User talk:RogerAF

I have several projects I'm currently working on. And several ideas I want to develop ito new projects. I was thinking about some of those when I came across this site. It seems so serendipitous, I just had to join and write something.

I've spent the last week or so working on PC board layouts of several voltage regulator designs I've built and used over the years. I built a replacement for a recording console power supply regulator, that has been working now for near 10 years. I couldn't find the high current regulators that the original design used, so I used a pair of 723 ICs and external pass transistors and made my own substitute. The 723 has been bery bery goot to me! I used another pair of them to make a bench supply that adjusts from 12V to 35V plus and minus are individually adjustable and the pass devices have a 20A rating. I use this to experiment with various discrete op amp designs. A modern version of the Jensen 990 is my goal.

I've also recently built my first switchmode regulator based on TIs TL494 PWM controller IC. My experience with switching regulators is limited. I never had to repair one, only replace the complete unit, so I'm having to learn about them on my own. I've collected a lot of documentation and learned about buck, boost, buck-boost, fly-back etc. But it is all "book learning" as opposed to "hands on" at this point.

I thought these regulators might interest someone. I will post the schematics and artwork here eventually, but I need to find out more about how that is done. If anyone is interested, let me know.

Aloha, RAF

welcome

Aloha, RogerAF. Welcome to Open Circuits.

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Thank you for sharing your experiences here. I also have a bunch of "book learning" about switching regulators.

Have you seen National's "simple switcher"? The web application is nice for taking specifications like "up to 3 A output current", input voltage, and output voltage, and rapidly converting it to a circuit that National guarantees will work -- rather than fiddling around with prototypes for a few days.

Have you seen The 3-transistor Black regulator? Or the 5v to 13v Converter also by Roman Black? It makes me wonder why I used to think switchmode regulators required a complicated IC to control them.

Should we start a page on switching regulators here at Open Circuits?

--DavidCary 00:35, 18 May 2007 (PDT)

Hi David, In response to your question re a switching regulators page. I'd vote yea and expect that a linear page should be its partner. Given that the two types are so different in approach and conception. Linear regulators are very easy for me to understand, because of my years with audio equipment--most of which used linear supplies. Switching supplies are found in audio processing units, but the repair was generally to swap in a new card rather than trouble shoot for bad components.

I haven't done anything with switching regulators other than building my first with a TI TL494 PWM controller IC. I looked at Roman Black's designs (Thanks for that turn on) what elegant simplicity! I'm in awe. I am happy to contribute to a linear regulators page--I have several discrete opamp based designs for dual tracking supplies etc. I'd like to see more switching designs, to expand my own knowledge and raise my conciousness. I've peeked at National's online design software, but never took the time to try anything.

I have a little project that requires 3V, 5V, and

User talk:RogerAF

welcome

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