Electrical – Why are most consumer electronics power supply boards single sided and made of FR2 (Phenolic resin)

power supplyswitch-mode-power-supply

Most consumer appliances/power adapters that I open up have an SMPS providing the power. This SMPS is layed out on a phenolic resin (FR2) board and is usually a one-sided layout. Can anyone explain why power supply boards are designed as such?

My guess is that this board mostly contains through hole components, and is easier to wave solder when laid out on a single side. Since FR4 is used for multilayer boards/through hole plating and vias, it is cheaper to lay the power supply out on this type of board.

Best Answer

Cost. It is cheap, and it is good enough.

"The best is the enemy of the good enough"