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Building a 120V AC to 3V DC Power Supply

Author: ZYG Power Module Time: 2023-4-18

Introduction:

A power supply is an essential component in any electrical or electronic system. It provides the necessary power for the system to operate. In this article, we will discuss how to build a 120V AC to 3V DC power supply. The power supply can be used for a variety of applications such as powering low voltage circuits, charging batteries, and powering small electronic devices.

Design:

The power supply is designed to convert the 120V AC voltage from the mains into a 3V DC voltage. The power supply consists of a transformer, a bridge rectifier, and a voltage regulator.

Transformer:

The transformer is used to step down the 120V AC voltage to a lower voltage suitable for the power supply. The transformer used in this design has a primary winding of 120V AC and a secondary winding of 6V AC. The secondary winding is center-tapped, which means that it has a common ground reference.

Bridge Rectifier:

The bridge rectifier is used to convert the AC voltage from the transformer into a DC voltage. The bridge rectifier is made up of four diodes that are arranged in a bridge configuration. The output of the bridge rectifier is a pulsating DC voltage that has a voltage of approximately 9V DC.

Voltage Regulator:

The voltage regulator is used to regulate the output voltage of the power supply. In this design, a LM317 voltage regulator is used. The LM317 voltage regulator is a three-terminal adjustable voltage regulator that can provide an output voltage between 1.25V and 37V. The LM317 voltage regulator is connected in a voltage divider configuration to provide a 3V DC output voltage.

Circuit Diagram:

The following circuit diagram shows the 120V AC to 3V DC power supply:

[Insert Circuit Diagram Here]

Construction:

The 120V AC to 3V DC power supply can be easily constructed on a breadboard or a PCB. The components required for the power supply are:

1. Transformer: 120V AC to 6V AC center-tapped transformer

2. Bridge Rectifier: 4x 1N4007 diodes

3. Voltage Regulator: LM317

4. Capacitors: 1x 2200uF electrolytic capacitor, 1x 0.1uF ceramic capacitor

5. Resistors: 2x 220 ohm resistors, 1x 240 ohm resistor

6. LED: 1x LED (optional)

The following steps can be followed to construct the power supply:

1. Mount the components on a breadboard or a PCB as shown in the circuit diagram.

2. Connect the 120V AC input to the primary winding of the transformer.

3. Connect the center-tap of the secondary winding of the transformer to the ground.

4. Connect the output of the bridge rectifier to the input of the LM317 voltage regulator.

5. Connect the output of the LM317 voltage regulator to the output terminals.

6. Connect the LED (optional) to the output terminals through a current-limiting resistor.

Testing:

The power supply can be tested by measuring the output voltage using a multimeter. The output voltage should be approximately 3V DC. The LED (optional) can also be connected to the output terminals to test the power supply.

 

Conclusion:

In this article, we have discussed how to build a 120V AC to 3V DC power supply. The power supply is designed using a transformer, a bridge rectifier, and a voltage regulator. The power supply can be used for a variety of applications such as powering low voltage circuits, charging batteries, and powering small electronic devices. The power supply is easy to construct and can be tested using a multimeter.

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