Do I Need a Capacitor to Smooth DC in My Power Supply?

AI Thread Summary
Building a power supply from 230VAC to 230VDC requires caution due to the dangers of working with high voltages. A smoothing capacitor is necessary after the full-wave bridge rectifier to reduce ripple in the DC output. The size of the capacitor depends on the desired output current and acceptable ripple levels. Additionally, incorporating a linear regulator can improve the quality of the DC output. It's essential to prioritize safety and educate oneself on proper electronic construction techniques.
Karl1411
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi to everyone,

I would like to build a simple power supply, converting 230vac to 230vdc.

I have already purchased a full bridge rectifier rated @ 400v 35amps.

Q1) I would like to draw 5-10amps dc

Q2) Do I need to smooth the dc with a capacitor.

Q3) If So, what size and type of capacitor is needed.

Thanking you all in anticipations.

Regards

Karl

Learning
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Welcome to the PF, Karl.

First, I have to caution you about working with AC mains voltages like 230Vrms or 120Vrms. This is very dangerous stuff, and if you don't know what you are doing, you could easily hurt or kill yourself, and it is easy to build something that catches fire.

Now, keeping that warning in mind, I recommend that you find a good book on electronic prototype construction, and read the parts about electrical safety and about product construction to meet safety regulations (like Underwriter's Labs here in the US). Those are fundamental issues that you will need to keep in mind as you start building projects that connect to the AC mains. Honestly, beyond the shock risk to you as you build the project, if you don't do several things correctly in the construction of your device, you may end up shocking some other unsuspecting person, or catching your house on fire some day down the road when the device fails for whatever reason.

Okay, I googled power supply construction tutorial, and got lots of good hits. Here's one example:

http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/power1.html

And to answer your question, Yes, you will need a smoothing capacitor after your full-wave bridge rectifier. The size of the cap depends on your output current requirements, and how much ripple you can withstand on the output. BTW, why does the link that I gave above use an isolation transformer between the AC mains input and the rectified output? It's an important Quiz Question!

For a better DC output, you would put a linear regulator circuit between the rippling DC output on the bridge output cap, and your DC load.

Stay safe, and please check out your local technical bookstore (or Amazon.com) for a good book on electronic prototype construction.
 
hi berkeman

Thanks for the info, will take note and learn a little more

kindest regards

karl U.K.
 
Hi all I have some confusion about piezoelectrical sensors combination. If i have three acoustic piezoelectrical sensors (with same receive sensitivity in dB ref V/1uPa) placed at specific distance, these sensors receive acoustic signal from a sound source placed at far field distance (Plane Wave) and from broadside. I receive output of these sensors through individual preamplifiers, add them through hardware like summer circuit adder or in software after digitization and in this way got an...
I have recently moved into a new (rather ancient) house and had a few trips of my Residual Current breaker. I dug out my old Socket tester which tell me the three pins are correct. But then the Red warning light tells me my socket(s) fail the loop test. I never had this before but my last house had an overhead supply with no Earth from the company. The tester said "get this checked" and the man said the (high but not ridiculous) earth resistance was acceptable. I stuck a new copper earth...
I am not an electrical engineering student, but a lowly apprentice electrician. I learn both on the job and also take classes for my apprenticeship. I recently wired my first transformer and I understand that the neutral and ground are bonded together in the transformer or in the service. What I don't understand is, if the neutral is a current carrying conductor, which is then bonded to the ground conductor, why does current only flow back to its source and not on the ground path...
Back
Top