Precise and Fast – V2.1 series regulator

Next design that i want to publish today is V2.1. This design is based on old V2.0 regulator but simple NPN transistor is used as output device instead of Sziklai pair. Design is quite similar to popular regulators like: ALWSR, TT Feeder, Walt Jung low noise regulator.

V2.1 is constant current source biased series regulator. It is closed loop design with error amplifier built of operational amplifier. Operational amplifier provide accurate regulation in wide temperature range, big open loop amplification and fast transient response.

Voltage reference is made in 2 different ways. One is classic in all of my design – simple LED with low noise. Second is based on precision voltage reference to take a advantage of precision operational amplifier. This creates accurate regulator with low temperature drift.

V2.1 regulator is one of the best choice to power precision, low noise and fast switching devices like DACs, ADC, digital filters, S/PDIF receivers.

Output voltage can be set between 3,3 – 5V with standard version. Higher voltages requires to use different operational amplifier. Dropout voltage is at least 1,5V, but I recomend values from 2V to 3V. You must calculate this for power dissipation max. 1W. Maximal output current is 500mA, but for provide good stability I recommend max. 200mA (with precision voltage reference could be more).

18 września, 2015 0

Simple but Flexible – V1.2 series regulator

Welcome after a long break from writing!

Today I would like to show You one of my oldest design of series voltage regulator. V1.2 is exactly V1.0 with greater reference voltage and lot of space for output capacitor. It is also produced on gold plated PCB’s.

V1.2 is constant current sourced biased regulator. It is closed loop device with error amplifier based on single transistor. Voltage reference is done by 2 LEDs. Only transistor/diode design allows to make positive and negative versions of this regulator.

This design is mostly used by my to supply analog circuits with voltages +/-12V and +/-15V. It is also good choice as voltage pre-regulator before accurate and fast V3.1 and V2.1 designs. I use it as output regulator of clock power supply:

18 września, 2015 0

16W Power Supply

Today I would like to show You my strongest from single power supply board. It is based on TEZ16 transformer, Schottky bridge with 3A diodes and V3.1 regulator with high bias current:

Maximal output current: 1100mA @5V (@225Vac)

After 1hour operating with 1100mA (5V) at 27 Celsius degree of ambient temp, heat sink temperature rises 57 Celsius degree.

25 lipca, 2015 0

VX.X – Voltage Regulators versions explanation

Till today (24 April 2015) I have designed 14 versions of voltage regulators of which as many as 9 are newly and my own topologies. I know You could have a problem to choose a right one for Your application, so I would like to explain You differences between all versions.

In general there are 3 groups.

discrete series regulators
discrete shunt regulators
integrated regulators (series)

In explanation:

V1.0 – simple series regulator with NPN output, single transistor error amplifier, LED voltage reference and CSS bias circuit.

V1.1 – simple series regulator with Szikai output, single transistor error amplifier, LED voltage reference and CSS bias circuit.

V1.2 – V1.0 with some improvement for high output voltage, gold plated PCBs.

V2.0 – series regulator with opamp error amplifier, Szikai output, LED voltage reference and CCS bias circuit.

V2.1 – series regulator with opamp error amplifier, NPN output, LED voltage reference and CCS bias circuit, gold plated PCBs.

V3.0 – series regulator with transistor differential amplifier, NPN output, LED voltage reference, CCS bias circuit.

V3.1 – V3.0 with some improvements for better soldering, precision voltage reference, precision output voltage set, gold plated PCBs.

V3.0max – V3.0 with improvements for high output voltage, gold plated PCBs.

V4.0 – shunt regulator based on TL431 with Sziklai CCS, gold plated PCBs.

V5.0 – series regulator with opamp error amplifier in shunt configuraton, gold plated PCBs.

V6.1 – series regulator based on Texas Instruments TPS7A4700/3301, gold plated PCBs.

V8.0 – shunt regulator with transistor differential amplifier, Sziklai CCS, precision/LED voltage reference, gold plated PCBs.

All deigns (excluding V3.0max) are made on 30mm x 15mm PCBs like this:

Pinout always are:

IN
IN
GND
OUT
OUT

so they can replace integrated regulators like 78XX or discrete like TPA Trident Shunt.

You can use only 3 center pins for replacement of 78XX, or all 5 pins when board is designed to use my discrete regulators.

For better heat dissipation external heatsink can be used. I use Fisher heatsinks mounted by 3M heat-conductive tape:

This tape can be also used to stick the regulator to any metal elements of Your device. Here You can find V1.0 regulators mounted on Revox B226 CD to provide better opamp supply:

For detailed information about specific version please choose right one from menu. Not all version are carefully described on my page.

18 Maj, 2015 0

6W Power Supply

Today I would like to show You my new power supply based on 6VA Breve transformer, and my discrete voltage regulator V3.1. Of course any other of my 3 pin regulators can be used. This power supply is dedicated to supply USB1.1 and USB2.0 audio DACs and converters.

This one is set to 5V and in assumption should deliver at least 500mA of current.