circuit

ideas
electroni cs for you March 2009 81 www. e f y Ma g . c o M
Sandip Trivedi and p.d. LeLe
TripLe power SuppLy S.C. DW
IVEDI
in positive and negative regulated
power supplies. LED1 glows to indi-
cate that +5V is available, while LED2
indicates that 5V is available.
Switch S1 is used for mains on/
off. Using switches S2 through
S4, any of the three supplies can be
independently turned off when not
required in a particular experiment.
This reduces unnecessary power dis-
sipation and increases the life and
reliability of the power supply. Since
the circuit uses three terminal regula-
tors, only capacitors are required at
the input and output. The use of few
components makes the circuit very
simple. The three terminal regulators
have heat-sink provision to directly
deliver 1A output current. To ensure
the maximum output, do not forget to
T
his low-cost, multipurpose
power supply fulfils the re-
quirements of almost all labora-
tory experiments. Nonetheless, it can
be easily fabricated by hobbyists.
A single transformer is used to
build this triple power supply. Regula-
tor IC LM317 generates variable power
supply of 1.25 to 20V, 1A. The dual
12V, 1A power supply is generated
by regulators 7812 and 7912. Similarly,
dual 5V, 1A power supply is gener-
ated by regulators 7805 and 7905.
On/off switches (S2 through S4)
select the required power supply. Vari-
able power supply is used to study the
characteristics of devices. Fixed +5V
power supply is used for all digital,
microprocessor and microcontroller
experiments. Dual 12V power supply
is used for op-amp-based analogue
circuit experiments.
Fig. 1 shows the circuit of the triple
power supply, while Fig. 2 shows the
pin configuration of the regulators
used in the circuit. Transformer X1
steps down the mains power to deliver
the secondary output of 18V-0-18V.
The transformer output is rectifed by
full-wave bridge rectifer BR1, fltered
by capacitors C1, C2, C3, C7 and C8,
and regulated by IC1 through IC5.
Regulator IC1 (LM317) provides vari-
able voltages (1.25 to 20V), while IC2
and IC4 provide regulated +12V and
12V, respectively. The output of IC2 is
fed to regulator IC3 (7805), which pro-
vides fxed +5V. Similarly, the output
of IC4 is fed to regulator IC5 (7905),
which provides fxed 5V. Capacitors
C4 through C6, and C9 through C11,
are used for further fltering of ripples
Fig. 1: Tripple power supply
OUT IN
IC3
7805
1
2
3
GND
F1
1.5A
FUSE
S1
ON/OFF
SWITCH
S2
230V AC
50Hz
L
N
X1
BR1
W04
C1
1000
35V
C5
10
16V
C4
100
25V
C9
100
25V
C2
0.1
C3
0.1
C6
0.1
C8
0.1
C11
0.1
C10
10
16V
C7
1000
35V
S3
S4
R2
330
R1
120
R3
330
LED1
LED2
GND
GND
+5V
5V
OUT IN
IC2
7812
1
2
3
GND
OUT IN
IC4
7912
2
1
3
GND
OUT IN
IC5
7905
2
1
3
GND
OUT IN IC1
LM317
3
1
2
ADJ.
VR1
2.2K
+1.25 TO 20V
+12V
12V
X1 = 230V AC
PRIMARY TO 18V-0-18V,
1.5A SECONDARY
TRANSFORMER
BR1-W04
1.5A, BRIDGE
RECTIFIER
GND
BR1
W04
HEAT SINK
HEAT SINK
HEAT SINK HEAT SINK
HEAT SINK
S2 = FOR VARIABLE VOLTAGE
S3 = FOR +12V AND +5V
S4 = FOR 12V AND 5V
S1-S4 = ON/OFF SWITCH
POT
circuit
ideas
82 March 2009 electroni cs for you www. e f y Ma g . c o M
use heat-sinks for the regulators.
The three-terminal regulators are
almost non-destructible. These have
inbuilt protection circuits including
the thermal shutdown protection. Even
if there is overload or shorting of the
output, the inbuilt overload protection
circuit will limit the current and slowly
reduce the output voltage to zero.
Similarly, if the temperature increases
beyond a certain value due to excessive
load and heat dissipation, the in-built
thermal shutdown circuit will reduce
the output current and the output volt-
age (gradually) to zero. Thus complete
protection is provided to the circuitry.
Assemble the circuit on a general-
purpose PCB and enclose in a box as
shown in Fig. 3.
The step-by-step procedure to build
the triple power supply for the labora-
tory follows:
Fig. 2: Pin confgurations of regulators
Fig. 3: Proposed cabinet for power supply
1. Collect all the components shown
in the circuit diagram.
2. Connect switch S1, fuse, trans-
former and mains cord to the assem-
bled PCB as well as the box.
3. Keep the multimeter in DC volt-
age range (more than 25V DC) and
measure the DC voltage across ca-
pacitors C1 and C7 (1000 F, 35V). This
voltage should be around 18V1.41=25
to 26V DC. Check both positive and
negative voltages with respect to
ground.
4. It is advisable to use three-wire
mains cable and plug. If you are using
any metallic box, earthing wire/pin of
the mains plug should be soldered to
the body of the metallic box using an
earthing tag.
5. If the 18V-0-18V
transformer is replaced
with 15V-0-15V trans-
f ormer, t he out put
voltage of the variable
supply using LM317
will be correspond-
ingly lower.
6. If proper voltages
are available, go to step
7. Otherwise, check the
connections.
7. Connect variable regulator
LM317 to the circuit and check 1.25V
to 20V output by varying the 2.2-kilo-
ohm linear potentiometers.
8. Now connect ICs 7812, 7912, 7805
and 7905 to the circuit and check their
output voltage.
9. Connect terminals, potmeter,
switches and indicator LED on the
front panel of the box and complete
the connections. Close the box by us-
ing screws.
Precaution. At the primary side of
the transformer, 230V AC could give
lethal shocks. So be careful not to touch
this part. EFY will not be responsible
for any resulting loss or harm to the
user.