Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
SNIP

They call them electronic transformers and the 'proper' transformers
toroidal - which is actually a type of transformer. I've seen low
voltage lighting true transformers which weren't toroidal.

But it makes some sense to call them all transformers because they do
the same job. And most won't be interested in any differences
internally.

Quite.

Are these really SMPS's?

The electronic ones, yes.

Aha! I'm getting there!

To further my education :-) how does an SMPS work in simple terms? I
understand how a transformer works more or less, how does an SMPS
achieve a similar thing?

Like for like, transformers gets smaller as the frequency increases.
So an SMPS converts the 50Hz mains frequency to something like 30,000
Hz. So a much smaller and cheaper transformer can be used.

Thanks, now I understand.

Going back to testing with a DMM, all I need to know is if the SMPS is
working or not. Given that the reading isn't likely to be accurate, do
SMPS's either 'work/not work' or do they gradually deteriorate?

If the former, would 'a' reading indicate that its OK and 'no' reading
indicate that its fubered?

Thanks for this Dave, I appreciate your help.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk