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Power Supply Design: Constant Current Guide

This document discusses constant current power supply design and current limiting circuits. It describes a simple current limit circuit that uses a resistor to sense the output current and transistor circuitry to limit it to a set value. It also describes a more precise constant current circuit that uses an operational amplifier comparator and feedback to accurately regulate the output current. Both circuits work by sensing the output current and controlling a regulating transistor to maintain the current at the set level.

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Dai Ngo
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90 views2 pages

Power Supply Design: Constant Current Guide

This document discusses constant current power supply design and current limiting circuits. It describes a simple current limit circuit that uses a resistor to sense the output current and transistor circuitry to limit it to a set value. It also describes a more precise constant current circuit that uses an operational amplifier comparator and feedback to accurately regulate the output current. Both circuits work by sensing the output current and controlling a regulating transistor to maintain the current at the set level.

Uploaded by

Dai Ngo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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John Errington's tutorial on Power Supply Design

Constant Current and Current limiting

Often we may just wish to protect the components of a constant voltage supply from damage if
too great a load is applied. However we may require a power supply that will provide a constant
current into a load. One such application is in electroplating.
Introduction
No supply can produce an ideal constant current. As the load on the supply is reduced the voltage
Transformer rises to maintain the set current. Eventually we must reach a point where the supply is no longer
and rectifier able to do so.

Smoothing

Ripple Current

Load
regulation

Design
Example 1

Voltage
Regulation

Voltage
References

Voltage
Regulation
Simple cct

Voltage
Regulation and
analysis

Voltage
Regulation
precision
circuit

Voltage
Regulation
Conclusion To provide a constant current we need to sense the output current, compare with a set value,
and use this to control a regulating element. Here is one way to add a constant current (or
current limit) to our simple regulated supply.
Current
sources Simple current limit circuit

Constant In normal operation current flows to the load through TR1. Resistor R5 (typically around 0.1
current ohm) is used to sense this current. When the voltage across R1 exceeds 0.7V Tr3 starts to
conduct, turning on TR4 and depriving TR1 of base current. The load current then stabilises at
the point where TR3 just starts to conduct. (ie VR5 = 0.65V approx).
Feedback
If R5 = 0.05 ohm the output current will be limited to
High voltages
Imax = 0.65V/0.1 ohm = 6.5A

A variable current limit can be arranged by placing a potentiometer (eg 1k) across R5 and
Rules of
tapping off the required voltage.
thumb
Precise variable constant current

Our "precise voltage supply" can similarly be adapted to give a constant current or current limit
facility, as shown here.

As before R5 senses
the current drawn.
Resistors R6, R7, R8,
R9 form a wheatstone
bridge arrangement.
Values are chosen so
that the voltage limits
for the IC are not
exceeded. Lets
suppose we choose
R6 = R7 = 47k and
R8 = R9 = 4.7k

IC2 measures the


difference in voltages
V2-V1 and amplifies it.

As before TR4 robs TR1 of base current to maintain Iout at the set value.

R9 is adjusted to allow the required current to flow.

Limitations of this circuit

As with any constant current supply as the load resistance increases we will eventually reach a
point where the supply can no longer provide enough voltage to drive the set current through the
load. Within these limits the circuit will perform extremely well.

Sensing the output current

Iout = Ie = Ib + Ic

We cannot sense emitter current without increasing the output resistance when used as a voltage
supply. However by using a darlington arrangement the base current is typically less than 0.1%
of emitter current so Ic is a good measurement of Ie.

As with the previous circuit this arrangement can be easily adapted to provide large output
voltages.
(see High voltages)

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