SMPS CKT
SMPS CKT
SMPS CKT
Most electronics enthusiasts require DC power supplies to operate various devices and
accessories. The most popular and common supply is a 12V DC supply that can be easily derived
from the household AC supply with transformation, rectification, filtering and stabilization. These
power supplies have a bulky steel- or iron-laminated transformer that provides a safety barrier
for the low-voltage output from the AC input, and reduces the input from typically 230V AC to a
much lower voltage. The low-voltage AC output from the transformer is then rectified by two or
four diodes and smoothed into low-voltage DC by large electrolytic capacitors.
A switched mode power supply (SMPS) offers the same end results at a lower cost and higher
efficiency. For a given output power, an SMPS is lighter and smaller. This is because, if the
frequency of operation is increased, one can get away with using a smaller core cross-sectional
area. Besides, an iron-core transformer works only up to about 10 kHz, and if we need something
in 50-100kHz range, we need a ferrite core.
polarity of the winding; the secondary is out of phase with the primary, as is evident in Fig. 2 (the dots indicate
polarity).
When the MOSFET of IC1 is closed, the current flows through L1. Point A on L1 goes positive and
by transformer action, and considering the polarity of dots, point C on L2 goes negative. This
reverse biases diode D4, and no current flows in the secondary winding. Similarly, when the
MOSFET is open, the current flow through L1 is interrupted and, by Lenzs Law, a voltage of
polarity opposite to the applied voltage appears on L1 and L2. Thus, point A on L1 goes negative
and point C on L2 goes positive. This situation forward biases diode D4. The energy stored in the
core causes the current to flow through winding L2. This charges capacitor C2 and also powers
the load. The charge on C2 is used in the next half of the cycle to keep the current through the
load somewhat constant. The cycle repeats endlessly. The MOSFET is switched on/off
continuously at a frequency of around 120 kHz to keep this process running.
The design data for the transformer is as follows:
1. Duty cycle = 0.45 (max. duty cycle for DCM fly back = 0.5; less 10% safety margin)
2. Core saturation magnetization Bsat = 0.24T
3. Core area of EE20 = 25mm2
Winding details computed for the SMPS are shown in Table I.
The feedback circuit. Regulated output needs feedback to control the pulse width modulation (PWM) of the
MOSFET. TNY266 has a fabulous control feature; it stops the switching cycle as soon as any current is taken
out of pin 4 of the device. If SMPS output exceeds the zener break-down voltage then ZD1 conducts. This lights
the opto-LED and the opto-transistor grounds pin 4 of IC1, resulting in immediate stoppage of the switching
cycle. Also, when the primary is conducting, diode D4 on the secondary side is reverse biased. At this time, if
the voltage across D4 exceeds its reverse breakdown voltage, the SMPS will fail. Here we have used an SB160
Schottky diode with breakdown voltage= 60V.
Connector CON2 provides 12V regulated DC supply.
The primary inductance computes to ~3mH, so the air gap is approximately 0.2mm. However, this value is not
critical, as was experienced by the authors during their experiments. Any air gap in the neighbourhood of the
calculated value works well. A thin sheet of plastic or paper works fine.
An actual-size, single-side PCB for the simple 12V, 1A SMPS is shown in Fig. 3 and its component layout is
shown in Fig. 4. Assemble the circuit on the recommended PCB to minimise assembly errors. Use IC base for
IC1.
To test if the circuit is functioning properly, first check the regulated output at TP1 with respect to TP0. The
voltage should be stable with or without a load.