At a glance
What this page covers
- For
- Engineers choosing a PFC stage for an AC/DC supply.
- You will leave with
- A four-step sequence for comparing CrM/DCM and CCM.
- Evidence status
- Engineering article published by EDN.
- Boundary
- Apply the guide to your own specifications and component limits.
Starting point, decision and reusable output
- Decision
- Which conduction mode fits the design priorities?
- Starting point
- Basic converter knowledge; no programming needed.
- Reusable output
- The complete guide, equations and figures on EDN.
Next useful action
Read on EDN ↗Read the full guide at its original source.
What the guide helps you decide
Power factor correction (PFC) shapes the current drawn from the AC supply. The inductor current behaves differently in continuous, discontinuous and critical conduction modes, abbreviated CCM, DCM and CrM.
Choosing between them starts with the constraints of your power supply. The article works through four decisions:
- Identify the main design priority.
- Compare current stress, inductance and losses.
- Check the power and frequency decision map.
- Consider controllers and alternative arrangements.
Published on EDN on 26 August 2026. Follow the source link for the complete article.