🔍 Key Concepts

• Switching power supply vs. linear power supply – basic pros/cons • What causes radio frequency interference (RFI) in electronic equipment • How switching power supplies handle input voltage and DC input

💭 Think About

• Think about how a switching power supply operates electrically compared to a linear power supply. What does the rapid switching action tend to create in terms of electromagnetic noise? • Consider which advantages are commonly advertised for switching supplies in marine and electronics catalogs: wide input range, weight, efficiency, DC input capability, or freedom from interference? • Ask yourself: is it realistic for any high‑frequency switching device to have no RFI problems at all, or is the design goal usually to reduce or control RFI instead?

✅ Before You Answer

• Review what RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) is and what typically causes it in power electronics. • Check typical spec sheets for switching power supplies: which benefits are always listed (weight, efficiency, input range, AC/DC capability) and which claim sounds technically suspicious or absolute? • Confirm whether manufacturers claim reduced/filtered RFI or literally no RFI problems for switching supplies.