Underestimating Complexity of SMPS Design(2 of 5)

The problem and consequences of underestimating the complexity of power supply design and application is relevant to almost all electronic systems, since virtually every electronic system requires a power supply.

Awareness is the first step in solving any problem. At first the problem was buried as being too embarrassing to talk about (after all, how could something as simple as a power supply cause so many problems), but a Navy/Industry team brought the problems solidly into the open with the 1982 publication of the first edition of Navy Power Supply Reliability - Design and Manufacturing Guidelines [1]. With over 18,000 hard copies distributed, most of which were further copied, along with substantial press coverage -- both supportive and critical -- the lack-of-awareness issue was resolved and industry could get on with solving the problem. Although somewhat dated, reading this landmark publication should be informative for any system or power supply designer and their management. The Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence website published a second edition [2] and then replaced it with the current design guide, [4] NAVSO P-3641A, More Power For The Dollar, January 1989, which is available on the World-Wide Web.