Switching power supply
Here following you will find some pros and contra about the switching power supply:
Pro:
1) Usually the efficency of a power supply is at least 70 % with any load ( except open, of course ) instead in a traditional power supply ( with transformer ) the efficency is related to the load;
2) The power factor of a switching P.S. can be made in between 0,9 and 1 , with good results for the current of the whole system, instead in a traditional P.S. the power factor depends on the power factor of the load but is not very often good.
3) The dimensions ( overall for powers more than 500 W ) are smaller than the traditional P.S. and also the weight.
4) The heat generation is smaller ( say less than 50 % ) respect to a traditional P.S.
5) The cost ( if foreseen to produce more than 1000 pieces ) is lower than a traditional P.S.
6) If necessary you can easly extend the temperature range of the P.S.
Contra:
1) Usually the schematic is more complicated an for this reason more prone to problems with the delivery of the components necessary for the assembly
2) The switching is far more sensible for the surge existing on the mains ( ask to the owners of the modems ! )
3) The switching is more noisy respect to a traditional P.S. and for this reason i will not immagine to use it with a analog/digital converter with more than 16 bit.
4) due to the noise generated is much more difficult to respect the european normes for the electromagnetic compatibility ( EN50081 and EN50082 )
5) Being more components involved, in some projects the reliability is mouch lower than a traditional power supply
6) Due to the filtering necessary at the input EMC filter, the lekage current is usually higher than a normal power supply ( problem overall for the medical instrumentation )
Hope to have solved your problems
Bye