Seasoned hardware engineers often describe Abraham Pressman’s classic as the book that catalyzed their understanding of modern converters. That’s why the latest reprint of Catalysis For Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition—formally Switching Power Supply Design, Third Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2009)—still tops must-read lists in 2025. At 848 pages, the tome remains a one-stop reference for every mainstream SMPS topology, magnetic design rule, and snubber trick on the bench.
Table of Contents
Quick Snapshot
| Authors | Abraham I. Pressman, Keith Billings, Taylor Morey |
| Publisher / Year | McGraw-Hill / 2009 |
| Length | 848 pp.; 19 chapters plus appendices |
| Format & Price | Hardcover & eBook; typical price ≈ USD 113 at specialty retailers |
| Target Reader | Intermediate-to-advanced power-electronics designers |
Why Catalysis For Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition Still Matters
- Breadth with depth – From flyback converters to phase-shifted full bridges, every topology gets step-by-step design math, worked examples, and transformer sketches.
- Magnetics mastery – Two dedicated magnetics chapters demystify core selection, winding techniques, and the new-for-3E high-frequency choke methods that today’s GaN and SiC parts demand.
- Problem-solver focus – The authors’ “why it fails” sidebars diagnose ringing, EMI, and thermal issues you’ll meet in real projects—not just in SPICE.
- Still the benchmark – Many vendor app notes quote Pressman’s equations verbatim; learning them at the source keeps datasheet hype in check.
Chapter Highlights
Fundamentals & Control Loops
Ch. 1–3 define regulating principles and small-signal models, then walk through Bode-plot compensation without drowning newcomers in Laplace notation.
Core Topologies (Flyback, Forward, Push-Pull, Half-/Full-Bridge)
Each topology section ends with stress tables so you can ballpark switch voltage/current before CAD time.
Magnetics & Choke Design
The signature of Catalysis For Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition: clear AL, Ae, Bmax relations and a full worked design for a 100 W ferrite transformer—plus a new chapter on powdered-iron chokes for zero-voltage-transition bridges.
Device-Drive Techniques
MOSFET and IGBT chapters show gate-charge versus transition-loss curves, then translate them into real driver-resistor values and PCB-parasitic trade-offs.
Snubbers, PFC, and Exotic Converters
Whether you’re damping a flyback drain spike or closing a CCM PFC loop, the quantitative guidance cuts lab time dramatically.
What’s New in the Third Edition
- Chapter-length treatment of high-frequency choke design—essential for 500 kHz+ GaN boards.
- Updated magnetics loss charts reflecting modern ferrite mixes.
- Additional quasi-resonant design examples that anticipate today’s zero-voltage-switching practices.
Strengths
- Tutorial tone – Equations are always tied to practical numbers; no black-box maths.
- Design checklists – End-of-chapter bullet lists act as peer-review for your schematic.
- Legacy plus modern – Examples range from bipolar-transistor drives to current-mode control with DSP monitoring, bridging four decades of techniques.
Where It Falls Short
- Dated component tables – 2009 MOSFET Rdson and capacitor ESR specs are conservative by 2025 standards.
- Sparse coverage of GaN/SiC parasitics – You’ll need vendor notes for sub-5 ns edge effects.
- Pricey outside the US – Import copies can approach USD 150+ in South Asia.
Who Should Read Catalysis For Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition?
| Reader | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Graduate EE students | A rigorous supplement to coursework on power electronics. |
| Design engineers | Stress tables, magnetics recipes, and snubber math accelerate prototypes. |
| Firmware engineers | Control-loop chapters clarify the analog front end your code must close around. |
| Hardware QA / EMI testers | Causes of ringing and radiated-noise case studies improve troubleshooting. |
SEO-Friendly FAQ
Is Catalysis For Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition beginner-friendly?
Most formula derivations assume undergraduate circuit theory. Brand-new learners may prefer a shorter SMPS primer first.
Does the book cover power-factor correction?
Yes. A full chapter details CCM boost PFC design, control-loop stabilization, and efficiency pitfalls.
Are GaN and SiC devices included?
Only briefly. The text predates mainstream wide-band-gap adoption, but its magnetics and snubber rules still apply; just update device parameters.
Final Verdict
Catalysis For Switching Power Supply Design 3rd Edition earns 4.5 / 5 stars. Despite older component data, its topology walk-throughs, transformer math, and troubleshooting wisdom make it the quickest catalyst to professional-grade SMPS design. Pair it with recent GaN/SiC app notes and you’ll have a future-proof toolkit.
