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Let’s learn how Cell Phone Charger circuit work

Last Updated on: April 6, 2024 by Apichet Garaipoom

Today, let’s learn about the principles of Mobile or Cell Phone Charger circuits in a
simple way for a beginner.

You might be reading this article on your web browser on your cell phone, right? Your
phone is powered by a Li-on battery, and when it runs out of power, it has to be
charged with a cell phone charger or mobile charger. But the Li-on battery should
always be kept fully charged.
Table of Contents [ hide ]
How it works
Meet the RCC Switching Power Supply
The switching transformer
Switching transistor for Ringing-choke Converter
The basic operation of the RCC circuit
Error Voltage Checker
Changing the output voltage
Good battery charger
Conclusion
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Related Posts
How it works
Nowadays, the cell phone charger converts AC mains to 5V stable voltage for
charging the cell phone (built-in the cell phone there is already a charging system and
Battery Management System).

Small & cheap mobile charger

Inside the cell or mobile phone charger is just a 5V switching power supply. It is both
small and cheap.

There are many 5V charger circuits out there. But we’ll start with a simple circuit first.
Refer to the block diagram below to understand the broad concept.

At the first Rectifier & Filter block. It converts from a high-voltage AC main to a higher
DC voltage. The input can be 110V AC to 240V AC.

Block diagram of RCC Switching Power Supply

For Example:
The North American system converts 120V AC to 170V DC. But the European system
converts 220V to 311V DC.

This block contains a half-wave rectifier circuit.

High voltage half wave rectifier circuit

The AC main flows through a fuse resistor R1. It will break or self-destruct when there
is too much electricity. Then D1 rectifies the AC (Alternating Current) to a pulsating DC
(Direct Current). Then, it is filtered to a smooth DC voltage of 170V or 311V.

Meet the RCC Switching Power Supply

There are various switching power supply systems. It is well known that they have at
least two main parts: an oscillator and a transformer.

But if we need the circuit to have low output capacity, simple, and cost-effective as
possible. We may have two choices: a Forward converter and a Ringing-Choke
Converter (RCC).

But we chose the RCC system for the following reasons:

1. It is most widely used as a switching power supply with a quite low output capacity
of fewer than 100 watts.

2. Use self-oscillated oscillation, which, considering the low cost and small size, has a
pretty high efficiency.
3. The small number of parts consists of one transistor, a switching transformer,
resistors, capacitors, and some other parts.

4. Only a simple driver circuit is required.

5. Does not need a filtering choke.

The switching transformer

This circuit has an interesting component, a switching transformer. It is a transformer

that operates at high frequencies. It is easy to tell it apart from other transformers
because of its very small size.

Small Switching transformers compared to General E-I transformer

It serves to transform the AC voltage to a lower value, step-down transformer. This

circuit uses T1 with 3 winding of coil:

1. Primary: A resistance of about 8.2Ω, about 200 turns of 39 AWG enameled copper
wire.
2. Secondary: A resistance of about 0.2Ω, about 6 turns of 28 AWG enameled copper
wire.
3. Feedback: A resistance of about 1Ω, about 10 to 20 turns of 36 to 39 AWG
enameled copper wire.
 Pinout and symbol of the switching transformer

Note: AWG stands for American Wire Gauge.

If you cannot find a switching transformer of this size, you may pick one that is
approximately 10-15 mm in size or similar. Each transformer may have a different
winding resistance. But the important thing is that they have to have 3 coils, and the
primary coil has the highest resistance of any other coil. May be 15–25 times greater
than the secondary coil.

Switching transistor for Ringing-choke Converter

The transistor for RCC must have the essential characteristics of high hFE, high-speed
switching, the ability to withstand high voltage, and a wide RBOA (Reverse Biased
Safety Operating Area).

MJE13001 pinout

According to my experience, the MJE13001 transistor is commonly seen in a

switching power supply because it is a high-voltage NPN BJT Transistor in TO-92
shape. And, for other basic features:
 hFE range (DC Current Gain): 5 to 40
IC (Collector current): 200mA
VCB Collector to base Voltage): 600V
VCE (Collector to emitter voltage: 400v
VEB (Emitter to base voltage): 7V
TJ (junction temperature: 150°C
Power dissipation at the transistor: 1000mW
FT (Transition frequency): 8MHz

The basic operation of the RCC circuit

From the block diagram, we know that it used a switching transistor and a switching
transformer. Next, we are going to learn how an oscillator (OSC) or flyback oscillator
works.

The transistor is starting to drive the

switching transformer

When the input voltage is applied. The base current (IB) flows through resistor R2.
Biasing the transistor Q1, turning it on.

Secondly, the collector current (IC) flows through the primary winding and starts rising
rapidly and linearly as shown in the graph, until it reaches the threshold level.

After a few moments, the feedback winding will start to increasingly release a low
opposite (negative) voltage, charging the capacitor C3, and continuing to flow to the
base of Q1. The VBE is negative voltage. It has greater power than the current flowing
through R2. Consequently, the transistor turns off and the current stops flowing
through the primary winding.

When the discharging negative current runs out. The base current starts to flow
through R2 to bias the base of transistor Q1 again.

This cycle will continue forever at around 10,000 to 50,000 times per second. This
frequency change depends on the input voltage and how heavy the load is.

See the Operation waveform of each part of the RCC system.

We can see the relationship between IC, VCE, and VBE as a transistor turns on and off.

And now we have an oscillator, or the flyback oscillator circuit.

It also stores energy in the transformer during the period the transistor is on and
outputs this energy to load through rectifier 2 when the transistor is turned off.

The rectifier & filter 2 is also the half-wave rectifier circuit, but now with a higher
frequency. It is also better to use a Schottky rectifier diode, 1N5819, instead of the
original 1N4007. Because 1N5819 is more efficient at higher frequencies.

And on the C5 filter capacitor, we swap out for a higher capacitance of 470µF to filter
high current more smoothly.
Error Voltage Checker

How can we stabilize the voltage at 5V?

We add D4, C4, and D3 as the error voltage checker. Some AC voltage from the
feedback winding flows to D4 and C4, half wave rectifier to a negative DC voltage.
And, the D3 is a 6.2V Zener diode. is too high, and this negative voltage is also too
high at more than 6.2V. The D3 is forward-biased, so some negative voltage pulls
down the VBE of the transistor. Then, the collector current (IC) of the transistor is also
lower. So, the output voltage eventually decreases.

Finally, we take each part and assemble them into a complete Cell Phone Charger
circuit.
 Cell phone Charger circuit RCC system

Due to the problem of spike voltage from the operation of the switching transformer
(see above graph), It may cause damage to other components, especially the
switching transistor. So, we put R4, C2, and D2. For the diode D2, it can absorb a
negative spike voltage.

We also add R3 and R5 to improve the biased current of the transistor.

And, LED1 indicates the circuit is working, and R4 limits a safe current for LED1.
 Simple Cell phone Charger circuit

However, you may modify the new circuit to be smaller and easier. But there may be a
problem with spiked voltage, so it is an option that you should consider.

Changing the output voltage

Choosing the voltage of the Zener diode

We may use the 1N5237 (8.2V 0.5W), which causes an output voltage of about 7.4V,
for charging a 6V battery.

We will see that:

1. The output voltage of this adapter should be higher than the battery’s voltage by
about 20%. If we use a 12V battery, the output voltage is about 14 volts.

2. The breakdown voltages (Vz) of the Zener diode should also be higher than the
output voltage, around 20%.
Suppose the output voltage is about 14 volts. Therefore, we should use the 18 volts
Zener diode.
The Zener diode in the circuit used 0.5 watts.

Source:

Good battery charger

While is charging, the battery is not hot. Thus, the life of a battery is a long time, and
can recharge several times.

The disadvantage is it takes about 3 hours to charge because it is low current

charging about 500mA to 800mA.

Read Also: Simple Li-ion Battery circuit with automatic cut-off

Conclusion
In the nature of this circuit, without a load, the output voltage is slightly higher. When
the load is connected, the voltage can be reduced as needed.

The cell phone charger meets our needs: it is simple, small, and cheap, but it can also
be made more efficient. Both have a better energy supply, maintaining a stable
voltage.

Make Gel cell battery charger circuit

Sure, I want to see you grow up in electronics. Below is circuits list you may like it.

8 How to converter 12V to 6V Step down

Power bank Mobile Charger Circuit using LM1086
Many Simple 6V Power Supply Circuits

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Apichet Garaipoom
I love electronics. I have been learning about them through creating simple electronic
circuits or small projects. And now I am also having my children do the same.
Nevertheless, I hope you found the experiences we shared on this site useful and
fulfilling.

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13 thoughts on “Let’s learn how Cell Phone Charger circuit

work”
Yan Kanaya
November 15, 2013 at 6:03 am

hi sir,i’m verry happy with your site,coz i’m hobby electronic. Thank’s very
much

Reply

Chayaporn Garaipoom
June 21, 2023 at 12:31 am

With great pleasure I’m happy that like it, my dad teaches me every day,
but it’s hard for me. But I’ll keep trying. 🙂
Reply

Htin Lin Aung

January 1, 2024 at 7:35 pm

Thanks.

Reply

walter
November 18, 2017 at 2:47 am
 hallo,

die schaltung kann so nicht funktionieren. die verbindung von D3 und C3

darf nicht an den

emitter gehen. sie muss an die basis angeschlossen werden.

viele grüße

walter

Reply

Charles
November 23, 2017 at 11:24 pm

Hi, this ckt is found to b very useful however it wud be better if u wud
provide the details of the transformer T1.

Reply

Alan
December 29, 2021 at 12:54 am

Need a cct for charging a lead acid battery at 2.5v dc at 20 amps thanks
 Reply

Apichet Garaipoom
January 2, 2022 at 6:51 pm

Hello Alan,
Thanks for your visit to my site.
Now, I do not have that circuit as you want. If you have a new or update I
will email you. Please subscribe with me.

Have a good day.

Reply

KEN A PHILLIPS, BSEE

January 5, 2022 at 11:11 pm

I would like to build this circuit. I need the details or a source for T1

Reply

Apichet Garaipoom
January 6, 2022 at 8:40 pm

Hello KEN A PHILLIPS, BSEE,

Thanks for your visit to my site. I am sorry. I do not know about this
transformer.
 I have many mobile chargers. Inside them have this transformer a lot.

I also am interested in this circuit. Unfortunately, I am busy. I would like to

find/test this circuit for you.

Have a good day.

Reply

Alireza.Moghaddam
March 8, 2023 at 6:56 pm

hello
Error in schematic :
Correct : C2 & D3 connect to “Base” not to “Emitter”.
thanks

Reply

Apichet Garaipoom
March 22, 2023 at 8:06 am

Hello, dear friend!

Thanks for the correction.
We have already rewritten this article.

Reply
wasswa fredrick lutaaya
March 29, 2024 at 10:57 am

I appreciate the information i have read on your stie . thanks very much

Reply

Chayapohn Garaipoom
March 30, 2024 at 10:46 pm

Hi,
It’s my pleasure. My dad and I would try to learn electronics by
experimenting and analyzing their workings.
In the future, we will experiment with this circuit again. Hope you will
follow again.
If you have any other suggestions? Please tell us, we would be happy to
share. Thank 🙂
Reply

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