05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

Automatic Inverter
Output Voltage
Correction Circuit
Last Updated on February 3, 2021 by Swagatam

The common problem with many low cost inverters is their incapability of
adjusting the output voltage with respect to the load conditions. With such
inverters the output voltage tends to increase with lower loads and falls with
increasing loads.

The circuit ideas explained here can be added to any ordinary inverter for
compensating and regulating their varying output voltage conditions in
response to varying loads.

Design#1: Automatic RMS

Correction using PWM
The first circuit below can be considered perhaps an ideal approach of
implementing a load independent auto output correction using PWM from a IC
555.

https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 1/7
05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

The circuit shown above can be effectively used as an automatic load triggered
RMS converter and could be applied in any ordinary inverter for the intended
purpose.

The IC 741 works like a voltage follower and acts like a buffer between the
inverter output feedback voltage and the PWM controller circuit.

The resistors connected with pin#3of the IC 741 is configured like a voltage
divider, which appropriately scales down the high AC output from the mains into
a proportionately lower potential varying between 6 and 12V depending upon
the output status of the inverter.

The two IC 555 circuit are configured to work like modulated PWM controller.
The modulated input is applied at pin#5 of the IC2, which compares the signal
with the triangle waves at its pin#6.

This results in the generation of the PWM output at its pin#3 which varies its
duty cycle in response to the modulating signal at the pin#5 of the IC.

A rising potential at this pin#5 results in the generation wide PWMs or PWMs
with higher duty cycles, and vice versa.

This implies that when the opamp 741 responds with a rising potential due to a
rising output from the inverter causes the output of IC2 555 to widen its PWM

https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 2/7
05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

pulses, while when the inverter output drops, the PWM proportionately narrows
at pin#3 of IC2.

Configuring the PWM with

Mosfets.
When the above auto correcting PWMs is integrated with the mosfet gates of
any inverter will enable the inverter to control its RMS value automatically in
response to the load conditions.

If the load exceeds the PWM the inverter output wil tend to go low, causing the
PWMs to widen which will in turn cause the mosfet to turn ON harder and drive
the transformer with more current, thereby compensating the excess current
draw from the load

Design#2: Using opamp and

Transistor
The next idea discusses an opamp version which can added with ordinary
inverters for achieving an automatic output voltage regulation in response to
varying loads or battery voltage.

The idea is simple, as soon as the output voltage crosses a predetermined

danger threshold, a corresponding circuit is triggered which in turn switches
OFF the inverter power devices in a consistent manner thereby resulting a
controlled output voltage within that particular threshold.

The drawback behind using a transistor could be the involved hysteresis issue
which could make the switching fairly over a wider cross section resulting in a
not so accurate voltage regulation.

Opamps on the other hand can be immensely accurate as these would switch
the output regulation within a very narrow margin keeping the correction level
tight and accurate.

The simple inverter automatic load voltage correction circuit presented below
could be effectively used for the proposed application and for regulating the
output of an inverter within any desired limit.

The proposed inverter voltage correction circuit can be understood with the
help of the following points:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 3/7
05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

A single opamp performs the function of a comparator and a voltage level

detector.

Circuit Operation
The high voltage AC from the transformer output is stepped down using a
potential divider network to about 14V.

This voltage becomes the operating voltage as well as the sensing voltage for
the circuit.

The stepped down voltage using a potential divider corresponds proportionately

in response to the varying voltage at the output.

Pin3 of the opamp is set to an equivalent DC voltage corresponding to the limit

which needs to be controlled.

This is done by feeding the desired maximum limit voltage to the circuit and
then adjusting 10k preset until the output just goes high and triggers the NPN
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 4/7
05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

transistor.

Once the above setting is done the circuit becomes ready to be integrated with
the inverter for the intended corrections.

As can be see the collector of the NPN needs to be connected with the gates of
the mosfets of the inverter which are responsible for powering the inverter
transformer.

This integration ensures that whenever the output voltage tends to cross the set
limit, the NPN triggers grounding the gates of the mosfets and thereby
restricting any further rise in the voltage, the ON/OFF triggering continues
infinitely as long as the output voltage hovers around the danger zone.

It must be noted that the NPN integration would be compatible only with N-
channel mosfets, if the inverter carries P-channel mosfets, the circuit
configuration would need a complete reversal of the transistor and the input
pinouts of the opamp.

Also the circuit ground should be made common with the battery negative of
the inverter.

Design#3: Introduction
This circuit was requested to me by one of my friends Mr.Sam, whose constant
reminders prompted me to design this very useful concept for inverter
applications.

The load independent/output corrected or output compensated inverter circuit

explained here is quite on a concept level only and has not been practically
tested by me, however the idea looks feasible because of its simple design.

Circuit Operation
If we look at the figure we see that the entire design is basically a simple PWM
generator circuit built around the IC 555.

We know that in this standard 555 PWM design, the PWM pulses can be
optimized by changing the ratio of R1/R2.

This fact has been appropriately exploited here for the load voltage correction
application of an inverter.
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 5/7
05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

An opto-coupler made by sealing an LED/LDR arrangement has been used,

where the LDR of the opto- becomes one of the resistors in the PWM "arm" of
the circuit.

The LED of the opto coupler is illuminated through the voltage from the inverter
output or the load connections.

The mains voltage is suitably dropped using C3 and the associated

components for feeding the opto LED.

After integrating the circuit to an inverter, when the system is powered (with
suitable load connected), the RMS value may be measured at the output and
the preset P1 may be adjusted to make the output voltage just suitable enough
for the load.

How to Set Up
This setting is probably all that would be needed.

Now suppose if the load is increased, the voltage will tend to fall at the output
which in turn will make the opto LED intensity decrease.

The decrease in the intensity of the LED will prompt the IC to optimize its PWM
pulses such that the RMS of the output voltage rises, making the voltage level
also rise up to the required mark, this initiation will also affect the intensity of
the LED which will now go bright and thus finally reach an automatically
optimized level which will correctly balance the system load voltage conditions
at the output.

Here the mark ratio is primarily intended for controlling the required parameter,
therefore the opto should be placed appropriately either to the left or the right
arm of the shown PWM control section of the IC.

The circuit can be tried with the inverter design shown in this 500 watt inverter
circuit

https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 6/7
05/04/2024, 19:26 Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit - Homemade Circuit Projects

Parts List
R1 = 330K
R2 = 100K
R3, R4 = 100 Ohms
D1, D2 = 1N4148,
D3, D4 = 1N4007,
P1 = 22K
C1, C2 = 0.01uF
C3 = 0.33uF/400V
OptoCoupler = Homemade, by sealing an LED/LDR face to face inside a
light proof container.

CAUTION: THE PROPOSED DESIGN IS NOT ISOLATED FROM INVERTER

MAINS VOLTAGE, EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION DURING THE TESTING
AND SETTING UP PROCEDURES.

Share Share Pin8 Share

You'll also like:

https://www.homemade-circuits.com/load-independentoutput-corrected/ 7/7