Dear sea friends, who can explain the differences between linear power supplies and switching power supplies?

Repost: A switching power supply is a type of power supply that utilizes modern power electronics technology to control the ratio of time during which the switch transistors are on and off, thereby maintaining a stable output voltage. Such power supplies are generally composed of a pulse width modulation (PWM) control IC and MOSFETs. Compared to linear power supplies, the cost of switching power supplies also increases as the output power rises, but the rates of increase differ between the two. At a certain output power level, the cost of linear power supplies is higher than that of switching power supplies; this point is known as the cost inversion point. With the development and innovation in power electronics technology, switch-mode power supply technology has also continued to evolve. This cost inversion point is shifting increasingly toward lower output powers, which provides broad opportunities for the development of switch-mode power supplies. 　　The trend in the development of switch-mode power supplies is toward higher frequencies. Higher frequencies enable these power supplies to become smaller, allowing them to be used in a wider range of applications, especially in high-tech fields, where they contribute to the miniaturization and portability of high-tech products. Furthermore, the development and application of switching power supplies are of great significance in saving energy, conserving resources, and protecting the environment.

Switch-mode power supplies maintain a constant power level, while linear power supplies maintain a constant current level. The efficiency of switch-mode power supplies is generally between 60 and 70%, whereas that of linear power supplies is only between 30 and 40%. Linear power supplies are used in some expensive and delicate analytical instruments, while switch-mode power supplies are sufficient for applications involving changes in voltage or temperature in the field. This is just my personal opinion

Generally speaking, switching power supplies have higher output ripple compared to linear power supplies; therefore, linear power supplies are used in applications where high requirements are placed on power supply ripple, noise immunity, measurement accuracy, and small-signal measurement.

Linear power supplies are stable and capable of handling high power. Switch-mode power supplies produce little noise and are generally used in the computer industry.