Flyback Design in Practice: From PoE to Offline AC/DC

Flyback Design in Practice: From PoE to Offline AC/DC

From Inside Electronics by Endeavor Business Media

May 22, 2026 · 16 min · Episode 119

About this episode

This episode discusses the application of flyback power electronics in various power supply designs.

This episode of Inside Electronics, sponsored by DigiKey and Wurth Elektronik, focuses on flyback power electronics and how they are applied across different power-supply designs, especially power over Ethernet and offline AC/DC systems. Host Alix Paultre introduces the topic and guides the discussion, while Jared Birk, Technical Marketing Engineer with Wurth Elektronik, shares his technical perspective and practical design experience. Alix and Jared discuss why flybacks remain important despite being an older topology: they are simple, versatile, efficient across a wide input range, and useful for both low-power and isolated applications. The conversation emphasizes the trade-offs engineers face, including EMI, thermal limits, switching losses, parasitic effects, and safety isolation requirements. Jared stresses that design success depends on balancing these constraints and consulting component suppliers early. The episode closes with an encouraging message that flyback design is both practical and fun.

People in this episode

Host: Alix Paultre

Guest: Jared Birk

Topics covered

  • flyback power electronics
  • power supply designs
  • power over Ethernet
  • offline AC/DC systems
  • design trade-offs
  • engineering constraints

Keywords

  • flyback
  • power electronics
  • power over Ethernet
  • AC/DC
  • design constraints
  • efficiency
  • thermal limits

Sponsors

DigiKey, Wurth Elektronik

More episodes of Inside Electronics

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Inside Electronics podcast page.