If you’re running a laboratory, and you’re using electrical devices like oscilloscopes and spectrum analysers, then the chances are good that you’re relying to some extent on DC power. Over the years, DC power supplies have come a long way – they’re more reliable, clean, and efficient than ever before.

If you want your laboratory to run smoothly, you’ll need to invest in them – and you’ll need to understand exactly why they’re so essential.

What makes DC power supplies so foundational?

Let’s address the fundamentals. The electricity that comes from a wall socket is Alternating Current. This means that the electrons aren’t just being pushed in one direction; they’re being pushed backwards and forwards, around sixty times a second.

If we want to get the best from low-voltage devices, however, we’ll need to use a different kind of power: Direct Current. Since this kind of current flows only in one direction, it avoids the problems associated with inductive and capacitive losses, and the so-called ‘skin effect’.

Where precision power matters

DC is found throughout the home, and in just about every workplace. It’s what powers the motherboard of every computer, including phones. It’s therefore ubiquitous not only in the products being designed and maintained by many engineers, but also in the tools used to carry out that work.

The power supplies we find in a lab are very different to the ones we find in a home, however. They’re more stable and reliable, and they take the form of large blocks, which sit atop a bench. These devices offer a range of important features, which are worth going through.

Modern features engineers demand

If you’re using DC power in a high-stakes environment like an industrial laboratory, then you might need a few extra features. For one thing, you might need to change the voltage available on a given output. You might need twelve volts from one, and five volts from another. In some cases, you might need more unusual voltages, like eight or thirteen. The possibilities are endless – and you’ll need a power supply that can cope.

Your power supply might also need remote monitoring, so that you can observe what’s going on when you aren’t physically present in the lab. Overload protection might also offer an additional layer of safety, and help to protect sensitive equipment.

Supporting innovation from prototype to production

When you’re testing, you’ll want to be sure that the tools you’re using are reliable, and that the designs you approve will actually work in the real world. A good DC power supply will allow you to scale, without compromising on safety, or on convenience and usability.