Double Power Supplies: Battery or DC Power Supply?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the configuration of a battery and a DC power supply in a project requiring both portability and stationary power. Participants explore how to manage power sources effectively, particularly regarding current flow and switching mechanisms.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the current is drawn from the battery or the power supply, depending on their connection.
  • Another participant suggests that the connection method is crucial, indicating that directly connecting the battery across the power supply terminals is not advisable for charging or battery life.
  • A participant proposes using a relay or switch to alternate between the power sources.
  • It is mentioned that a switch is a simple and reliable solution, with an alternative of using a jack to disconnect the battery when the power supply is connected.
  • A diode isolator is also suggested, although it comes with a voltage drop and other drawbacks, while ensuring automatic switching if the power supply voltage is sufficiently higher than the battery voltage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the best method to connect the battery and power supply, with no consensus on a single solution. Various approaches are discussed, indicating a lack of agreement on the optimal configuration.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not specify the exact requirements for the load or the characteristics of the battery and power supply, which may affect the proposed solutions. The discussion also lacks detailed mathematical analysis of the current flow and voltage requirements.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals working on projects involving dual power sources, particularly in portable applications, may find the discussion relevant.

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If I had a battery as backup, and a DC power supply connected to a load.

And say the battery is 4.5V and the DC power supply is 5V, is the current now drained from the battery or the power supply?

I am doing a project where it needs battery for portability sometimes but can have the power supply indoors.
 
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It depends how you have them connected. Because you don't mention otherwise, perhaps you intend us to picture the battery being simply connected directly across the terminals of the power supply? That is rarely a suitable arrangement. It is not a good way to keep the battery charged (assuming it's rechargeable), because almost never will the voltage needed to charge the battery be precisely that also needed by your load. Additionally, the battery will not have a long life by constantly being charged like that. The normal arrangement is for the power supply to power the load, unless the voltage falls to a low value, in which case power is drawn from the back-up battery.
 
so i need a relay or switch in between to switch between the supplies?
 
A switch is simplest, and foolproof, and you can see which is in use. If the load is low powered, you might be able to arrange a jack, so that when you plug in the power supply plug it mechanically disconnects the battery.

Alternatively, a simple diode isolator may suffice. One disadvantage is you lose 0.7 volts from both your PS and battery; there are other drawbacks, too. Switching is automatic: just make sure the PSU delivers at least 1 volt more than the battery, so the PSU will be predominate.

Code:
PSU +-------Diode --------,------------Load
                          |
                          |
Batt +------Diode --------'
 
Thanks, Nas. The information u provided is very useful. I may go for a dc relay, if psu connected, it disconnects the batt.
 

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