Why use a low resistance load to measure power supply internal resistance

[yubson]

In measuring the internal resistance of a power supply, why is a resistor with low resistance used?

 

[phinds]

In measuring the internal resistance of a power supply, why is a resistor with low resistance used?

Who says that it is? You need to be more specific in your question. I think you have misunderstood something.

 

[Merlin3189]

I don't know exactly how you are using the low resistance here, but speaking generally,
the internal resistance of a power supply is a low value to give good load regulation, so to measure it by measuring the change in voltage at varying loads, you will see the biggest voltage drop when you draw the maximum current. That means using the lowest load resistance that will not overload the supply.

 

[lekh2003]

In measuring the internal resistance of a power supply, why is a resistor with low resistance used?

Are you talking about an ammeter? Could you be more clear?

 

[davenn]

In measuring the internal resistance of a power supply, why is a resistor with low resistance used?

Are you talking about an ammeter? Could you be more clear?

no

he's referring to the actual internal resistance
We say a battery has an internal resistance, the value of which is determined by the chemical composition etc
it is what limits the short circuit current value

from Wiki

1. Internal resistance
   
   
   
   A practical electrical power source which is a linear electric circuit may, according to Thévenin's theorem, be represented as an ideal voltage source in series with an impedance. This impedance is termed the internal resistance of the source. When the power source delivers current, the measured voltage output is lower than the no-load voltage; the difference is the voltage drop caused by the internal resistance. The concept of internal resistance applies to all kinds of electrical sources and is useful for analyzing many types of electrical circuits.

how to measure internal resistance of a battery ...


I never really hear anyone talking about the internal resistance of a non-battery PSU ... I would assume it would also have one

ahhhh here's some info...
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/output-resistance-of-dc-supplies.54138/

Dave

 

[sophiecentaur]

In measuring the internal resistance of a power supply, why is a resistor with low resistance used?

I think you are just asking why they use a low resistance load on the power supply. The reason is that the voltage drop with a high current is greater and easy to measure. If you know the Voltage lost (open circuit volts minus test volts) and the current being supplied, it will tell you the value of the Series Resistance that's in the box.
It's only an approximate answer because many power supplies will not have an unvarying internal resistance.

 

[David Lewis]

I never really hear anyone talking about the internal resistance of a non-battery PSU ... I would assume it would also have one

Some power supplies have virtually no internal impedance within their design operating range. The voltage stays the same no matter the output current.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Some power supplies have virtually no internal impedance within their design operating range. The voltage stays the same no matter the output current.

For the regulation to be stable, a PSU would need a finite internal resistance, I think but that could be very low.

 

[davenn]

Some power supplies have virtually no internal impedance within their design operating range. The voltage stays the same no matter the output current.

yes, that will be the case for specifically designed constant voltage or constant current supplies

but for general supplies, internal ( output ) resistance is a factor and is discussed in the link I providedDave