerous to people, but more importantly to circuitry." 3:25 😂😅😮
This video is one of the best educational video about inductors and smps. Thank you. I cant wait to look your other videos, water bucket analogy was really brilliant.
You are simply a genius. I now understood this phenomenon pretty very well.
Wow thank you very much!
By far the best explanation on SMPS on youtube. Would be great if you made a full video on how to make one from scratch using formulas so that anyone can make their own specific SMPS input/output voltages.
I have some plans for such a video 😉
I think if you watch a few Big Clive videos you'll see that there is an alarmingly large number of appliances from dodgy parts of the world with poor or non-existent isolation!
This is the first thing that comes to mind with modern electronics. All these huge corporations trying to continuously cut costs in a race to the bottom, and what suffers? Safety, reliability, customer satisfaction. But they only care about quarterly profits. It's disgusting what the world has become.
@@grabasandwich Completely agree, it is very unfortunate. There are still plenty of high quality products being made, just not for consumers as we just aren't worthy...
Watch DiodeGoneWild videos about USB chargers that are ‘dodgy’ and ‘super dodgy’.
If you like BigClive and this channel, you’ll probably like DiodeGoneWild too.
Let me know if you do ;)
I got a nice jolt from the plug of a fluorescent light fixture a few years ago. I touched the prongs right after I unplugged it. I made sure not to do that again.
@@SwapPartLLC I always find myself doing this to check PSUs when I unplug them, definitely not wise as you say haha
This is the best explainer I’ve ever seen on SMPS’s, you have a gift for teaching!
As a computer engineer and power engineer, I liked your explanations and demo of increasing the frequency so that you can reduce the inductor size but with limits due to the heat, spillage in your case 🙂
Thanks for this video, when you said we did it in 20 mins it feels like 20 days of compacted information discuss in 20 mins. great one
Good explanation. You just forgot to mention what the MOSFET does in this circuit. 😄
Congratulations! This is the best electronic teacher I ever had.
Even though I've been occasionally fixing SMPS's for thirty years, this was very insightful.
Would be nice if you'd address the control loop and bootstrap too in a comparably easy to digest format. If you're tempted to do that then try to find a PSU that doesn't integrate everything in a single tiny chip or find a block diagram for the chip.
h This by far is the most comprehensive detailed non long winded explanation that I've ever seen in my life on power supplies thank you sir you are such a blessing in my life for understanding how those power supplies work you broke it down like a fraction and it was totally totally not boring I could keep up I really feel that I can retain the information and you explained it in practical terms thank you keep making videos man we need more like you thank you again for not being long in the wind
I cant word how many times everything just clicked.
such a great video!!
The way you started with the most fundamental components in your schematic and built up the complexity was simply genius!! What a clever way to go about it.
As somebody who spends a lot of time drawing electrical schematics myself, i can tell you put in a lot of work just into the drawing itself (and obviously into the rest of the video as well).
What an amazing video overall. Instant sub. Please keep up the great work.
Thank you very much!
would like to see some more detailed explanation about how snubber circuit do what they do, especially how it does so without disrupting the rest of the circuit
I'll have a think of a good way to show them in action
@@electrarc240 indeed snubber networks appear to be a black art only few people understand. I've tried sizing RC snubbers in the past, but wasn't really able to find any documentation on them. Felt a bit like trial and error, especially when trying it in a somewhat practical way.
@@j.p.hendrix4389 Yes completely agree, they are very mysterious things
Hands down, without a doubt, the best channel Ive found on learning components of useful electronics. Instant suscribe! Thanks for your hard work and genius!
FULL BRIDGE RECTIFIER!!!!
Took my full concentration to hold that in when I said it haha!
@@electrarc240 LOL
Very good!!!! Thank you.
Your explanation was very much on point! It was quick, thorough and to the point. I highly enjoyed watching it as I've always wondered how power supplies work. I feel like I have a much better grasp on the components that are in the power supply because of your video.
This was a LOVELY and nicely done video. But...please, if I may ask - draw your schematics on some white or light background, not "black on green". It is rather hard to see. I´m speaking for myself, of course, since my eyesight is poor and needs a little more contrast.
Noted! Thank you
The best explanation of SMPS I've ever seen. You're very talented. Bravo!
Why miss the control part?
yes, I was hanging on to see what drove the gate on the mosfet...just a timing circuit derived from the smt IC?
Yes, it is also an interesting part, especially how the chip gets its power from the transformer and how this serves as short circuit protection for the secondary.
I decided to leave it out of this video for simplicities sake. I reconned more people would be here for the main power electronics flyback circuit than for control, plus I'm not going to lie control is not my strong suit and I wouldn't have wanted to make any major mistake in my explanation. The control circuit is far more complex to understand in my opinion and I thought introducing things like the tertiary winding may have taken away from the simple overview approach of the video. I will do many future videos on control for example I have a video planned on active power factor correction with boost converter that will delve into PI controllers and more.
Superbly brings out the evolution in power supplies,size reduction plus greater power densities achieved etc.
No, he had one graph that was lovely, but with no particular explanation on what changed.
Ive seen soo many videos on switch mode power supply and this is the only video which made it so easy for me to understand thanks 😊
Clear and concise, Brilliant.
Nice video mate! Perhave in the near future feedback to the power transistor is explain
Simple and clear. The signs of a great teacher. Many thanks
Phenomenal explanation 👏
Wow thank you very much!
Best video I’ve seen that explains what all the auxiliary components are.
The moat understandable and comprehensive, with no waffling overview of how a smps works without trying to sound clever! Subscribed! You know your stuff.
Oh man. This is such an awesome intro to the beauty of Switch Mode Power Supplies . Great job.
Learned more in this video than any of my friends that took circuit design in college did in an entire semester, thank you
Really excellent! step-by step in easily digestible bits with plenty of visuals and graphics!
An absolutely brilliant and very useful instructional video. You have one of the best deliveries I have encountered online. Well done.
One of the best explanations I've come across, thank you!
You are very good at explaining issues in simple but relevant steps.
I loved the explanation and style of delivery. Well done, you've gained another subscriber today. Thanks for sharing.
As soon as I saw that it was you, I knew that the video would be excellent, and it was. Thanks!
This is Art..!!!!
Beautiful explanation.
Please keep doing this with other circuits.. pleeeeeeaaaasee..
Starting with the basics and adding and explaining each individual block is brilliant.