Analysis of Component Values

By: Adesowon Adeboboye

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Circuit Diagram
Transformer Choice
Diode Calculation
Smoothing Capacitor Value
LED & Limiting Resistor
Zener Diode Choice

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12V Power Supply Circuit Diagram

D4 D1
T1

Vi = 230VAC
D3
R1
D2
C1 ZD1
Vo = 12V
12VDC

LED1

T1 = 230/12VAC Transformer
D1D4 = IN4001 (Power Diodes)
C1 = 2200uF, 25V (Electrolytic Capacitor)
R1 = 470 ohms (current limiting resistor)
LED1 = Red Light Emitting Diode
ZD1 = IN4742A (Zener Diode)

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Your transformer choice is dependent on

few factors that you have to consider:
Frequency of the supply
In Nigeria, frequency of supply is 50Hz
which differs from USA. USAs frequency of
supply is 60Hz. We must be certain the
transformer works on 50Hz.
Voltage input to the transformer
Since we are working with a single phase
system, our transformer choice must align
with the system supply. The transformer
should be rated for 230VAC input. But if you
are in a country like USA, your transformer
should be rated for 110VAC on 60Hz supply.

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Voltage output from the transformer

This should be looked into critically. This would be dependent
on the voltage level your circuit is to operate on. For example, in
our previous tutorial, our circuit voltage is 12V. However, in order
to get 12V, we need a much higher voltage to cater for the
voltage drops that will occur in the circuit due to the diodes and
other components.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find a transformer with a higher
voltage output than 12V. However, the 230/12VAC transformer
still worked.You will get to see why it worked.

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Current rating of the transformer

The current rating of the transformer will
majorly be determined by the load to be
powered.
For example, if the load you plan to power
consumes 100mA, then transformer current
rating should be greater than 100mA.

P.S. Some transformers are rated in kVA or Watts.

You may likely not find the current rating on such
transformers. Then, your choice would be based
on the load power in Watts.

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What you need to concern yourself about diode are the forward
voltage (VF) and the peak repetitive reverse voltage (VRRM). You
can find these in the datasheet.
General purpose diodes available in the market are:
IN4001 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 50V
IN4002 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 100V
IN4003 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 200V
IN4004 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 400V
IN4005 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 600V
IN4006 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 800V
IN4007 VF = 1.1V, VRRM = 1000V

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Relative to our 12V power supply circuit diagram

and our transformer choice, an IN4001 power
diode is suitable for rectification.
Yes, rectification. The diode is responsible for
converting the alternating current (AC) obtained
from the secondary of the transformer to direct
current (DC).
The arrangement of the diode is of the bridge
type of rectification. Meaning four diodes are
arranged to form a bridge diode.
After rectification, you will find out there is a
change in the voltage reading and polarity comes
into play. The output here is also not regulated and
changes with different load impedance.

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For our transformer choice of 230/12VAC, the 12VAC is the Root

Mean Square Voltage (Vrms) because that is the reference for AC
voltages. You may discover that the voltage reading is greater than
the 12VAC at the output of the transformer, do not worry, this is
usually the case at no-load on the transformer. This could go up as
high as 14V.
By the time we are converting the AC voltage to DC voltage, Vrms
wont be used as reference anymore rather peak voltage (Vp) will
be used.
Where,
Vp = 1.4142 x Vrms
Therefore,
Vp = 1.4142 x 12V = 16.97V

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Since, 2 diodes conduct for each half cycle, there would

be a voltage drop across the two and or output voltage
after rectification will be;
Vout = 16.97 (2 x Vf)
= 16.97 (2 x 1.1V)
= 16.97 - 2.2
= 14.75VDC

This is the same voltage that our capacitor will charge

up to.
Therefore, in choosing your power diode, ensure you
match the VRRM with the maximum voltage the circuit is
to operate on and see if the VF will not cause the circuit
to malfunction.
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Since we obtained 14.75VDC after rectification, there is a need for

this unregulated voltage to be smoothed. Without smoothing, most
power electronics will not operate properly as the voltage varies
from 0VDC to 14.75VDC depending on load impedance.
Adding an electrolytic capacitor in parallel with the rectified
voltage smoothens it and reduces the ripple voltage. Also, the
working voltage of the capacitor has to be considered. In making a
choice for this, the capacitor has to be rated to operate at a voltage
higher than the voltage it is subjected to. Preferably 2 times the
maximum circuit voltage.

Vripple = Iload
fxC
Where,
Vripple = acceptable voltage variation in the circuit
Iload = Maximum load current of the circuit
f = Ripple frequency (in the case of bridge rectifiers,
ripple frequency is 2 times the system frequency)
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C = Capacitor value in Farads

For better understanding, I will be using my keyboard
piano still. My keyboard piano runs on a 9V battery as
well as a 12V adapter.
So here I can say, for safe operation of my keyboard
piano,
Vripple = 12V 9V = 3V
I will assume a maximum load current of 1A (1000mA)
for my keyboard piano.
Therefore,
Iload = 1000mA
Ripple frequency (f) = 2 x 50Hz =100Hz

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Since,
Vripple = Iload
fxC
Therefore,

C= Iload = 0.5A
f x Vripple 100Hz x 3V

= 0.5 = 0.00166F
300
C =1660uF
Working Voltage = 2 x 14.75V = 29.5V
Since, 1660uF is not a standard value, it is appropriate to go for the next higher
standard value which is 1800uF. Going through my shack, I found 2200uF with a
working voltage of 25V instead. It is oversized based on capacitance and
undersized based on working voltage, but it will work.
Therefore,
Choice of capacitor value = 2200uF, 25V

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LEDs are diodes that emit light when

current pass through them and they are
used in power electronics as indicators,
the same way it is used in this circuit.
But without a current limiting resistor,
they tend to burn out. So, it is important
that a current limiting resistor is placed
in series with LED to avoid failing or
burning.
LEDs come in varieties and like diodes
that we treated earlier, they have
forward voltage and varies with LED
colour, size and manufacturer.
Typical Forward Voltage (VF) and
Forward Current (IF) can be seen in the
table shown below.

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 Forward Forward
LED Voltage Current
(V) (mA)
Typ. Max.
Red 2.1 20 30
Green 3.2 20 30
Blue 3.2 20 30
Yellow 2.2 20 30
Orange 2.2 20 30
White 3.2 20 30

Whatever voltage that an LED (depending on the type)

will be subjected to or the current that will pass through it,
it should not exceed the values stated in the table above
for safe operation, except if the values are in line with the
datasheet.

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Making reference to the prototype we made in the video
tutorial, the indicator is a Red LED. The resistor and LED are
in series (meaning same current flows through) while the
combination is in parallel with the capacitor.
It is worthy of note that for a parallel operation, the voltage
across the elements are the same. This means that whatever
measured voltage you get across the capacitor will be the
same as the sum of the voltage drop across the resistor and
LED.
Therefore, for a red LED;
VF = 2.1V
IF = 30mA (maximum forward current)
In order to choose a suitable current limiting resistor, the
below formula (Ohms law) has to be applied.
V = IR

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Where,
V = Voltage across resistor (Vcap- VF)
Vcap = Capacitor Voltage (the same as the rectified
voltage)
VF = Forward Voltage of the LED
I = Forward Current of the LED (IF)
R = Current limit Resistor
Therefore, re-arranging;
R = Vcap VF
IF
= 14.75V 2.1V = 12.65V = 422 ohms
30mA 0.03A

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Since 422 ohms s not a standard resistor value, we will
choose the next higher resistor value, which is 470
ohms.
Therefore, current limiting resistor for our Red LED is;

R = 470 ohms

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The only reason why a zener diode is coming into play
here is because we need a regulated 12V power
supply. Zener diodes are not the only option of
regulating a power supply. Another option is in using
regulator IC such as LM7812 or LM317 (this allows for
the regulated supply to be adjustable).
However, with the use of regulator IC, there will be a
need for other components to complement.
Zener diodes are designed to be operated in reverse-
bias mode unlike their contemporary, LEDs and power
diodes, that operate in forward-bias mode. Once the
zener voltage or breakover voltage is reached, zener
diode begins to conduct reverse current. This makes
them suitable for regulation purposes as they draw
more current from the source when the voltage is high
and less, when the voltage is too low.

Since our aim is to achieve 12V regulated supply, our

choice of a zener diode will be to check the zener
voltage with the 12 V.
For the sake of this tutorial, IN4742A zener diode is
suitable.

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