LINEAR DC

POWER SUPPLY

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i. All electronic circuits need power source to

function.
ii. Power Supply Unit is a device used to
convert, regulate and transmit the required
power to the circuit to be operated.
iii. Electronic
circuits
made
up
of
semiconductors need specific value of
Direct Current (DC) voltage.
iv. Batteries are common DC voltage source
for
electronic
equipment
especially
portables like cell phones and iPods.
v. Most non-portable equipment uses power
supplies that operate from the AC power
line but produce one or more DC outputs.

Click to Play the Video

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POWER SUPPLY CHARACTERISTICS

i.

The input is 240volt 50Hz Alternative Current (AC).

ii. A power supply unit converts the AC into DC and

provides one or more DC output voltages.
iii. Some modern electronic circuits need two or more
different voltages.
iv. Commonly required DC voltages are 48, 24, 15, 12, 9, 5,
3.3, 2.5, 1.8, 1.5, 1.2 and 1 volts.
v. A good example of a modern power supply is the one
inside a PC that furnishes 12, 5, 3.3 and 1.2 volts.
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4/50

The operation of a DC power supply circuit

The importance of DC power supply units in electronic appliances
i.

Power supply provide one or more fixed voltages with sufficient current to the
operating circuit.

ii.

Electronic devices such as transistor radio, television and video cd players

operate fully or partly on DC power supply in the range of 0 to 24V.

iii. The successful operation of the device depends on the proper function of the
DC power supply. The power supply tries to provide a smooth, constant DC
voltage, as required by an electronic device.
iv. Major electronic appliances have built-in electronic circuits that take power
from a wall socket and convert it to the form and voltages required by the
other internal circuits of the appliance.

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Block Diagram of DC Power Supply

VA

Click on the
Block to
display its
function

A.C. Mains 230V,

50Hz

A.C. voltage

The function for each

block DC Power Supply

Transformer

VAC

To step down high voltage AC to

Low A.C. voltage
low voltage AC

Rectifier

VD
C

Pulsating
type

To convert AC to DC, but the DC

output is varying

Filter

VD
C

Unregulat
ed

To smoothen the DC from

varying greatly to a small ripple

Regulator
VDC

Voltage Divider

To load

Regulated
smooth D.C
Supply
t

To eliminate ripple by setting DC

output to a fixed voltage
To divide DC voltage which are
different needed value circuit
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Transformer
Transformer
Symbol

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Transformer
Symbol Transformer
i.

A transformer is commonly used to step

down the input AC voltage to a lower level.

ii.

For example, a transformer with a turns

ratio of 10 to 1(10:1) would convert the 240
volt 50 Hz input sine wave into a 24 volt
sine wave.

iii. The low voltage AC output is suitable for

lamps, heaters and special AC motors.

Input: High
Voltage AC
Output: Low
Voltage AC

iv. It is not suitable for electronic circuits

unless they include a rectifier and a
smoothing capacitor.

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Transformer + Rectifier
Transformer

Rectifier

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Transformer + Rectifier
i.

ii.

There are several forms of rectifiers

but all are made up of diodes.

Input: Low
Voltage AC
Output:
Varying DC

The rectifier converts the AC sine

wave into a pulsating DC wave.

Diodes

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Transformer + Rectifier
i.

A
single
diodes
rectifier
produces half-wave varying DC.

Input: Low
Voltage AC
Output:
Varying DC

ii.

Rectifier with two or four diodes

will produce full-wave varying
DC.

Input: Low
Voltage AC
Output:
Varying DC

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter

Transformer

Rectifier

Filter

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter

i.

Rectifier produces a pulsating DC, unlike a constant steady value that is

produced by a battery.
Pulsating (varying) DC output
Output:
Varying DC

Steady value DC output

Output:
Smooth DC

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter

ii.

A filter is then used to remove the pulsations and create a constant

output.
Pulsating (varying) DC output
Output:
Varying DC

Constant / Smooth DC output

Input: Varying
DC
Output:
Smooth DC

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter

iii. The most common filter is a large capacitor.
iv. The filtered DC output have small ripples. It is suitable for most electronic
circuits.

Input: Varying
DC
Output:
Smooth DC

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter+ Regulator

Transformer

Rectifier

Filter

Regulator

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter+ Regulator

i.

The regulator is a component that helps to maintain a fixed or

constant output voltage.

Regulator

Input: Smooth
DC
Output:
Regurated DC

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter+ Regulator

ii.

Changes in the load or the AC line voltage will cause the output
voltage to vary.

Input: Smooth
DC
Output:
Regurated DC

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Transformer + Rectifier + Filter+ Regulator

iii.
iv.
v.

Most electronic circuits cannot withstand the variations since they are
designed to work properly with a fixed voltage.
The regulator fixes the output voltage to the desired level and
maintains that value despite any output or input variations.
The regulated DC output is very smooth with no ripples. It is suitable
for all electronic circuits.

Input: Smooth
DC
Output:
Regurated DC

DC output is
very smooth
with no ripple

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Types of Rectifier

Rectifier
Half-wave
rectifier

Full-wave
rectifier

Bridge
rectifier

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Types of Rectifier

Rectifier
Half-wave
rectifier

Full-wave
rectifier

Bridge
rectifier

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HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER

Positive Cycle Operation

During the POSITIVE cycle of the input signal:
i. diode is forward biased.
ii. diode act as a CLOSED switch
iii. current flows through diode
The voltage drop at RL is the same as input signal (at positive cycle magnitude)
The output voltage keeps the shape of the input voltage
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HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER

NEGATIVE Cycle

I= 0 A
VL = 0 V

Negative cycle operation

During the NEGATIVE cycle of input signal:
i. the D diode is reverse biased
ii. Diode act as OPEN switch
iii. no current flow through diode
The voltage drop at RL is zero.

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HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER
0.7V(silicon diode)
Vin
Vin = 20 V

Vout

= 20 V

Vout = 19.3 V

Calculation of output voltage

Output voltage for the half-wave rectifier circuit is for the positive cycle only.
Example : Vin = 20 V
Vout = Vin 0.7V(silicon diode)
= 20V 0.7V = 19.3V
The output signal frequency is same frequency as input.
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Types of Rectifier

Rectifier
Half-wave
rectifier

Full-wave
rectifier

Bridge
rectifier

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FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER

AC input Signal

Full-wave Rectifier
Output Signal

i. A full-wave rectifier is exactly the same as the half-wave rectifier

ii. It use 2 diodes, D1 and D2
iii. It allows unidirectional current flow through the load during the entire sinusoidal cycle (as
opposed to only half the cycle in the half-wave)

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FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER

A
B
G
Positive cycle operation
During the positive cycle:
i. the M terminal becomes positive, G becomes zero (earth) & N becomes
negative.
ii. Diode D1 is forward biased while diode D2 is reverse biased
Thus, the current will flow along M,D1,A, RL,G.

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FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER

c
Negative cycle operation
During the NEGATIVE cycle:
i. M terminal becomes negative, G becomes zero (earth) and N becomes
positive.
ii. D2 is forward biased, while D1 is reverse biased
iii. Thus , the current will flow along N, D 2, C, B, RL, G.
OUTPUT wave is always POSITIVE because the current that flows through R L (load) is
same direction for both the positive and negative cycle.
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FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER

Output Voltage

Output signal negative cycle

Output Voltage is formed at both cycle.
Frequency of output is twice of the input frequency.

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Types of Rectifier

Rectifier
Half-wave
rectifier

Full-wave
rectifier

Bridge
rectifier

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BRIDGE RECTIFIER

Positive Cycle Operation

Bridge rectifier use four diodes, D1, D2, D3 and D4
During the POSITIVE input cycle :
i. D1 and D2 diodes are forward biased
ii. D3 and D4 are reverse biased
The current will flow along G, D, D2, C, N, M, A, D1,B, RL,G.
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BRIDGE RECTIFIER

Negative cycle operation

During the NEGATIVE input cycle:
i. D3 and D4 diodes are forward biased
ii. D1 and D2 are reverse biased.
The current will flow along G, D, D3, A, M, N, C, D4,B, RL,G.
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BRIDGE RECTIFIER

Output voltage

Notes: PIV is Peak Inverse Voltage.

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Comparison between two diodes rectifier and four diodes rectifier

Filter

The output of rectifier circuit is the pulsating DC voltage .

The resulting pulsating dc signal smooth the output voltage, we
used filter circuit
The main function of filter is to convert pulsating DC voltage to
the ripple DC voltage or as good as pure DC voltage(Figure 1) and
free from pulse which is similar to the value obtain by battery.
However, not all the filter can produce pure DC voltage .The
output voltage from filter normally is not really stable. This voltage
is the mixture of DC voltage with the AC voltage (ripple voltage)
as shown in figure 2.
V

( Vr )p-p

Va.t.
Va.t.

t
Figure 5.5.2 : Pure DC voltage

t
Figure 5.5.3:Ripple DC voltage

Types Filter

The best filter circuit is the filter that can decrease as much as the
value of Vr p-p produce by ripple DC voltage .The other type of
filter are

1.Capacitor filter
2.RC filter
3.LC filter
4.- Type Filter

1.5 RC filter

1.6 LC & filter

1.7 Voltage Regulator

1.7.1 The voltage regulator circuits construct by using Zener
diode

1.7 Voltage Regulator

1.7.3 The voltage regulator circuits construct by using Serial transistor

1.7 Voltage Regulator

1.7.3 The voltage regulator circuits construct by using Integrated
Circuits

1.8 Voltage Divider

Voltage divider rule is a simple way of determining the output voltage across
one of two impedances connected in series

1.9 The schematic diagrams of a simple power supply

unit which includes full-wave rectifier, filter and Zener
diode voltage regulator.

1.9 The schematic diagrams of a simple power supply unit which

includes full-wave rectifier, filter and IC voltage regulator.

46

1.9 The schematic diagrams of a simple power supply unit which

includes Bridge rectifier, filter and IC voltage regulator.

47

DC Linear Power Supply

AC
230V
Transforme
r

Rectifier
Circuit
Halfwave
Rectifier
Fullwave
Rectifier
Bridge
Rectifier

Filter
Circuit

Regulato
r Circuit

Capacitor
filter
RC filter

DC

Voltage
Divider

Zener
Diode
Serial
Transistor

LC filter
filter

Integrated
Circuit (IC)
IC
LM78XX

EE3110 Oscillator

IC
LM79XX
48