Hi community. I have a question on something i built and i would like to listen to your thoughts about it. I have made a very simple circuit that consists of a power unit connected directly to the input of a boost dc-dc voltage converter that has both CV and CC modes. The output voltage of the converter falls on a resistor that consists of a precision 20 kOhms ten turn potentiometer in series with a 330 Ohm resistor. The output voltage of the converter has been regulated to 59 Volts , while the output current of it has been limited down to 80 mA max through the CC mode. When i turn on the power unit , i see exactly what i expected to , a 80 mA current running through the resistance , in the case I have turned the pot down to 0 Ohms.

But , when i connect a DPDT switch to the output of the converter , while the rest of the circuit remains the same , things change and i cannot understand why. In specific , the CC mode of the converter seems not to work , as when i turn on the power unit and turn the pot down to zero , the current is almost equal to 59(V)/330(Ohms)=178mA , and not 80 mA as it would suppose to be , with my CC regulation. What changes with the DPDT?

 

Please show a diagram of how all this is connected.
I have no idea what that DPDT is doing.

 

Please show a diagram of how all this is connected.
I have no idea what that DPDT is doing.

A DPDT is a simple ON-ON switch that changes the polarity of a source connected to it , in my case the source is the converter. If you search it you will find it , it is very simple.

 

A DPDT is a simple ON-ON switch that changes the polarity of a source connected to it , in my case the source is the converter. If you search it you will find it , it is very simple.

lol
He knows.
what it is doing in the circuit

 

lol
He knows.
what it is doing in the circuit

It just allows me to reverse the polarity of the converter's Vout. The DPDT is connected straight to the converter's output and the rest circuit , as dedcribed above , is connected to the dpdt.

 

It just allows me to reverse the polarity of the converter's Vout.

You can't do that unless the converter output is isolated.
Is it?
That's why we need a compete schematic, instead of your incomplete description and condescending remarks.

 

Can you show how the DPDT is wired with a picture? A DPDT switch isn’t just used for reversing polarity. Depending on how it’s wired, it could be an on/off switch. Or a two channel selector. Or nothing at all!

 

Please show a diagram of how all this is connected.
I have no idea what that DPDT is doing.

View attachment 212144

 

Can you show how the DPDT is wired with a picture? A DPDT switch isn’t just used for reversing polarity. Depending on how it’s wired, it could be an on/off switch. Or a two channel selector. Or nothing at all!

View attachment 212145

 

You can't do that unless the converter output is isolated.
Is it?
That's why we need a compete schematic, instead of your incomplete description and condescending remarks.

View attachment 212143

 

lol
He knows.
what it is doing in the circuit

View attachment 212147

 

What is it not doing? Common DC ammeters I have seen are sensitive to polarity. Are you using a multimeter that can show negative current?

 

the current is almost equal to 59(V)/330(Ohms)=178mA

Did you measure the actual current. or measure the voltage and calculate the current?
80mA flowing in a 330Ω resistor is over 2W dissipation in that resistor. What power rating is the resistor?
Measure the resistance of the resistor plus the pot.

 

Did you measure the actual current. or measure the voltage and calculate the current?
80mA flowing in a 330Ω resistor is over 2W dissipation in that resistor. What power rating is the resistor?
Measure the resistance of the resistor plus the pot.

I measured the actual current through an amperemoter in series with the resistors. I did the same measurement without the DPDT and the CC worked fine , the current was 80mA. It doesn't make any sense why with the dpdt the CC does not correspond. The resistor is 330Ohm 50Watt , the Pot is a precision ten turn Hybritron 20k Ohm.

 

What is it not doing? Common DC ammeters I have seen are sensitive to polarity. Are you using a multimeter that can show negative current?

When the dpdt is on the circuit the current is not 80mA as it should be , due to converter's CC limitation down to 80mA , but the exact same circuit without the dpdt works fine and the current cannot surpass 80mA.

 

Does it make any difference which position the switch is in?

 

Does it make any difference which position the switch is in?

not at all.

 

Makes no sense. If the only difference is the presence of the switch and it doesn’t matter what position the switch is in... there likely is a wiring error.

Your diagram shows how you think its wired. Can you post pictures showing how it’s actually wired? I haven’t seen a link to the DPDT switch you're using. Perhaps it has a different pinout.