John Errington's Tutorial On Power Supply Design: Their Place in A Voltage Regulated Supply

John Errington's tutorial on Power Supply Design
Current sources
Their place in a voltage regulated supply
Series regulators for supplies with variable outputs face a particular problem. The input voltage
must be higher than the maximum required output voltage plus the insertion loss for the circuit.
Introduction
This means when the lowest output voltage is selected, Vin>>Vout. Since Vreg follows Vout the
Transformer current through R - which supplies our voltage reference - alo changes dramatically.
and rectifier
Lets take the example of our previous design. Vin = 36V. Vout = 20 - 30V.
Smoothing Suppose R=100 ohms and Vreg = Vout + 1.4V.
IRmin = 36 - (30 + 1.4) / R IRmin = 4.6V /1k = 4.6mA
Ripple Current
IRmax = 36-(20+1,4) / R IRmax =14.6V / 1k = 14.6mA
Load
We could improve this situation by making Vin larger - but this just wastes energy as unwanted
regulation
heat, and increases component costs.
Design
We can overcome this problem by replacing the resistor R with a current source. There are many
Example 1
different configurations we could use, but some of the simpler, economical and effective types are
described here. One factor to note is the insertion loss for the circuit, which we will need to keep
Voltage to a minimum.
Regulation
Simplest circuit
Voltage
References Current flows through resistor R and D1 setting a voltage across Vbe and
Re.
Voltage The voltage across Re is then VD1 - Vbe, and iRe = VD1 - Vbe / Re
Regulation
Simple cct If TR1 has a large Hfe Iout = IRe = VD1 - Vbe / Re
Voltage Limitations: as the output load changes the voltage across TR1 and its
Regulation and power dissipation changes. This will cause Vbe to change, and Iout will
analysis change. We can compensate this by adding a diode in series with D1 and
attaching it to TR1 so their temperatures are the same.
Voltage
Regulation
precision Insertion losss is VD1. We can minimise this by using a low voltage zener, an LED or a pair of
circuit diodes to set the base voltage.
Voltage
Regulation Using a regulator IC
Conclusion
This circuit works in the same way as the one above. The
LM317 is a variable voltage regulator that can supply up
Current to 1.5A. The adjsut pin is used to set the required voltage.
sources In this configuratiion it sets the voltage across R1 to
1.25V. The drop-out voltage is around 2.0 - 2.5V
Constant
current
A better circuit
Feedback Current flows through R into the base of TR1, allowing current to flow through Re to Iout. If the
current gets too high, TR2 turns on and robs TR1 of base current. This is an excellent way of
High voltages
either making a current source or of limiting the available current to a defined maximum value.
Iout = Vbe(TR2) / Re
Rules of
Because the voltage across TR2 is limited to 2*Vbe little power dissipation occurs, so Vbe is more
thumb
stable.
Drop-out voltage is around 2*Vbe

Current mirror
This circuit is called a "current mirror". Provided the transistors used are
identical, the collector current for TR2 will be the same as that for TR1.
However, whatever the physical characteristics of the transistors, Iout will
always be proportional to i1.
Additional transistors (TR2a, TR2b, TR2c etc) can be wired across TR2 to
give crrent multiplication.
Drop-out voltage is around 1.0V.
A VERY simple (but not very accurate) current source
If Vcc is approximately constant we can build a very simple

current regulator around a single PNP transistor, as shown here.
Example: the TIP30 transistor has an HFE of 15 - 75, and can

supply a collector current of 1A (with a suitable heat sink).
Say we want a current of 300mA and Vcc is 12V : choose a
resistor R1 to limit the base current to 300/15 = 20mA. (12V /
20mA = 0.6k; use 620 ohms.)
Now choose a trimpot VR1 in series with R1 to limit the base

current to 300/75 = 4mA. (12V / 4mA = 3k. We need 3k - 0.62k
so choose a 2k7 or 2k2 trimpot)
Place a current meter in place of the load (or in series with it) and adjust VR1 so the load current
is 300mA.
Drop-out voltage is less than 1.0V.
NB: HFE is temperature dependent; this circuit is more a current limiter, not an accurate current
source, but WILL provide overcurrent protection in simple circuits.

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John Errington's tutorial on Power Supply Design

Their place in a voltage regulated supply

Drop-out voltage is around 2*Vbe

Drop-out voltage is around 1.0V.

A VERY simple (but not very accurate) current source

If Vcc is approximately constant we can build a very simple

Example: the TIP30 transistor has an HFE of 15 - 75, and can

Now choose a trimpot VR1 in series with R1 to limit the base

Drop-out voltage is less than 1.0V.

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