Using Average or RMS in Efficiency Calculation
Ming Sun / October 21, 2022
6 min read • ––– views
Background
The most import parameter or performance metric for any switching regulator is efficiency, because that is the main purpose switching regulators are designed for. The question is we should ask is that when calculating or measuring switching regulator's efficiency, should average value or the RMS (root mean square) value be used?
For example, we all know for a buck converter, its input current is pulsating. Now, the question is we should ask is that when testing efficiency, should we use RMS value or the average value for the input power calculation?
Most often, when test engineers or designers measure the efficiency during the bench measurement, the average value is being used. So what is the reason behind the scene?
Math derivation
The efficiency can be calculated by its definition:
Where, Eout is the output energy, Ein is the input energy, Pout is the output power and Pout is the input power.
To calculate the power, three methods can be used:
When to use average value:
Typicall when measuring the efficiency of the switching regulator, Vin is supplied with a DC source, which means Vin is a constant. Iout is typically supplied from a DC current source, which can be considered as a constant as well. Therefore, Eq (3) can be rewritten as:
Where, Vout,avg is the average value of switching regulator's output voltage and Iin, avg is the average value of the inptu current.
Conclusion:During the bench test or simulation, if we bias Vin with a DC voltage source and Iout with a DC current source, when measuring efficiency, we should use average value of Iin and Vout.
When to use RMS value:
Now, we do not always use a DC current source at the switching regulator's output. Sometimes, we use a resistive load as well. In such case, Eq. (3) can be rewritten as:
Where, the RMS value of Vout is defined as:
Conclusion
From the above discussion and math equations, it is clear that when one of the parameter is set to be constant when using V*I to calculate the efficiency, we should use average value for the other term.
If we use V2/R or I2*R, we should use RMS value for the other term.