Power Supply

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC
POWER SUPPLIES

Power supply is a broad term but this lesson is

restricted to discussion of PSU circuits that
generate a fixed or controllable magnitude dc
voltage from the available form of input
voltage for our electrical- electronic equipment.
 Cont.
Power Electrical/
Electronic
Supply devices
Unit ( Load )
Raw/mains
Source of power Out put Supply
AC/DC AC/DC
Power
  Supply Unit :-
   The most important & the most vulnerable part of any electrical/
electronic equipment.
AC TO DC Converters - Rectifier
AC TO AC Converters - Cyclo-converters
DC TO AC Converters - Inverters
DC TO DC Converters - Choppers
 Cont.
Power supply classification
There are two broad categories of power
supplies:
 Linear regulated power supply
 switched mode power supply (SMPS).

In some cases one may use a combination of

switched mode and linear power supplies to gain
some desired advantages of both the types.
 Cont.
Any power supply consists of two stages.
INPUT Unregulated OUTPUT Regulator OUTPUT
power supply
AC or DC section Unregulated DC Circuit Regulated DC

Breaking this system down , we will get two major parts :-

1. Unregulated PSU section
where output voltage changes with changes in :-
A. Supply voltage
B. Load current
C. Temperature
2. The Voltage regulator
Here output remains constant despite the above
changes
 Cont.
1. Linear regulated power supply

Basic block for a linear power supply

 Cont.

I. Power supply unregulated section

components
 Cont.
1. Filtering & protection circuit
The first stage of a power supply is the
filtering circuit
 Cont.
Purpose :-
1.Filters the transients (Surges & Spikes)coming
from the power line.
MOV or Capacitor
2.In SMPS Prevents the noise generated by the
switching transistors to go back to the power line,
which would cause interference /pollution on other
electronic equipments.
L- C Filter
3.Protects the system from inrush current
Thermistor -- NTC
Cont.
Cont.
 Cont.

Transient filtering & protection

circuit
1.1. Fuse (F1) elements
Over current protection device.
With the following parameters :-
Response time
T – time lagged
F – fast blow
Voltage
Physical size
 Cont.
1.2. RV1 - MOV (Metal Oxide
Varistor) or varistor
 This power supply MOV is yellow, however
the most common color is dark blue.
 Its terminals are connected in parallel to
the main power line.
 It is responsible for cutting voltage
surges/spikes (transients) found on the
power line.
 Cont.
 Cheap power supplies don’t carry this component
in order to save costs.
 On power supplies with a MOV, surge suppressors
are useless, since they have already a surge suppressor
inside them.
 Some power supplies have an X capacitor/
metalized polyester / rectangular capacitor installed in
parallel with the main power line, where RV1 is in the
Figure above.
 X capacitor is any capacitor that has its terminals
connected in parallel to the main power line.
 Cont.
1.3. L- C Filters
L1 and L2 are ferrite coils. C1 and C2 are disc capacitors,
normally blue. These capacitors are also called “Y
capacitors”.
XL = 2∏FL, XC = 1∕2∏FC
1.4. Thermistor / NTC
Always connected in series with the source.
To protect your system from unwanted
inrush current.
I increases --- temp increases ----- R decreases – I
increases
 This component resembles a ceramic discCont.
capacitor and is usually olive green
1.5. Fusable Resistors

For overload protection.

These are high wattage low ohmic ceramic
or cement type resistors
 Cont.
2. Transformer
Ratings :-
Vpri, Vsec,Power
 Cont.
 Transformers convert AC electricity from one
voltage to another AC voltage of suitable amplitude
with little loss of power.
 Primary winding connected to the mains (line)
supply. A secondary winding, electro-magnetically
coupled but electrically isolated from the primary.
P PRI = PSEC, VPRI . IPRI = VSEC. I SEC, NP / NS = VP /VS
 Transformers work only with AC voltage
 Step-up transformers increase voltage. NSEC › NPRI
 Step-down transformers reduce voltage.
NSEC › NPRI
 Cont.

3. Rectifier stage
 Converts AC in to pulsating DC.

 There are three types of rectifier circuits , each

having a different action in the way that the AC
input is converted to DC. These differences are
illustrated in Figs. Below.
 Cont.
3.1. Half Wave Rectification

VDC OUT = 0.318 Vpk = 0.45Vrms

fripple = fsupply
Cont.
 Cont.
 A single rectifier diode is used to obtain DC.
 This system is cheap
 Half wave rectification is not efficient.
 DC voltage produced by the single diode is less
than with the other systems.
VDC OUT = 0.318 Vpk = 0.45Vrms
 The amount of AC ripple left on the DC supply is
generally greater.
fripple = fsupply
 Generally It can be used in charging circuits.
 Cont.
3.2. Center tapped full wave rectifier

VDC OUT = 0.637 Vpk = 0.9 Vrms

fripple = 2fsupply
 Cont.
 Always it needs a centre tapped transformer.
 Uses two diodes
 More efficient than HWR
 The higher output frequency also makes the
smoothing of any remaining AC ripple
easier.

fripple = 2fsupply
 Two pulses of current occur at every cycle,
VDC OUT = 0.637 Vpk = 0.9 Vrms
 Cont.
3.3. Bridge full wave rectifier
Cont.
 Cont.
 uses four diodes arranged in a bridge circuit.
 gives full wave rectification without the need for a
centre tapped transformer
 An additional advantage is that, as two diodes
(effectively in series) are conducting at any one
time, the diodes need only half the reverse
breakdown voltage capability of diodes used for
half and center tapped full wave rectifier.
 The bridge rectifier can be built from separate
diodes or a combined bridge rectifier can be used.
 Cont.
Current flow direction
the current through the load remains in the
same polarity for both half cycles.

The current paths on positive half cycles of

the input wave
 Cont.
• Current flow direction
The current paths on negative half cycles of the input wave.

In both cases the current through the load remains in the same polarity for
both half cycles.
 Cont.

Most of the power supplies use a bridge

rectifier.
This bridge rectifier can be made by four diodes
or by a single package where four diodes are
integrated in bridge form. In high-performance
power supplies this rectifying bridge is
connected to a heat-sink.
 Cont.
• Dual Voltage Supply
A dual complementary rectifier is used to
supply a positive and negative DC output of
the same voltage.
 Cont.

Commonly used diodes :-

Low freq. rectifier
General purpose power rectifir diodes
1N400X
Small signal rectifier diodes
1N4148
These are glass encapsulated diodes.
 Cont.
1.4. Filtering or smoothing capacitor

This provides a
steadier dc
voltage.
 Cont.
It is used to reduce the fluctuation in the
rectified output voltage or ripple.
It is the biggest electrolytic capacitor in the
power supply unit.
C ≥ 5I0 ∕ fs .*Vpk ,
Vdc ≈ 1.4 * Vrms, because the capacitor drives

the output voltage near to peak value.

Vcap. ≥ 1.25Vdc
 II. Voltage Regulator Cont.
The regulator is a circuit that helps to maintain a fixed or
constant
output voltage despite changes in :-
1. The input AC line voltage
2. Load current
3. Temperature
Which will cause the output voltage to vary.
If the output varies, for whatever reason, the regulator circuit
automatically adjusts the output back to the set value.
 Cont.
Types of Regulator
Fundamental classes of voltage regulators are :-
linear regulators and
switching regulators

1. linear regulators
Two basic types of linear regulator are :-
Series regulator and
shunt regulator .
This classification is based on regulator location

w.r.t. the load .

 Cont.

Series regulators Shunt regulators

The shunt regulator is connected in parallel with the

load and theseries regulator is connected in series with
the load.
 Cont.
1.1. Shunt Regulator Circuit

The simplest shunt regulator is zener diode

regulator.

A. Zener diode regulator

It is used for low power application

A simple voltage regulator can be made
with a resistor and a zener diode
connected in reverse.
Cont.
 Cont.
 Zener diodes are rated by their breakdown
voltage Vz and maximum power Pz .

Steps to design linear power supply with zener

regulator for our low power device :-

1. Choose proper zener diode

1.1. The output voltage required is the zener

voltage.
Vdc out = Vzener
1.2. Calculate maximum circuit current.
Imax. = load + (10 to 20) % load
Iz = Imax
 Cont.
1.3. Calculate zener diode power rating.
Pz = Vz * Iz

2. The input supply voltage must be few volts

greater than Vz ( at least 1 volt ).
Vs › Vz
3. Select proper series resistor.
Rs = Vs – Vz
Imax
Pr = Imax. Vsr
1.4. Select proper power indicator LED/red/ for your
power supply.
VF LED = 1.8 V, IF LED = 20 mA max,
So, series resistor value will be :-

Rs = Vs – Vf ,
If
Where, Rs - series resistor
Vs – Supply voltage
Vf - LED Forward voltage drop
If - LED maximum forward current
 Cont.
EXERCISE

1.Design & build a linear power supply with

zener voltage regulator on the bread board, if
the mains supply voltage is 220 VAC and the
desired output voltage is 10 VDC assuming the
target load current is 10 mA ? Example, Choose
the correct protection device/fuse/, transformer,
bridge rectifier diodes, smoothing capacitor,
series resistors for Zener diode and power
indicator LED.
 Cont.
B. Op-Amp Shunt Regulator
Principle operation
 When the output voltage tries to decrease due
to a change in input voltage or load current
caused by a change in load resistance, the
decrease is sensed by R1 and R2.
 A feedback voltage obtained from voltage divider
R1 and R2 is applied to the op-amp’s
inverting input and compared to the Zener
voltage to control the drive current to the
transistor.
The current through resistor RS is thus controlled
to drop a voltage across RS so that the output
voltage is maintained.
 Cont.
2. Linear series regulator

Control Element
Sample Circuit

Error Detector
 Cont.

The resistor R1 and R2 sense a change in the output

voltage and provide a feedback voltage.
The error detector compares the feedback voltage
with a Zener diode reference voltage.
The resulting difference voltage causes the transistor
Q1 controls the conduction to compensate the
variation of the output voltage.
The output voltage will be maintained at a constant
value of:
 R1 
Vo  1  VZ
 R2 
 Cont.

Transistor Series Regulator

• The transistor Q1 is the series control element.

• Zener diode provides the reference voltage.
 Cont.
Since Q1 is an npn transistor, Vo is found as:

VBE  VZ  Vo
the response of the pass-transistor to a change in load
resistance as follows:
If load resistance increases, load voltage also increases.
Since the Zener voltage is constant, the increase in Vo causes VBE
to decrease.
The decrease in VBE reduces conduction through the pass-
transistor, so load current decreases.
This offsets the increase in load resistance, and a relatively
constant load voltage is maintained
 Cont.
2. Switching Regulator

Switched mode power supplies or SMPS

Act as DC to DC converters.
1. First rectifIes an AC input voltage (110V / 240V),
converts it to DC.
2. Then chops this DC in a "chopper" and converts it

to a higher or lower level of DC.

3. Typical modern applications include your
computer power supply and the power supplies
in your TV and Video sets.
Basic switched mode supply circuit.
Major parts :-
1. High frequency switch ( BJT or
MOSFET )
2. High power & high frequency
transformer ( chopper )
3. Power supply Control circuit,
which includes : -
Oscillator, operational amplifier,
PWM
4. Output rectification & filtering
circuit
SMPS operation
1. The unregulated dc is fed directly to the central block of
the supply, the high frequency power switching section.

2. Fast switching power semiconductor devices such as

MOSFETs and Bipolars are driven on and off by pulses
from the control circuit , and switch the input voltage
across the primary of the power transformer.
3. The drive pulses are normally fixed frequency (15 to
50kHz) and variable duty cycle.
4. The duty cycle of the driving pulses varies with variation in

AC input or load current to keep the output voltage

constant.
5. The feedback is done through opto-isolator or from one of
the secondary windings of the chopper transformer.
6. The feedback ( sample secondary voltage) is compared
with the reference signal by the comparator and the
comparator produces a signal which is further used to
modulate the pulse width/duty cycle of the transistor by
the PWM to drive the switching transistor.
7. Secondary voltage pulse trains of suitable magnitude and

duty ratio appears on the transformer secondaries by

induction.
8. This voltage pulse train is appropriately rectified by fast
recovery diodes, and then smoothed by the output filter,
which is either a capacitor or capacitor / inductor
arrangement, depending upon the topology used.
9. This transfer of power has to be carried out with the lowest

losses possible, to maintain efficiency. Thus, optimum

There are many different types of
SMPS configuration, but all employ
the same basic principle of power
convert ion.
 Cont.
Comparison of switched mode power supplies
with other forms of power regulators
Advantages of switched mode power supplies, SMPS

1. Primarily lower weight & smaller size, low weight

and smaller size come about because operation is
at higher frequency range about 20 KHZ and the
power transformers are smaller/ferrite cored and
much cheaper.
The linear power supply contains a mains
transformer which is operated at lower frequency

50Hz . This means the supply has extremely large

and heavy 50/60 Hz transformers
 Cont.
2. Higher efficiency, efficiencies of between 70 and
80%,
Higher efficiency occurs because the power
transistor is switched very rapidly between
saturation (FULL ON) and cut off (FULL OFF) and
there is very little power dissipation and it follows
there are reduced heat sinking requirements.
The linear power supply very poor power conversion
efficiencies ( always the regulating element is ON-
higher power dissipation ) Typical efficiencies of 30%

are standard for a linear.

3. wider AC input voltage range results from
the flexibility in selecting the switching
frequency and the transistor duty cycle
which makes voltage adaption
unnecessary.
 Cont.

Disadvantages of switched mode power

supplies, SMPS

The largest disadvantage of switched mode

power supplies is that they can not easily be
employed by electronic hobbyists or even
electronics technicians in a casual fashion
owing to circuit complexity.
IC Voltage Regulators
 Generally, the linear regulators are three-

terminal devices that provides either

positive or negative output voltages that
can fixed
 The be either fixed
voltage or adjustable.
regulator has an unregulated

dc input voltage Vi applied to one input

terminal, a regulated output dc voltage Vo
from a second terminal, and the third terminal
connected to ground.
3.1 Fixed-Positive Voltage Regulator
The series 78XX regulators are the three-
terminal devices that provide a fixed
positive output voltage.
• An unregulated input
voltage Vi is filtered by a
capacitor C1 and
connected to the IC’s IN
terminal.
• The IC’s OUT terminal
provides a regulated +12
V, which is filtered by
capacitor C2.
• The third IC terminal is
connected to ground
(GND)
Positive-Voltage Regulators in the
78XX Series
IC Part Output Voltage (V) Minimum Vi (V)
7805 +5 +7.3
7806 +6 +8.3
7808 +8 +10.5
7810 +10 +12.5
7812 +12 +14.5
7815 +15 +17.7
7818 +18 +21.0
7824 +24 +27.1
3.2. Fixed-Negative Voltage Regulator
• The series 79XX regulators are the three-terminal IC
regulators that provide a fixed negative output voltage.
• This series has the same features and characteristics as
the series 78XX regulators except the pin numbers are
different.
Negative-Voltage Regulators in the 79XX
Series
IC Part Output Voltage (V) Minimum Vi (V)
7905 -5 -7.3
7906 -6 -8.4
7908 -8 -10.5
7909 -9 -11.5
7912 -12 -14.6
7915 -15 -17.7
7918 -18 -20.8
7924 -24 -27.1
3.3. Adjustable-Voltage Regulator
• Voltage regulators are also available in circuit
configurations that allow to set the output voltage
to a desired regulated value.
• The LM317 is an example of an adjustable positive
voltage regulator, can be operated over the range
of voltage from 1.2 to 37 V.
Thank you