Designing a 12V 2A DC Power Supply: Circuit Analysis and Transformer Selection

In summary, Jim Hardy has designed a DC power supply that can output a 2A current. He used a transformer with a ratio of 16:1, and chose diodes with a maximum forward current of more than 2 amperes. He also calculated the peak value of power on the diodes, and the peak value of voltage across the diodes. He recommends using a higher-power transformer to account for the voltage droop that will occur when the load increases.
  • #1
etf
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Hi!
I want to design DC power supply 12V 2A. Here is what I have done.
Firstly, we need to transform AC main voltage. I will use transformer with ratio Np:Ns=16:1 :

1.jpg


We must choose diodes with maximum forward current more than 2 amperes. I will choose UG8JTHE3/45.. This diode has maximum forward current 8A and maximum reverse voltage 600V, Is=1.0025^(-12)A, Emission Coefficient n=1.74999 (according to Multisim model).

2.jpg


Let's analyse circuit in case e(t)>0. I will not analyse case e(t)<0 since everything is same as in this case (only difference is of course that two other diodes conducts). In this case D1 and D2 are on, while D3 and D4 are off:

3.jpg


4.jpg


Diodes D1 and D2 are same, same current flow through them so voltages across them are also same.
Since we want to calculate maximum (peak) value of voltage on diodes and peak value of power on diodes, peak value of power on transformer's secondary and lowest value of passive load we can connect on our power supply, we solve this circuit:
VD1max=VD2max=VDmax

5.jpg


[tex]I_m_a_x=I_s(e^{\frac{V_D_m_a_x}{nV_t}}-1)...(1)[/tex]
[tex]V_D_m_a_x=\frac{1}{2}(19.4454-2R_l_o_a_d)...(2)[/tex]
If we put (2) in (1) we get:
[tex]2=1.0025*10^{-12}(e^{\frac{19.4454-2R_l_o_a_d}{2*1.74999*0.02589}}-1)[/tex](Vt=0.0258 at temperature 27 degrees Celsius).
If we solve this nonlinear equation in Matlab, we get Rload=8.4395Ohms. This would be lowest passive load value we can connect to our supply. So when Rload=8.4395Ohms, peak value of current in circuit is Imax=2A. In that case, peak value of voltage across diodes will be VDmax=(1/2)*(19.4454-2*8.4395)=1.2832V. When voltage at transformer's output is at peak value 19.4454V and current is 2A, power that is dissipated is Ptransf.max=19.44542*2=38.8908W. For everything to work fine, we should choose some transformer with higher power rating than this. PIV (peak inverse voltage) on diodes is: PIV=Rload*Imax+VDmax=18.1622V<<600V.
Peak value of power on diodes is PD1max=PD2max=PD3max=PD4max=VDmax*Imax=1.2832V*2A=2.5664W.
Output voltage will pulsate from 0v to Imax*Rload=2A*8.4395Ohms=16.8790V.
My calculations match with Multisim. What do you think? What power rating should transformer have exactly? Maybe 50W?
It is necessary now to smooth pulsating voltage. What is best way to do this? Would it be enough to use just one capacitor and one voltage regulator?
Thanks in advance
 
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  • #2
I don't know why latex doesn't work...
 
  • #4
Hi jim hardy, thanks for reply but It doesn't help me a lot :( I know that I have to put capacitance in parallel with my load but It will not be enough, right? There must be also some voltage regulator for smooth output voltage, as I know. Can someone go through my calculations above?
Thanks in advance
 
  • #5
And here are 3 equations which Latex didn't show correctly:
CodeCogsEqn.gif

CodeCogsEqn (1).gif

CodeCogsEqn (2).gif
 
  • #6
etf said:
It is necessary now to smooth pulsating voltage. What is best way to do this? Would it be enough to use just one capacitor and one voltage regulator?

you can approximate capacitor size by C = 2 amps /(dv/dt) , choose dv/dt to give however little ripple you want.

ripple-graph.jpg


regulators abound, here's a popular one.
http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/LM350-D.PDF
pay attention to paragraph "external capacitors" on page 7.

Your fuse should protect the transformer's primary winding
2 amps at 220 volts is 440 VA which seems a lot for a 24 VA supply.
Are you oversizing your transformer by that much?

Lastly remember that current in transformer winding flows only during the brief charging intervals at voltage peaks.
So it's far from sinusoidal.
Meaning you get more voltage drop in the transformer winding than you'd expect, hence more voltage droop as load increases.

diode-rectifier-smoothing-05.gif


which is why in that Hammond link, V(avg)DC is so much less than V(peak )DC.
Observe the benefit of choke input.
 
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1. What does "DC power supply" mean?

A DC power supply is an electronic device that converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) and provides a constant voltage output to power electrical devices.

2. What does "12V" indicate in a DC power supply?

The "12V" in a DC power supply refers to the output voltage, which means the power supply will provide a steady flow of 12 volts of electricity to the connected device.

3. What does "2A" mean in a DC power supply?

The "2A" in a DC power supply indicates the output current, which refers to the amount of electricity that the power supply can provide to the connected device. In this case, the power supply can deliver a maximum of 2 amps of current to the device.

4. What type of devices can be powered by a DC power supply 12V 2A?

A DC power supply 12V 2A can power a wide range of electronic devices that require a 12V DC power input, such as routers, modems, LED lights, small motors, and other low-power electronic devices.

5. Is it safe to use a DC power supply 12V 2A?

Yes, it is generally safe to use a DC power supply 12V 2A as long as it is used according to the manufacturer's instructions. However, it is important to take necessary precautions, such as avoiding overloading the power supply and ensuring the device's polarity matches the power supply's output.

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