Experiment No.

2 Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply

Rommel Areola BSEE 3-1 September 1, 2012

Project Summary Some devices and appliances run on low voltage Direct Current (DC) source. And in that case, a system or device that converts household mains (i.e. 110-230VAC) to low voltage DC sources, called AC-DC converter or power supply, is important. This project is a laboratory report about such device, and discusses the principles of operation, construction, and testing of a spike-free capacitive AC-DC converter power supply. Introduction AC-DC converters come in many different designs and layout, suiting a specific output value applicable for the loads power rating specifications. Most designs use a step-down transformer to lower the voltage to a desired value, and then using a system of diodes to rectify the AC transformer output. This paper elaborates how to build a transformerless power supply, and how they operate. This type of power supply is cheaper to build and more compact in size compared to those that use transformers, because it only uses capacitors instead of bulky and heavy transformers. Capacitive power supplies are considered bad replacements for regular or Switching-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) because they are not isolated from the AC mains. However, this paper presents a simple modification that can eliminate this drawback and totally convert AC to an output almost similar to an ideal transformerless power supply. Purpose

This project intends to elaborate what transformerless capacitive power supplies are, how they operate, and how to construct them. This may also serve as a reference material to anyone interested in building this type of power supply.

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA Scope

The efficiency, design and general utilization of the project is confined to the design of the power supply circuit, and the rating of the electronic components used. For elaboration, please consult the NOTES in the end of Discussion Chapter. The study and evaluation of the capacitive power supply is limited only to its voltage and current specifications. Detailed study on its output waveform, Root-Mean-Squared (RMS), system efficiency, frequency considerations, and other minor electrical parameters are not included in this paper. However, future researchers may want to include such extensive studies for the sake of clarity and accurate modification of the circuit design. This paper will discuss the specification, construction, design, and evaluation of the capacitive power supply, which was prepared, built, and tested within a one-month period. Discussion Methodology

This section of the project paper discusses the step-by-step procedures followed in making the ACDC capacitive power supply. Electronic Components Resistors: Capacitors: 2 pieces 2F/250V, Polypropylene Capacitor (PPC) 1 piece 100F/25V, Electrolytic Capacitor 2 pieces 1M/1W Diodes: 1 piece 12V/1W Zener Diode 1 piece 1N4007 Rectifying Diode

Equipment and Materials 1 piece Universal Printed Circuit Board 80x50mm Soldering Iron Soldering Lead

2 pairs Fuse Holder 2 pieces 0.5A Glass Type Fuse 1 meter Extension Wire 1 meter Bus Wire

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA General Procedures

The project is accomplished by following these steps. First, decide what specific design of a capacitive power supply suits your needs best. Then purchase all components and other materials to be used. If the design needs PCB etching, consult Printed Circuit Boards-Design, Fabrication, and Assembly by R.S. Khandpur. But in this specific project, a universal PCB is used. Next, place the components on the board. Be cautious in reading the ratings of each component, especially the capacitors. When all the components are placed on the board, cut all portruding component leads, leaving only about 3mm (cutting the leads may also be done after soldering). Then solder each component properly to the board. Avoid solder bridges and poor connection between board and component, for these may result in a shorted circuit or malfunction. Check for any misplaced component before assembling the project in its final casing. Flow Chart of Procedures

For a better visual understanding of the procedures, the table below shows the chronological arrangement of steps. Design Planning Purchase of Materials
PCB Etching (skip this step if you used universal PCB)

Casing Assembly

Finalizing

Soldering

Component Placement

Test and Evaluation Figure 1: Flow Chart of Procedures

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA Project Schematic Diagram

The following table shows the schematic diagram of the power supply project. Change of component ratings might bear unwanted observable changes to the whole circuit. Before evaluation, the researcher must conform to the schematic diagram to prevent malfunctions.

Figure 2: Power Supply Schematic Diagram NOTES: 1. Capacitors C1 and C2 are suppressor type capacitors, and must be Polypropylene (electrolytic capacitors might explode). These capacitors will reduce the mains current to about 100mA for each capacitor, which means the circuit could provide approximately 200mA. 2. Increasing the value of C1 and C2 will eventually increase the output current, but in doing this, the ratings of the other components must be considered also. 3. Since the whole circuit is at AC mains potential, any point within it is lethal, and utmost care must be considered in testing and handling the project. For safety purposes, install the project in an insulated casing. 4. For more information on capacitive power supplies, please refer to the Appendix. Test and Evaluation This part presents the power supply evaluation procedures and basic statistical treatments used.

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA Internal Test

After the project was assembled, internal tests were conducted for checking voltage flow across each component, to ensure proper output rating. This may include current checks after each capacitor, AC-DC conversion across each diode, final output voltage and current checks, etc. Measurement Tests

After the initial tests, extensive output checking was done. This includes voltage and current measurement. And the data suggests that the power supply project supplies unregulated 12-13VDC at 200mA. Evaluation and Recommendations The figures presented above makes conclusive marks that the capacitive AC-DC power supply is in good electrical condition and satisfies the expected ratings. A regulator circuit can be connected to the system to obtain a clean DC output. This project presents a cheap and easy-to-build power supply, but the researchers may want to add some features in this circuit to improve its quality. References Buchsbaum, Walter. Buchsbaums Complete Handbook of Practical Electronics Reference Data. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1975. Ganic, Ejup, and Hicks, Tyler. McGraw-Hill Handbook of Essential Engineering information and Data. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1991. Khandpur, R.S. Printed Circuit Boards: Design, Fabrication and Assembly. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2006. Saul Marconi and Pagarigan. Basic Electronics, Solid-State Servicing, 1986. http://www.brighthubengineering.com/diy-electronics-devices/77929-make-a-transformerlesspower-supply/ http://img.bhs4.com/18/7/1877240dea6bcc501fcf5ebf11406d5d610ba3a7_large.jpg http://img.bhs4.com/92/e/92e7594e65e37bf7ec50899c458855d9d1c3dca2_large.jpg http://img.bhs4.com/ac/e/ace42015c45c9d2940108ff673031659b12a0b1f_large.jpg

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA http://www.electro-tech-online.com/electronic-projects-design-ideas-reviews/123139-transformerless-power-supply.html http://waroenk-cyber.blogspot.com/2011/05/tranformer-less-power-supplay.html http://dmohankumar.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/simple-transformer-less-power-supply/ Appendices Some significant parts of the study were not included in the research body. This section will discuss additional information for easy understanding of the project, aided by tables and figures. Types of Rectifier Circuits for Power Supplies

Half-Wave Rectifier In half wave rectification of a single-phase supply, either the positive or negative half of the AC wave is passed, while the other half is blocked. Because only one half of the input waveform reaches the output, mean voltage is lower. Half-wave rectification requires a single diode in a single-phase supply, or three in a three-phase supply. Rectifiers yield a unidirectional but pulsating direct current; half-wave rectifiers produce far more ripple than full-wave rectifiers, and much more filtering is needed to eliminate harmonics of the AC frequency from the output.

Figure 3: Half-wave Rectifier Full-Wave Rectifier A full-wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to one of constant polarity (positive or negative) at its output. Full-wave rectification converts both polarities of the input waveform to DC (direct current), and yields a higher mean output voltage. Two diodes and a center tapped transformer, or four diodes in a bridge configuration and any AC source (including a transformer without center tap), are needed. Single semiconductor diodes, double diodes with common cathode or common anode, and four-diode bridges, are manufactured as single components. Page 6 of 10

Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA

Figure 4: Full-wave Rectifier For single-phase AC, if the transformer is center-tapped, then two diodes back-to-back (cathode-tocathode or anode-to-anode, depending upon output polarity required) can form a full-wave rectifier. Twice as many turns are required on the transformer secondary to obtain the same output voltage than for a bridge rectifier, but the power rating is unchanged. Capacitor-Fed/Capacitive AC-DC Power Supplies

The above circuits present a power supply aided by a step-down transformer, but a cheaper modification can be used, replacing the transformers with capacitors. The capacitors reduce the incoming mains current to a desirable value (but the voltage remains the same). Then any of the mentioned rectifier circuits above may be connected after the capacitors. The following circuits presents more examples of capacitive AC-DC converters.

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA

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Project Report on Capacitive Power Supply Areola, RA

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