7.

0 DC POWER SUPPLIES
Most of the electronic devices and circuits require a dc source for their operation. Dry cells and batteries are one
form of dc source. They have the advantage of being portable and ripple-free.
However, their voltages are low; they need frequent replacement and are expensive as compared to conventional dc
power supplies. Since the most convenient and economical source of power is the domestic ac supply, it is
advantageous to convert this alternating voltage (usually, 220 V rms) to dc voltage (usually smaller in value). This
process of converting ac voltage into dc voltage is called rectification and is accomplished with the help of a
(i) Rectifier
(ii) filter and
(iii) Voltage regulator circuit.
These elements put together constitute dc power supply.
Unregulated Power Supply
An unregulated power supply is one whose dc terminal voltage is affected significantly by the amount of load. As
the load draws more current, the dc terminal voltage becomes less.
Regulated Power Supply
It is that dc power supply whose terminal voltage remains almost constant regardless of the amount of current drawn
from it. An unregulated supply can be converted into a regulated power supply by adding a voltage regulating circuit
to it.

(1) Transformer. Its job is either to step up or (mostly) step down the ac supply voltage to suit the
requirement of the solid-state electronic devices and circuits fed by the dc power supply. It also provides
isolation from the supply line–an important safety consideration.
(2) Rectifier. It is a circuit which employs one or more diodes to convert ac voltage into pulsating dc voltage.
(3) Filter. The function of this circuit element is to remove the fluctuations or pulsations (called ripples)
present in the output voltage supplied by the rectifier. Of course, no filter can, in practice, gives an output
voltage as ripple-free as that of a dc battery but it approaches it so closely that the power supply performs
as well.
(4) Voltage Regulator. Its main function is to keep the terminal voltage of the dc supply constant even when;
(i) ac input voltage to the transformer varies (deviations from 220 V are common); or
(ii) the load varies
(5) Voltage Divider. Its function is to provide different dc-voltages needed by different electronic circuits. It
consists of a number of resistors connected in series across the output terminals of the voltage regulator.
Obviously, it eliminates the necessity of providing separate dc power supplies to different electronic
circuits working on different dc levels.
Single-phase Half-Wave Rectifier

The basic circuit of a half-wave rectifier with a resistive load but no filter circuit.

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Working
During the positive half-cycle of the input ac voltage, the diode D is forward-biased (ON) and conducts. While
conducting, the diode acts as a short-circuit so that circuit current flows and hence, positive half-cycle of the input ac
voltage is dropped across RL. It constitutes the output voltage VL as shown in Fig. (b). Waveform of the load voltage
is also shown in Fig. 55.2 (b). It consists of half-wave rectified sinusoids of peak value VLM. During the negative
input half-cycle, the diode is reverse-biased (OFF) and so, does not conduct i.e. there is no current flow. Hence,
there is no voltage drop across RL. In other words IL = 0 and VL = 0. The negative input half-cycle is suppressed i.e.
it is not utilized for delivering power to the load.
Average and RMS Values

Advantages of half wave Rectifier

- Simple circuit
- Low cost
Disadvantages

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 - Low rectification efficiency
- Higher ripple factor
- Low TUF
- Dc saturation of transformer core because the current through the secondary of the power transformer flows
in the same direction.
Output Frequency of Half-Wave Rectifier
The output frequency of a half-wave rectifier is equal to the input frequency (50 Hz).This means that when input a.c.
completes one cycle, the output half wave rectified wave also completes one cycle. In other words, the output
frequency is equal to the input frequency i.e. fout = fin
Efficiency of Half-Wave Rectifier
The ratio of D.C. power output to the applied input a.c. power is known as rectifier efficiency
Example A crystal diode having internal resistance rf = 20Ω is used for half-wave rectification.
If the applied voltage v = 50 sinωt and load resistance RL = 800 Ω, find:
(i) Im, Idc, Irms
(ii) a.c. power input and d.c. power output
(iii) d.c. output voltage
(iv) Efficiency of rectification.
Solution

Example An a.c. supply of 230 V is applied to a half-wave rectifier circuit through a transformer of turn ratio 10 :
1. Find (i) the output d.c. voltage and (ii) the peak inverse voltage.
Assume the diode to be ideal.

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 (ii) During the negative half-cycle of a.c. supply, the diode is reverse biased and hence conducts no
current. Therefore, the maximum secondary voltage appears across the diode. Peak inverse voltage =
32.53 V
Full Wave Rectification
There are two type of circuit used. i) Centre tapped transformer rectifier

ii) Bridge rectifier

Centre tapped full wave rectifier

A center tapped secondary winding AB is used with two diodes connected so that each uses one half-cycle of input
a.c. voltage.
Operation
During the positive half-cycle of secondary voltage, the end A of the secondary winding becomes positive and end B
negative. This makes the diode D1 forward biased and diode D2 reverse biased. Therefore, diode D1 conducts while
diode D2 does not. The conventional current flow is through diode D1, load resistor RL and the upper half of
secondary winding.

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During the negative half-cycle, end A of the secondary winding becomes negative and end B positive. Therefore,
diode D2 conducts while diode D1 does not. The conventional current flow is through diode D2, load RL and lower
half winding. It is seen that current in the load RL is in the same direction for both half-cycles of input a.c. voltage.
Therefore, d.c. is obtained across the load RL. Also, the polarities of the d.c. output across the load should be noted.
Peak inverse voltage
Suppose Vm is the maximum voltage across the half secondary winding. At this instant, diode D1 is conducting
while diode D2 is non-conducting. Therefore, whole of the secondary voltage appears across the non-conducting
diode. Consequently, the peak inverse voltage is twice the maximum voltage across the half-secondary winding i.e.
PIV = 2 Vm
Disadvantages
(i) It is difficult to locate the center tap on the secondary winding.
(ii) The d.c. output is small as each diode utilizes only one-half of the transformer secondary voltage.
(iii) The diodes used must have high peak inverse voltage.
Full-Wave Bridge Rectifier

The need for a center tapped power transformer is eliminated in the bridge rectifier. It contains four diodes D1, D2,
D3 and D4 connected to form a bridge. The a.c. supply to be rectified is applied to the diagonally opposite ends of
the bridge through the transformer. Between other two ends of the bridge, the load resistance RL is connected.
Operation
During the positive half-cycle of secondary voltage, the end A of the secondary winding becomes positive and end Q
negative. This makes diodes D1 and D2 forward biased while diodes D3 and D4 are reverse biased. Therefore, only
diodes D1 and D3 conduct. These two diodes will be in series through the load RL.
It may be seen that current flows from A to B through the load RL.
During the negative half-cycle of secondary voltage, end A becomes negative and end Q positive.
This makes diodes D3 and D4 forward biased whereas diodes D1 and D2 are reverse biased. Therefore, only diodes
D3 and D4 conduct. These two diodes will be in series through the load RL.
Peak inverse voltage
The peak inverse voltage (PIV) of each diode is equal to the maximum secondary voltage of transformer. Suppose
during positive half cycle of input a.c., end A of secondary is positive and end B negative. Under such conditions,
diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased while diodes D2 and D4 are reverse biased. Since the diodes are considered
ideal, diodes D1 and D3 can be replaced by wires as shown in figure (i). This circuit is the same as shown in Fig (ii).
Referring to Fig.(ii), it is clear that two reverse biased diodes (i.e., D2 and D4) and the secondary of transformer are
in parallel. Hence PIV of each diode (D2 and D4) is equal to the maximum voltage (Vm) across the secondary.
Similarly, during the next half cycle, D2 and D4 are forward biased while D1 and D3 will be reverse biased. It is
easy to see that reverse voltage across D1 and D3 is equal to Vm.

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Advantages
(i) The need for center-tapped transformer is eliminated.
(ii) The output is twice that of the center-tap circuit for the same secondary voltage.
(iii) The PIV is one-half that of the Centre-tap circuit (for same d.c. output).
Disadvantages
(i) It requires four diodes
(ii) As during each half-cycle of a.c. input two diodes that conduct are in series, therefore, voltage drop in
the internal resistance of the rectifying unit will be twice as great as in the center tap circuit. This is
objectionable when secondary voltage is small.
Output Frequency of Full-Wave Rectifier

The output frequency of a full-wave rectifier is double the input frequency. Remember that a wave has a complete
cycle when it repeats the same pattern. The input a.c. completes one cycle from 0° – 360°. However, the full-wave
rectified wave completes 2 cycles in this period. Therefore, output frequency is twice the input frequency i.e. fout =
2 fin

Efficiency of Full-Wave Rectifier

Let v = Vm sinѳ be the a.c. voltage to be rectified. Let rf and RL be the diode resistance and load resistance
respectively. Obviously, the rectifier will conduct current through the load in the same direction for both half-cycles

of input a.c. voltage. The instantaneous current i is given by:

D.C. output power. The output current is pulsating direct current. Therefore, in order to find the d.c. power,
average current has to be found out.

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A.c. input power. The a.c. input power is given by: Pac = I2rms (rf + RL)
For a full-wave rectified wave, we have,

The efficiency will be maximum if rf is negligible as compared to RL. Therefore,

This is double the efficiency due to half-wave rectifier. Therefore, a full-wave rectifier is twice as effective as a half-
wave rectifier.

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Example A full-wave rectifier uses two diodes, the internal resistance of each diode may
be assumed constant at 20 Ω. The transformer r.m.s. secondary voltage from center tap to each end
of secondary is 50 V and load resistance is 980 Ω. Find:
(i) the mean load current (ii) the r.m.s. value of load current
Solution

Example In the center-tap circuit shown in Fig. 6.31, the diodes are assumed to be ideal i.e. having zero internal
resistance. Find:
(i) d.c. output voltage (ii) peak inverse voltage (iii) rectification efficiency.
Solution
Primary to secondary turns, N1/N2 = 5

R.M.S. primary voltage = 230 V.

R.M.S. secondary voltage = 230 × (1/5) = 46 V. Maximum voltage across secondary = 46 × 2 = 65V
Maximum voltage across half secondary winding is Vm = 65/2 = 32.5 V
(i) Average current, Idc =

D.C. output voltage, Vdc = Idc x RL = 0.207 x 100 = 20.7 V

(ii) The peak inverse voltage is equal to the maximum secondary voltage, i.e. PIV = 65 V

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Example The four diodes used in a bridge rectifier circuit have forward resistances which may be considered
constant at 1Ω and infinite reverse resistance. The alternating supply voltage is 240 V r.m.s. and load resistance is
480 Ω. Calculate (i) mean load current and (ii) power dissipated in each diode.
Solution

Filter Circuits
A filter circuit is a device which removes the a.c. component of rectifier output but allows the d.c. component to
reach the load.
Types of Filter Circuits
The most commonly used filter circuits are
(i) capacitor filter,
(ii) choke input filter
(iii) capacitor input filter or
(iv) -filter.
Capacitor filter

It consists of a capacitor C placed across the rectifier output in parallel with load RL. The pulsating direct voltage of
the rectifier is applied across the capacitor. As the rectifier voltage increases, it charges the capacitor and also
supplies current to the load. At the end of quarter cycle [Point A in Fig. (iii)], the capacitor is charged to the peak
value Vm of the rectifier voltage. Now, the rectifier voltage starts to decrease. As this occurs, the capacitor
discharges through the load and voltage across it (i.e. across parallel combination of R-C) decreases as shown by the
line AB in Fig. (iii). the voltage across load will decrease only slightly because immediately the next voltage peak
comes and recharges the capacitor. This process is repeated again and again and the output voltage waveform
becomes ABCDEFG. It may be seen that very little ripple is left in the output.
The capacitor filter circuit is extremely popular because of its low cost, small size, little weight and good
characteristics. For small load currents (say up to 50 mA), this type of filter is preferred. It is commonly used in
transistor radio battery eliminators.
Choke input filter

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It consists of a choke L connected in series with the rectifier output and a filter capacitor C across the load. The
pulsating output of the rectifier is applied across terminals 1 and 2 of the filter circuit.
The choke offers high opposition to the passage of a.c. component but negligible opposition to the d.c. component.
The result is that most of the a.c. component appears across the choke while whole of D.C. component passes
through the choke on its way to load. This results in the reduced pulsations at terminal 3.
At terminal 3, the rectifier output contains d.c. component and the remaining part of a.c. component which has
managed to pass through the choke. Now, the low reactance of filter capacitor bypasses the a.c. component but
prevents the d.c. component to flow through it. Therefore, only d.c. component reaches the load.
Capacitor input filter or -filter
It consists of a filter capacitor C1 connected across the rectifier output, a choke L in series and another filter
capacitor C2 connected across the load.

The filter capacitor C1 offers low reactance to a.c. component of rectifier output while it offers infinite reactance to
the d.c. component. Therefore, capacitor C1 bypasses an appreciable amount of a.c. component while the d.c.
component continues its journey to the choke L.
The choke L offers high reactance to the a.c. component but it offers almost zero reactance to the d.c. component.
Therefore, it allows the d.c. component to flow through it, while the un bypassed a.c. component is blocked.
The filter capacitor C2 bypasses the a.c. component which the choke has failed to block. Therefore, only d.c.
component appears across the load and that is what we desire.
Example For the circuit shown in Fig. 6.44, find the output d.c. voltage.

Solution It can be proved that output d.c. voltage is given by:

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Example The choke of Fig. below has a d.c. resistance of 25 Ω. What is the d.c. voltage if the full-wave signal into
the choke has a peak value of 25.7 V?

Solution The output of a full-wave rectifier has a d.c. component and an a.c. component. Due to the presence of a.c.
component, the rectifier output has a pulsating character as shown in Fig. below. The maximum value of the
pulsating output is Vm and d.c. component is V′dc = 2 Vm/

For d.c. component V′dc, the choke resistance is in series with the load.

The voltage across the load is 15.9 V dc plus a small ripple.

Voltage Regulators
A device which maintains the output voltage of an ordinary power supply constant irrespective of load variations or
changes in input a.c. voltage is known as a voltage regulator. There are basic two types of voltage regulators, (i)
series voltage regulator (ii) shunt voltage regulator.

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For low d.c. output voltages (up to 50V), either zener diode alone or zener in conjunction with transistor is used.
Such supplies are called transistorized power supplies. A transistor power supply can give only low stabilised
voltages because the safe value of VCE is about 50 V and if it is increased above this value, the breakdown of the
junction may occur.
For voltages greater than 50 V, glow tubes are used in conjunction with vacuum tube amplifiers. Such supplies are
generally called tube power supplies and are extensively used for the proper operation of vacuum valves.
Zener Diode Voltage Regulator
When the zener diode is operated in the breakdown or zener region, the voltage across it is substantially constant for
a large change of current through it. This characteristic permits it to be used as a voltage regulator. As long as input
voltage Vin is greater than zener voltage VZ , the zener operates in the breakdown region and maintains constant
voltage across the load.

The series limiting resistance RS limits the input current.

Operation
The zener will maintain constant voltage across the load in spite of changes in load current or input voltage. As the
load current increases, the zener current decreases so that current through resistance RS is constant. As output
voltage = Vin – IRS, and I is constant, therefore, output voltage remains unchanged.
Should the input voltage Vin increase, more current will flow through the zener, the voltage drop across RS will
increase but load voltage would remain constant. Reverse would be true should the input voltage decrease.
Limitations
A zener diode regulator has the following drawbacks:
(i) It has low efficiency for heavy load currents. It is because if the load current is large, there will be
considerable power loss in the series limiting resistance.
(ii) The output voltage slightly changes due to zener impedance as Vout = VZ + IZ ZZ. Changes in load
current produce changes in zener current. Consequently, the output voltage also changes. Therefore,
the use of this circuit is limited to only such applications where variations in load current and input
voltage are small.
Conditions for Proper Operation of Zener Regulator
When a zener diode is connected in a circuit for voltage regulation, the following conditions must be satisfied:
(i) The zener must operate in the breakdown region or regulating region i.e. between IZ (max) and IZ
(min). The current IZ (min) (generally 10 mA) is the minimum zener current to put the zener diode in
the ON state i.e. regulating region. The current IZ (max) is the maximum zener current that zener diode
can conduct without getting destroyed due to excessive heat.

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 (ii) The zener should not be allowed to exceed maximum dissipation power otherwise it will be destroyed
due to excessive heat. If maximum power dissipation of a zener is PZ (max) and zener voltage is VZ,
then,

(iii) There is a minimum value of RL to ensure that zener diode will remain in the regulating region i.e.
breakdown region. If the value of RL falls below this minimum value, the proper voltage will not be
available across the zener to drive it into the breakdown region.
Example Fig. below shows the zener regulator. Calculate (i) current through the series resistance (ii) minimum and
maximum load currents and (iii) minimum and maximum zener currents. Comment on the results.

Solution

The minimum load current occurs when RL 

IL (min) = 0 A

Comments The current IS through the series resistance RS is constant. When load current increases from 0 to 60
mA, the zener current decreases from 75 mA to 15 mA, maintaining IS constant in value. This is the normal
operation of zener regulator i.e. IS and Vout remain constant in spite of changes in load current or source voltage.
Example A zener regulator has VZ = 15V. The input voltage may vary from 22 V to 40 V and load current from 20
mA to 100 mA. To hold load voltage constant under all conditions, what should be the value of series resistance?
Solution
In order that zener regulator may hold output voltage constant under all operating conditions, it must operate in the
breakdown region. In other words, there must be zener current for all input voltages and load currents. The worst
case occurs when the input voltage is minimum and load current is maximum because then zener current drops to a
minimum.

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Example Determine the minimum acceptable value of RS for the zener voltage regulator circuit shown below. The
zener specifications are: VZ = 3.3V; IZ (min) = 3 mA; IZ (max) = 100 mA

Solution
When load RL goes open (i.e. RL IS will flow through the zener and the value of RS
should be such to prevent line current IS from exceeding IZ (max) if the load opens.

Transistor Series Voltage Regulator

The circuit is called a series voltage regulator because the load current passes through the series transistor. The zener
diode provides the reference voltage.
Operation
The base voltage of transistor is held to a relatively constant voltage across the zener diode. For example, if 8V
zener (i.e., VZ = 8V) is used, the base voltage of transistor will remain approximately 8V.
Vout = VZ - VBE
(i) If the output voltage decreases, the increased base-emitter voltage causes transistor to conduct more,
thereby raising the output voltage. As a result, the output voltage is maintained at a constant level.
(ii) If the output voltage increases, the decreased base-emitter voltage causes transistor to conduct less,
thereby reducing the output voltage. Consequently, the output voltage is maintained at a constant level.
Advantage
The advantage of this circuit is that the changes in zener current are reduced by a factor β.
Therefore, the effect of zener impedance is greatly reduced and much more stabilised output is obtained.
Disadvantages
(i) Although the changes in zener current are much reduced, yet the output is not absolutely constant. It is
because both VBE and VZ decrease with the increase in room temperature.
(ii) The output voltage cannot be changed easily as no such means is provided.

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Example In a series transistor voltage regulator (see figure below), the load current varies from 0 – 1A and the
unregulated d.c. input varies from 12 – 18V. The 8.5V zener diode requires at least 1 mA of current to stay in its
regulating region (i.e. IZ (min) = 1 mA).
(i) Determine the value of RS to ensure proper circuit operation.
(ii) Determine maximum power dissipation in RS.
(iii) Determine maximum power dissipation in zener diode.
Take β= 50

Solution
(i) The value of RS should be such that it supplies current for the base of transistor Q1 and for the zener
diode to keep it in the regulating region. The worst condition occurs at the minimum input voltage and
maximum load current. This means that under worst condition, the current through RS must be a tleast
IZ (min) = 1 mA plus maximum base current.

Now 21 mA must be drawn by RS under all conditions of input voltage variations—even when the input voltage
falls to 12V which causes the minimum voltage across RS and hence the lowest value of current it will be able to
supply.

(ii) The maximum power dissipation in RS occurs when the voltage across it is maximum. Max. voltage
across RS, VRS(max) = Vin (max) – VZ = 18 – 8.5 = 9.5V

(iii) Maximum power dissipation in zener occurs when current through it is maximum. The zener current
will be maximum when Vin is maximum and load current is minimum (i.e. IL = 0). Now IL = 0 means
IE = 0 and hence IB = 0. This, in turn, means that all the current passing through RS will pass through
the zener diode.

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 Transistor Shunt Voltage Regulator

A shunt voltage regulator provides regulation by shunting current away from the load to regulate the output voltage.
The voltage drop across series resistance depends upon the current supplied to the load RL. The output voltage is
equal to the sum of zener voltage (VZ) and transistor base-emitter voltage (VBE), Vout = VZ + VBE
If the load resistance decreases, the current through base of transistor decreases. As a result, less collector current is
shunted. Therefore, the load current becomes larger, thereby maintaining the regulated voltage across the load.
Reverse happens should the load resistance increase.
Disadvantages
(i) A large portion of the total current through RS flows through transistor rather than to the load.
(ii) There is considerable power loss in RS.
(iii) There are problems of overvoltage protection in this circuit.
For these reasons, a series voltage regulator is preferred over the shunt voltage regulator.
Example Determine the (i) regulated voltage and (ii) various currents for the shunt regulator shown below.

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Switching Regulators
In the linear regulators considered so far, the control element i.e. the transistor conducts all the time, the amount of
conduction varying with changes in output voltage or current. Due to continuous power loss, the efficiency of such a
regulator is reduced to 50 per cent or less.
A switching regulator is different because its control element operates like a switch i.e. either it is saturated (closed)
or cut-off (open). Hence, there is no unnecessary wastage of power which results in higher efficiency of 90% or
more. Switching regulators are of three basic types:
(i) step-down regulator
(ii) step-up regulator and
(iii) inverting regulator
Step-down Switching Regulator

In this regulator, Vout is always less than Vin. An unregulated positive dc voltage is applied to the collector of the
NPN transistor. A series of pulses from an oscillator is sent to the base of transistor T which gets saturated (closed)
on each of the positive pulses. It is so because an NPN transistor needs a positive voltage pulse on its base in order
to turn ON. A saturated transistor acts as a closed switch, hence it allows Vin to send current through L and charge C
to the value of output voltage during the on-time (TON) of the pulse. The diode D1 is reverse-biased at this point
and hence, does not conduct.
Eventually when positive pulse turns to zero, T is cut-off and acts like an open switch during the off period (TOFF)
of the pulse. The collapsing magnetic field of the coil produces self-induced voltage and keeps the current flowing
by returning energy to the circuit.
The value of output voltage depends on input voltage and pulse width i.e. on-time of the transistor. When on-time is
increased relative to off-time, C charges more thus increasing Vout. When TON is decreased, C discharges more
thus decreasing Vout. By adjusting the duty cycle (TON/T) of the transistor, Vout can be varied.

Where T is the period of the ON-OFF cycle of the transistor and is related to frequency by T = 1/f.
Also, T = TON + TOFF and the ratio (TON/T) is called the duty cycle.
Regulating action of the circuit
When Vout tries to decrease, on-time of the transistor is increased causing an additional charge on the capacitor C to
offset the attempted decrease. When Vout tries to increase, TON of the transistor is decreased causing C to discharge
enough to offset the attempted increase.
Step-up Switching Regulator
When transistor T turns ON on the arrival of the positive pulse at its base, voltage across L increases quickly to

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Vin - VCE(sat) and magnetic field of L expands quickly. During on-time of the transistor, VL keeps decreasing from
its initial maximum value. The longer transistor is ON, the smaller VL becomes.
When transistor turns OFF, magnetic field of L collapses and its polarity reverses so that its voltage adds to the input
voltage thus producing an output voltage greater than the input voltage.
During off-time of the transistor, D2 is forward-biased and allows C to charge. The variations in Vout due to
charging and discharging action are sufficiently smoothed by filtering action of L and C.

It may be noted that shorter the on-time of the transistor, greater the inductor voltage and hence greater the output
voltage (because greater VL adds to Vin). On the other hand, the longer the on-time, the smaller the inductor voltage
and hence, lesser the output voltage (because smaller VL adds to Vin).
Regulating action
When Vout tries to decrease (because of either increasing load or decreasing Vin), transistor on time decreases
thereby offsetting attempted decrease in Vout. When Vout tries to increase, on-time increases and attempted increase
in Vout is offset. As seen, the output voltage is inversely related to the duty cycle.

Switching regulator in hybrid film technology

Inverting Switching Regulator
This regulator provides an output voltage that is opposite in polarity to the input voltage. When transistor T turns
ON by the positive pulse, the inductor voltage VL jumps to Vin - VCE(sat) and the magnetic field of the inductor
expands rapidly. When transistor is ON, the diode D2 is reverse-biased and VL decreases from its initial maximum
value. When transistor turns OFF, the magnetic field collapses and inductor’s polarity reverses. This forward-biases
D2, charges C and produces a negative output voltage. This repetitive ON-OFF action of the transistor produces a
repetitive charging and discharging that is smoothed by LC filter action. As in the case of a step-up regulator, lesser
the time for which transistor is ON, greater the output voltage and vice versa.

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Inverting Switching Regulator

Voltage Multipliers
We can also use diodes and capacitors to build a circuit that will provide a d.c output that is multiple of the peak
input a.c. voltage. Such a circuit is called a voltage multiplier.
Since voltage multipliers provide d.c. output that is much greater than the peak input a.c. voltage, there is no power
amplification and law of conservation of energy holds good. When a voltage multiplier increases the peak input
voltage by a factor n, the peak input current is decreased by approximately the same factor. Thus the actual power
output from a voltage multiplier will never be greater than the input power. In fact, there are losses in the circuit
(e.g. in diodes, capacitors etc.) so that the output power will actually be less than the input power.
Half-Wave Voltage Doubler

Circuit action
During the negative half-cycle of a.c. input voltage, diode D1 is forward biased and diode D2 is reverse biased.
Therefore, diode D1 can be represented by a short and diode D2 as an open. The equivalent circuit then becomes as
shown in fig (ii) below

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C1 will charge until voltage across it becomes equal to peak value of source voltage [VS (pk)]. At the same time, C2
will be in the process of discharging through the load RL.
During positive half-cycle), the circuit conditions become as shown in fig (i). Now D1 is reverse biased and D2 is
forward biased and the equivalent circuit becomes as shown in Fig.(ii).
Referring to Fig (ii), it is easy to see that C1 (charged to VS (pk) )and the source voltage (VS) now act as series-
aiding voltage sources. Thus C2 will be charged to the sum of the series peak voltages i.e. 2 VS(pk).
When VS returns to its original polarity (i.e. negative half-cycle), D2 is again turned off (i.e. reverse biased). With
D2 turned off, the only discharge path for C2 is through the load resistance RL. The time constant (= RL C2) of this
circuit is so adjusted that C2 has little time to lose any of its charge before the input polarity reverses again. During
the positive half-cycle, D2 is turned on and C2 recharges until voltage across it is again equal to 2 VS (pk). D.C.
output voltage, Vdc = 2 VS (pk).

Full-wave Voltage Doubler

Circuit action
During the positive half-cycle of the input voltage, D1 conducts (but not D2) and charges capacitor C1 to the peak
voltage Vm with the polarity as shown. During the negative half-cycle, D2 conducts (but not D1) charging C2 to Vm.
As far as the load is concerned, voltages across C1 and C2 are in series-aiding. If there is no load connected across
the output, then load voltage VL = 2Vm as shown in Fig. (a). For example, if 220-V, 50-Hz is the supply, then Vdc =
2Vm = 2√2Vrms √2 x2 x220= 622 V. Of course, if a load is connected across the output terminals, then VL would
be less than 2 Vm.
The PIV rating of each diode is 2Vm. Ripple frequency is twice the supply frequency. As seen, there is no common
connection between the supply line and the load.
Voltage Tripler and Quadrupler Circuits

Zack Mukindia. School of Electrical & Electronics @ Meru National Polytechnic

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The half-wave voltage doubler circuit (Fig. 55.31) can be extended to obtain any multiple of the peak input voltage
(Vm) i.e. 3Vm, 4Vm, 5Vm etc. Theoretically speaking, there is no upper limit to the amount of voltage multiplication
that can be obtained. Though voltage triplers and quadruplers are commonly used, practical considerations limit
additional multiplications. The main handicap is that total amount of capacitance becomes unduly large to maintain
the desired dc output voltage for anything except extremely light loads.

Zack Mukindia. School of Electrical & Electronics @ Meru National Polytechnic

Page 21