audioguru Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 The short-circuit current is determined by the setting of the current-regulation pot, P2. In your original project's circuit with the pot at max I think Q2 and Q4 will melt with about 2.5A.The voltage across R7 is the load's current times 0.47. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelderS Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Ok, audioguru, I know how to make the claculations, I would like to know why can't I have more than 50 mA??? Regards, Helder Silva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Hi Helder,It's troubleshooting time!1) Turn the current regulation setting pot P2 to max and connect the neg lead of your voltmeter to the output 0V terminal.2) Without a load on the project measure the voltage at the slider of P2. It should be about +1.7V. If it isn't, check the vaues of R7, R17, R18 and P2.3) If the values are correct but the measurement is wrong, measure the voltage at pin 6 of U1. It should be about +11.2V.4) If the +11.2V is wrong, check the part number and polarity of D8 and the values of R5 and R6.5) Turn up the voltage setting pot P1 to max. Short the project's output and the current should be about 2.5A and the current-regulation warning LED probably won't light. Turn down the current-regulation pot P2 to about 70% and the current-regulation warning LED should light and stay on as the pot is turned to zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelderS Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Hi, Audioguru, here it goes my results:2) Without a load on the project measure the voltage at the slider of P2. It should be about +1.7V. If it isn't, check the vaues of R7, R17, R18 and P2. Here, I measured +1.8V3) If the values are correct but the measurement is wrong, measure the voltage at pin 6 of U1. It should be about +11.2V. Here, I measured +10.94V , IS IT TOO LOW???wHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE VALUES i MEASURED, I STILL CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN 50 mA AT THE OUTPUT... R2 BECOMES REALLY HOT AT YOUR POINT 5) CONDITIONS? aNY CLUE? THANKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Hi Helder,2) Your measurement is high because the value for pots could range over plus and minus 20% which is fine.3) Your measurement is low because you probably used a zener diode designed to be operated at 45mA, but R4 in the circuit gives it only 1mA. That's why I recommend using a BZX79C5V6 zener diode that is designed for 5mA and changing R4 to 1k to provide 5.6mA.Of course R2 gets hot and will melt and burn the pcb. It dissipates a lot of power. I recommend using a 2W resistor.You know what? The power in R2 should always be the same. Did it heat more when the output was shorted? Check the values of R13 and R14. Check the pins positions on Q1.Are the opamps hot? They are operating with a total supply voltage much higher than their absolute max. Measure the positive supply voltage at pin 7 of U2 and the negative supply voltage at its pin 4.Did the LED ever light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Yup. You would light-up too, like U2 and U3 if your supply voltage is way above your absolute max. It looks like you need some OPA445AP high voltage opamps.I can't remember what you are using for Q2. If is the original little thing and it fails, it might wipe-out your new opamp. Get a real power transistor to replace it like a TIP31A and a real little finned heatsink to be bolted to it.You didn't post the voltage measurements I requested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelderS Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Hi, Audioguru, so I've to change my Q2 to a TIP31A, and can I use a LM741 ampop instead the OPA445AP, once it may be more difficult to get where I live. If not, can you give other alternatives. And I have to say that ALL my project has been made with the original parts proposed in the website, except my transformer wich have 26.7 VAC @ 2.5 A, for maximum ratings. I'm not at home, so I can not measure now the opamps supply. Regards, Helder Silva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Your fully loaded transformer produces 26.7VAC which could be 28VAC without much load. Its peak voltage will be 39.6V then is reduced by the rectifier bridge to 38.2VDC without much load and is the positive supply for 2 of the opamps. These opamps also have a negative supply of about -5.6V so the total supply voltage for the opamps is 43.8V.The original project's TL081 and an ordinary 741 opamp have an absolute max total supply voltage rating of only 36V and they aren't guaranteed to work so high.The OPA445AP (Texas Instruments, Burr-Brown division) has a 90V rating, a 741A opamp, an MC34071CP (used to be Motorola, then ON Semi and now maybe another name), a TLE2141CP (Texas Instruments) and a National Semi opamp have a 44V rating, but they aren't guaranteed to work so high, just withstand it for a moment without damage. "Continuous exposure to this stress level may affect product reliability".I hope you find some 90V opamps.I also hope you have a huge heatsink for your single 2N3055 transistor with thermal grease and aren't using an insulator (electrically insulate the heatsink from the chassis). It will dissipate 61.5W at 1.77A with the project set to a low ouput voltage. It and your transformer will probably smoke if the current setting is max and the output is shorted.I also hope you have a 6A to 10A rectifier bridge module bolted to the chassis with thermal grease, instead of the wimpy little diodes in the original project.BTW, your transformer is rated at 2.5A AC. It really is a power rating so since the supply's C1 charges to the peak of the AC voltage which is higher, then its DC rating in this project is only 1.77A DC. ;DI could go on and on so here are my recommendations again: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Hi Helder,2 of the opamps have a positive supply voltage of your 39.7V plus the negative supply of -5.6V = 45.3V.The NE5534D has a tiny surface-mount package (the "D") and has an absolute max supply voltage of only 40V. It has diodes across its inputs and its offset adjustment is completely different.What's wrong with Portugal? Doesn't Farnell serve parts there? www.farnell.comWalk or drive to France or Spain or c'mon over here. ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelderS Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Hi, Audioguru, why do you added de negative supply voltage??? I measured the voltage betweeen pin 4 and 7and it were +/- 40 V, doesn't this volage includes already the negative voltage supply?? Regards, Helder Silva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 The project has always had a -5.6V negative supply. U2 and U3 won't work properly without it. If you measure only 40V from pin 4 to pin 7 and your positive supply is 39.7V then your negative supply isn't working. Check the polarity of its diodes.Actually, since the opamps get hot then they are probably blown and are overloading the negative supply, causing its voltage to be only -0.3V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Hi again Helder,You didn't say so I looked: Farnell in Portugal have lots of OPA445AP opamps. ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelderS Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Hi, Audioguru,If you measure only 40V from pin 4 to pin 7 and your positive supply is 39.7V then your negative supply isn't working. Check the polarity of its diodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 I think you misunderstood what I said, what I said was that the voltage between the pin 4 and pin 7 is 39.7V, I didn't measured the positive supply voltage, neither the negative supply voltage, BUT BOTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Hi Helder,I'm glad to help you. ;DThe voltage from your transformer is lower than we thought, resulting in a total supply voltage low enough that cheap 44V-rated opamps can be used.I think the negative supply will be fine when you replace the blown-up opamps that are installed now. ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelderS Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Hi, Audioguru, Ok, I must wait now, to buy some 44V opamps. And after I change them, wich major changes to other components to make this PS Work ?? If I get an output of 20 V @ 1,5A, I really wouldn't mind... :-) Regards, Helder SilvaP.S.: By the way where are you from, Audioguru? I'm from nearby Coimbra, Portugal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 I recommend changing D8 and Q2. Change the values of R4 and R15. Then it will work as well as it can. If parts melt, upgrade them.We don't know how low the transformer's output voltage will be with a heavy load, so we don't know what your project's max output voltage will be without any ripple or loss of regulation.I'm in Canada, very close to Toronto. I live a 15 minute drive away from Lake Ontario where I walk my wifey and dog along its very long boardwalk nearly every day. The lake is so big that it prevents our winter temperature from dropping too low.Hee, hee. ;D Here's a satellite pic of "my yaught" zooming on the lake: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongseng Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Hi audioguru,Can I replace D1, D2, D3 & D4 with general purpose rectifiers D25XB60 rated at 600V, 25A?Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Hi Mongseng,This low voltage project certainly doesn't need a rectifier bridge rated at 600V but it's fine if you have it. Bolt it to the chassis or a heatsink with thermal grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigster Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 so at last i had time to inspect my supply further, and have little bit more info about turn-off peek, i have repleaced C1 (dont know if it was defective or not, i have just repleaced it, now it is 10 000 uF / 63V) , but i have also discovered, that if the voltage regulator is set to 4,5V or less, than i turn off the mains, and than i have about 36V on output (so C1 discharges into load on 36V), but if the voltage regulator is set higher than 4,5V (for example 5V), than all goes right and after turn-off i have 5V on output as C1 discharges. This was measured without load (just voltmeter connected to output).Any ideas? And how does the voltage regulator works, if there is no negativ voltage (mains off, but C1 still charged)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Hi Pigster,Quote: "I said it before. "Q1 is supposed to conduct when the project is turned off and then it will immediately drop the output voltage to zero. The negative supply has low-value capacitors that discharge much quicker than C1, therefore Q1 becomes biased on."Did you use a TIP31A power transistor for Q1or the little one from the original project?It ain't working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigster Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 I use TIP31A, and i have its emmitor connected directly to (-) output of supply, as you suggested earlier in this forum. But thanks, i will repleace Q1 and we will see.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Hi Pigster,I am sorry I made a mistake that I corrected in a later post. The emitter of Q1 should be connected at its original position at the negative terminal of C1.Check the pins on Q1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda64 Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 As a complete newbie wanting to build a variable power supply do you think this one would be fighting above my weight ?? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigster Posted November 13, 2005 Report Share Posted November 13, 2005 HURRAY, last problem solved, i have just changed connection of Q1 emitor and all is OK. First part of project completed (second one is adding a digital meter, but that will be another story). Thanks to all who helped me, i will post some photos soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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