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Thread: changer reduces LM317 power dissipation

  1. #16
    Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent
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    There are a couple of errors in my circuit.

    There should be a diode in reverse parallel with the relay coil.

    Another thing I've overlooked is that it could be oscillating because the filter capacitor is being discharged when the coil is activated causing the output voltage to drop slightly resulting in it being deactivated.

    I can think of two solutions:

    Add a capacitor from the transistor's base to 0V. This might help keep the transistor on for a long enough length of time for the relay to connect to the higher voltage tap.

    Add a high value resistor (try 100k to 1M) from the + side of the rectifier to the transistor's base. This should add some hysteresis so when the relay does engage the transistor will turn on even more.

    Failing that, are you sure the filter capacitor is large enough?

    What's the secondary voltage of your trasformer?

    I would recommend using the solid state version: it should be much more reliable.

    You might have to tweak a few component values, remember I haven't tested or simulated any of these circuits.

    I do not answer private messages asking for help because no one else can: benefit from advice I may give or correct me if I'm wrong.

    Please ask on the open forum if you have a question and I'll be happy to help,
    if I know the answer.


  2. #17
    BOOJAN Newbie
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    i have tryed all what you have posted, but i forgot to menton it in the prevous post....i will try the solid version tomorow or some other day when i will have time
    Last edited by BOOJAN; 25th March 2009 at 12:26 AM.

  3. #18
    fernando_g Newbie
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    Hero; your circuit is a very nice to reduce the regulator heat dissipation.
    However, you do need to consider adding hysteresis to the switching transistor.

    Otherwise, right at the voltage threshold, the circuit will start to misbehave between the two states.

    The easiest, of course is to have an opamp with positive feedback.
    But if you would like to maintain an all-discrete design, there is a two transistor design which has been designed eons ago. Lots of info by googling it.

  4. #19
    Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent Hero999 Excellent
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    The solid state version already has hysteresis built-in, there's no need to add an op-amp.

    Positive feedback is accomplished by adding a 470k resistor from the collector of the PNP transistor top the base of the NPN transistor. When the NPN transistor turns on a bit, it will turn the PNP transistor on which will also apply a higher voltage to the base of the NPN transistor via the 470k resistor.

    I didn't design any hysteresis into the relay version because relays already have some degree of hysteresis built-in. However I neglected the fact that because it breaks before makes it's prone to oscillation (as I mentioned above).

    I do not answer private messages asking for help because no one else can: benefit from advice I may give or correct me if I'm wrong.

    Please ask on the open forum if you have a question and I'll be happy to help,
    if I know the answer.

  5. #20
    fernando_g Newbie
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hero999 View Post
    Positive feedback is accomplished by adding a 470k resistor from the collector of the PNP transistor top the base of the NPN transistor.
    You are correct, I hadn't paid attention to the 470k resisitor.

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