Thursday, March 28, 2024

Transformerless Power Supply

If a circuit requires very low current of a few milliamperes, transformerless power supply is an ideal solution. Here is a guide to designing your own transformerless power supply -- D. Mohankumar

Fig. 4: Resistive power supply with full-wave rectification
Fig. 4: Transformerless power supply: Resistive with full wave rectification
Fig. 5: Capacitive power supply with full-wave rectification
Fig. 5: Transformerless power supply: Capacitive with full-wave rectification
Fig. 6: Capacitive power supply with transient and EMI protection
Fig. 6: Transformerless power supply: Capacitive with transient and EMI protection
Fig. 7: Resistive power supply with transient and EMI protection
Fig. 7: Transformerless power supply: Resistive with transient and EMI protection
Fig. 8: Capacitive power supply with more power efficiency
Fig. 8: Transformerless power supply: Capacitive with more power efficiency

Power considerations

Power rating of the dropping resistor depends on the current flowing through it. Before selecting a resistor, it is important to assess how much current is required for the load. The output voltage also depends on the value of the resistor and the zener diode. Table III helps to select the resistor and zener diode to get the desired output voltage.

A high-wattage type resistor is necessary to reduce the heat generation and power loss. A 10-watt resistor can be used safely without much heat generation. Instead of using a single resistor, it is better to use two resistors in series to get the total value of the resistance required. For example, instead of using a single 10-kilo-ohm resistor, it is better to use two 5-kilo-ohm resistors in series. This will prevent high-voltage transients appearing in the circuit and also lower the potential across the resistor, so the chance of arcing can be reduced.

Power rating of the zener diode is also important as it handles large current in no-load condition. It is better to use a 1W zener diode for regulation. Electrolytic capacitor C1 should be rated twice the value of the zener diode. For fine smoothing, it is better to use a 1000µF, 25V capacitor.

To increase the power supply efficiency, the circuits shown in Figs 4 and 5 can be used.

In both the circuits, current is supplied from the source during both the halves of the AC cycle. So the output voltage remains more stable than with half-wave rectification. Since the output voltage is not referred to phase or neutral, these power supplies cannot be used to control thyristors.

25 COMMENTS

  1. This article is an example of what we get when a professor of zoology tries to write articles on Electronics!
    Lot of nonsense has been written in this article to confuse hobbyists and students.
    For example, 230V/14.4 = 15.9 mA? It is simple Ohms Law, and the answer is not mA but AMPERES, yes, the answer should be 15.9 AMPERES! Mr Mohan Kumar, just try to connect a 14.4 ohm resistor across the 230V mains and you shall get your answer….It seems that the author has never actually done any practical projects in electricity or electronics himself.

  2. Hello sir,
    I had tried this circuit. I had got perfect output from this circuit. But I had found some problems in this circuit. When the 230v ac is connected to this circuit both the zener diodes got heated in this case. I need solution for this issue. Plz tell me sir..

    • You will never know whether neutral or connection is proper or not is the are interchange and you touch the ground of the circuit and same time touching the earth.. It will definitely give you a 240 rms shock.

  3. The author of this article has clearly mentioned that It is dangerous to touch this power supply in page number 5 safety Overall this is a Non isolated power and harm you any time. please refer completely. If it is mandatory to touch better take a insurance and move. (Kidding )

  4. Hi dear Schrödinger
    Thank you so much for your very useful and informative essay regarding transformerless Power supplies.
    would you please answer my questions 😕
    1. Is it possible to increase the power of Zener Diods by simply paralleling them? for instance to get one watt by paralleling two 0.5 watt of them?
    2. what about increasing Zener Diods’ voltage? for example: to join two pcs. 9.1 and 3.1 volts in series to get a 12 volts Zener diod?
    Thank you again
    Bye

  5. Dear Sir,
    Thank you so much for your very useful and informative essay regarding transformerless Power supplies espesially design considerations.
    would you please advice why series resistors and two zener diodes get heated so much and if it is safe to operate the device with such conditions?

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