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Variable DC power supply

S

Stumpy

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm planning on testing a house light dimmer switch to provide <120 Vac for
a bridge rectifier circuit with a one choke and two capacitor filter.

I presume that the dimmer will put out an attenuated sine wave so I can dial
up 0 - ~60 Vdc.

Is this feasible?

Also, the choke I bought at Radio Shack (273-102) has one end of the wire
wrapped around the core soldered to one lead of the choke. Does it matter
which way this points? Towards the PS or towards the load?
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm planning on testing a house light dimmer switch to provide <120 Vac
for Is this feasible?

No. You need a fan speed controller - light dimmers are usually asymetrical.
Does it matter which way this points? Towards the PS or towards the
load?

Doesn't matter
 
S

Stumpy

Jan 1, 1970
0
No. You need a fan speed controller - light dimmers are usually
asymetrical.

Also not linear. I did a test with a dimmer switch direct to the bridge
circuit. Got 50 Vdc at the output - no load - in the minimum position.
Turned the dimmer up to 1/2 of full rotation, got 60 Vdc. Turned it up a
hair more, heard a slight buzzing from the dimmer and then the 1000 uH
capacitor blew.

Took awhile to get the capacitor oil off my desk. I guess the 50 volt
rating was serious. I'm still interested to try the dimmer, but should have
added a step-down transformer.
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Also not linear. I did a test with a dimmer switch direct to the
bridge circuit. Got 50 Vdc at the output - no load - in the minimum
position. Turned the dimmer up to 1/2 of full rotation, got 60 Vdc.
Turned it up a hair more, heard a slight buzzing from the dimmer and then
the 1000 uH capacitor blew.

Took awhile to get the capacitor oil off my desk. I guess the 50 volt
rating was serious. I'm still interested to try the dimmer, but should
have added a step-down transformer.

We ran low voltage lamps via fan speed controls - or look for a symmetrical
design to build. If you can find one of the old GE SCR Handbooks it had some
good design info. Running a lot of DC through your transformer does nasty
things.
 
J

jasen

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm planning on testing a house light dimmer switch to provide <120 Vac for
a bridge rectifier circuit with a one choke and two capacitor filter.

I presume that the dimmer will put out an attenuated sine wave so I can dial
up 0 - ~60 Vdc.

Is this feasible?
no.

Also, the choke I bought at Radio Shack (273-102) has one end of the wire
wrapped around the core soldered to one lead of the choke. Does it matter
which way this points? Towards the PS or towards the load?

not usually.
 
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