Current source, voltage source

In summary, current source can be either a voltage source or a current source depending on the resistance of the load. The voltage source would be with a fixed voltage and power, while the current source would be able to deliver a fixed current with variable voltage.
  • #1
PainterGuy
940
69
Hello everyone,:wink:

I am having difficulty understand the concept of current source and what it really is. I have written down below what I think of current source. Some things I said will be wrong and there could be possibility that some are not wrong!:tongue: Now you help me out please. Much grateful.

Please have a see on these two pages:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...0MGMtYzAxMjBjZDRhYWU0&hl=en&authkey=CMKo1rUF"
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...0NTYtZmRmZjYyN2ZlNmJk&hl=en&authkey=CIrjo6wP"

I think 'in reality' every power supply such as batteries are voltage sources with a almost fixed voltage and almost fixed power which they can deliver. There would be internal resistances in these power supplies which is mostly shown as Rs in the diagrams.

On the "Page 1" above I think Rs is not the internal resistance which stands for internal losses. Perhaps it has simply been put there to derive an expression for a current source. A current source is a device which can deliver a fixed current value with variable voltage. I don't think 'in reality' there exists a current source but you can get one by manipulating the voltage source. Even in the current source, Rs, does not stand for internal resistance representing internal losses. Rather is has been used to derive an expression.

In Fig 8.6 on Page 1 if you had a variable Rs then you can have a variable voltage source. In the same manner if have variable Rs in Fig 8.7 then you can have variable current source.

But what would happen if we change RL? Keeping the Rs unchanged and increasing the value of RL to RLL would make the value of current passing through RLL less than the current IL which was passing through RL. So how can we keep the value of current still same, out aim is to retain the IL although now we have bigger resistance RLL. Simply answer is increase the voltage in the constant current source? How are we to do it?

Cheers
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #2
In a current source, Rs would be on the order of 10 MOhms while RL on the order of 10 Ohms. Therefore, varying the load resistance does next to nothing to the current source in terms of demanding a voltage change.

On the voltage source, vice versa is true. With an extremely small resistance it doesn't matter what RL is, practically all the current will pass through the load.

Is all a game of magnitudes and approximations.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
After you include internal resitances in ideal Voltage Source (or in Current source), than that makes them non-ideal and hence practicaL. Their Terminal Voltage (or the current they provide) are no longer constant. They varry with variation of Load (RL to RLL .)
So we see that,
the current provided by and terminal voltage of practical voltage source changes with load.
Ditto for the current source.

So, what makes a practical voltage source different from practical current source, if both's voltage and currents aren't constant?

The answer lies in quantity. A practical voltage source's voltage varry slightly with change in load while current varies greatly. A practical current source load current varries only slightly while voltage varies greatly. (how a current sorce achive this is a different story).

So, how do you calculate by how much does the output voltage of voltage source (or output current of current source) varries with load?
You use Voltage divider formula for Voltage source and Current divisor formula for current source.
And remember Rs of voltage source is very small and Rs of current source is very large in compared to 'general' or 'normal' load resistance Rl.
 
  • #4
thecritic said:
And remember Rs of voltage source is very small and Rs of current source is very large in compared to 'general' or 'normal' load resistance Rl.

You have that backwards there. Rs needs to be large for the Voltage source and Rs needs to be small for the current source in comparison to RL.
 
  • #5
Hi, viscousflow,
Say, I have a 100 V voltage source. I am going to connect it to a 100ohm lamp.
Assume the internal resistance of the source to be
1. 1 ohm
2. 10000 ohm
Calculate output voltage and current in each case.
Pherhaps then we can know, who was correct.
 
  • #6
thecritic said:
Hi, viscousflow,
Say, I have a 100 V voltage source. I am going to connect it to a 100ohm lamp.
Assume the internal resistance of the source to be
1. 1 ohm
2. 10000 ohm
Calculate output voltage and current in each case.
Pherhaps then we can know, who was correct.

Yes you are correct, thanks for the mental problem. I guess I was thinking about it backwards. Replaced a few words, now my first post is correct.
 
  • #7
Many thanks thecritic and viscousflow.:approve:

I still have many questions to ask and will ask them soon. Be there to help me out please!:wink:

Cheers
 
  • #8
How do you build a current source :S how do you make a source always give out a constant current :S
 
Last edited:
  • #9
You need lots of volts available and what is, effectively, a variable series resistor which is adjusted to give the wanted current into whatever load you present it with.
There are 'active' circuit elements that behave more or less that way
The Anode of a Thermionic Triode is a pretty good current source, actually and so is the Collector of a transistor. With a bit of feedback, however, you can make the current much more 'constant' over a limited range of load values.
 
  • #10
I always thought of a current source as a very very very very high voltage supply with a very very very very large resistor in series. The larger the series resistor the less effect the change in load resistance has on the load current.
-
The main reason a collector in a transistor is a good current source is because of the feedback caused by the emitter resistor. Most people are at first unable to see that an emitter resistor causes negative feedback. Sophie, don't get me wrong, I'm not correcting you, just a little elaboration.
 
  • #11
A current source can be realized w/ a common generator. If the generator's torque is regulated to constant value, then the current will remain constant w/ varying load resistance. If the generator's speed is well regulated, the voltage (& frequency) will remain constant w/ varying load.

The power company maintains a very constant turbine speed. This produces constant voltage as well as constant frequency. They could provide the grid w/ a source of constant current instead, but there are difficulties. Losses due to current are I^2*R, vs. losses due to voltage which are V^2*G. It happens that insulators are near ideal at any temperature, & losses are very low. But conductors are further from ideal at common temps & losses are much greater.

Superconductors are lossless, but until high temp superconductivity is realizable & affordable, generating & transmitting at full voltage w/ variable current per load demand, is much more efficient than the alternative. So the power company operates their generators in the constant voltage mode. Constant current would be too lossy.

Furthermore, in addition to using constant voltage mode exclusively, the generated voltage is stepped up via transformers. Long distance transmission utilizes high voltage & low current to minimize resistive losses in the conductors.

Batteries can be constructed for either constant voltage or constant current operation. With primary cells like NiMH, Li ion, alkaline, CZn, etc., constant voltage mode is much better. No time to elaborate. But nuclear batteries, still in development, work way better as constant current mode of operation. Do a search using "nucell" as a key word for more details. Did I help?

Claude
 
Last edited:

1. What is the difference between a current source and a voltage source?

A current source is a device that provides a constant amount of current, regardless of the load or resistance, while a voltage source provides a constant voltage regardless of the current or resistance. In other words, a current source regulates the flow of current, while a voltage source regulates the potential difference.

2. How do you determine the output current or voltage of a source?

To determine the output current or voltage of a source, you can use Ohm's Law, which states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance. So, by knowing the resistance and the voltage or current, you can calculate the other value.

3. Can a current source be converted into a voltage source?

Yes, a current source can be converted into a voltage source by using a resistor in series. The voltage across the resistor will be proportional to the current, thus creating a voltage source. However, the voltage will vary depending on the load or resistance connected to the circuit.

4. What are some common applications of current and voltage sources?

Current sources are commonly used in electronic circuits to provide a constant current to components such as transistors, diodes, and sensors. Voltage sources are used to power electronic devices and can be found in batteries, power supplies, and generators.

5. How do current and voltage sources affect circuit performance?

The choice of using a current source or voltage source in a circuit can greatly affect its performance. A current source can provide stable current even with varying loads, making it suitable for sensitive components. On the other hand, a voltage source may be more suitable for powering multiple components with varying voltage requirements. It is important to consider the specific needs of a circuit when choosing between a current or voltage source.

Similar threads

  • Electrical Engineering
2
Replies
44
Views
4K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
10
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
410
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
13
Views
1K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
23
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
10
Views
870
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Back
Top