How it works
A bench power supply provides a stable, adjustable DC voltage and current to safely test and operate electronic circuits. It acts as an idealized voltage source, converting AC wall power into smooth, regulated DC.
Most lab power supplies feature two critical controls: a Voltage dial (Constant Voltage or CV mode) and a Current Limit dial (Constant Current or CC mode). When the circuit draws less current than the limit, the supply acts as a perfect voltage source.
However, if a short circuit occurs or a heavy load tries to draw more current than the limit, the supply automatically drops its output voltage to mathematically enforce the current cap, protecting the circuit from melting down or catching fire.