What does an increase in load typically lead to in terms of a power supply's performance?

An increase in load on a power supply generally leads to increased ripple. Ripple refers to the variation in the output voltage of a power supply, often caused by fluctuations in the current draw from the load. As the load increases, the power supply has to work harder to maintain a consistent voltage. This can result in less effective filtering of the rectified voltage, allowing more AC voltage fluctuation (ripple) to appear on the DC output.

In a practical sense, power supplies are designed to deliver a certain amount of power efficiently and with a stable output. However, when the load increases significantly, the design limitations of the filtering components may lead to a higher level of ripple in the output. For example, if the filter capacitors are unable to charge and discharge effectively due to the increased load demand, voltage variations will be more pronounced.

It is important for AET professionals to understand this behavior to ensure proper functioning of avionics systems, as excessive ripple can affect the performance and reliability of electronic components powered by the supply.