I am making a power supply and I wanted to know if I could use a single tap transformer and make it a dual output power supply ?? Also do you prefer digital or analog voltage displays ??


I picked up this transformer today for a good price ...

 

What configuration do you intend for the dual output, 2 separate supplies or - 0 + etc?
You can either wind on or take off windings as needed within the Va rating of the TXMR.
Max.

 

What configuration do you intend for the dual output, 2 separate supplies or - 0 + etc?
You can either wind on or take off windings as needed within the Va rating of the TXMR.
Max.

My plan was to take a single tap transmforer and split the output in order to make a dual output power supply using only positive voltage ..

 

You can use a center tap transformer to make two half-wave supplies,
one full-wave supply, or a positive full-wave and negative full-wave supply.

Note that in all cases the supplies are electrically connected and hence share a common reference point. In other words, they are not independently floating nor isolated supplies.

 

That doesn't look like a centre tapped transformer......

 

What voltages?
Both isolated supplies?
It looks as though that is just a single 24v secondary, so you will either have to modify the existing or add a winding or both.
That must be physically quite small for 48va?
Max.

 

My plan was to take a single tap transmforer and split the output in order to make a dual output power supply using only positive voltage ..

You need a center-tap transformer to make a true dual voltage supply. You could use a circuit to generate a "pseudo-ground" at the 1/2 voltage point of the single voltage output but that's normally only done for low currents, such as for an op amp audio circuit. It's very wasteful of power at any significant unbalanced current levels between the two voltages.

 

At only around 1.5t to 2t/v it does not take a lot to modify, that's the beauty of toroidal's.
Max.

 

I agree with Max, adding a winding would probably be easiest....

 

Creating a Virtual Power Supply Ground

 

Also I think I'm correct in saying that, since you would have two separate isolated secondaries.. 0-24V & 0-24V it gives you the flexibility to connect them at the output to create a -24 -0- +24 supply.
Not sure how the current would be affected though...?

 

Skipping most of reading the thread,

 

To answer your question about meters for the voltage and current. I prefer digital as they are so inexpensive. Be careful as some require a separate power supply for the meter.

 

You need a center-tap transformer to make a true dual voltage supply. You could use a circuit to generate a "pseudo-ground" at the 1/2 voltage point of the single voltage output but that's normally only done for low currents, such as for an op amp audio circuit. It's very wasteful of power at any significant unbalanced current levels between the two voltages.

Could you clarify, I thought I could make a dual supply, each side being 1/2 wave.

 

I thought I could make a dual supply, each side being 1/2 wave.

Couple of references here.
Max.

 

Couple of references here.
Max.

This reference shows how:

http://www.play-hookey.com/ac_theory/power_supply/ps_rectifiers.html