Those voltages I quoted are the rated values, and what I measured with
no load. I will try with some load I guess. What happens if I'm not
loading the supplies enough, will my output just be dirty, or will the
voltage start to drift? Because these are surplus, I don't really have
any manufacturer to turn to to get specs, so I don't know the output
current range. However, if it's just a matter of getting a dirty output,
maybe I could just put a big capacitor on it, and I'd be ok?

Josh
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William Chops Westfield wrote:
> Yes, an SMPS would be voltage stable (over some range of output
> current) by definition.  Are your numbers their rated output, or is
> that what you're measuring?  I'm thinking that 5.5 and 5.3V are "odd"
> votages, and perhaps you're just not loading the supplies sufficiently
> to get into full regulation.  (SMPS require some relatively
> significanr load before they become fully regulated.)
>
>     Do I need try regulation, or would a regular diode or two to drop
>     voltage be enough?
>
> A single silicon diode (in series with V+ lead) should be enough.
> You'll get .6V or so of voltage drop, bringing the outputs well within
> the range that PICS can tolerate.  Since the input is regulated, the
> output is also effectively regulated.

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