http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/zenamp.pdf
I'm looking at this circuit (on page 3) trying my hardest to figure out what is going on with the constant current source in the power supply. Specifically in the explanation it says that Q3 is being biased through the capacitor and 2 resistors. It says the capacitor is used to reduce ripple but it would appear to me that because it's in series that it would block the DC bias.
Additionally, it says R3 and R4 are used for stability and to prevent oscillations, but how does it accomplish that.
It's very frustraiting looking at these circuits and not being able to visualize how the current is flowing to the different branches. I have a pretty good understanding of how to do all the math involved with this stuff, but I can't just look a circuit like this one and picture whats happening on an intuitive level. It feels like I'm missing like one piece of information and once I figure out what that is, the lightbulb is going to go off!
Anyway, enough rambling, thanks for any insight you can offer. It is MUCH appreciated. Hopefully once I get a handle on some of this stuff I will be able to better contribute to the community.
I'm looking at this circuit (on page 3) trying my hardest to figure out what is going on with the constant current source in the power supply. Specifically in the explanation it says that Q3 is being biased through the capacitor and 2 resistors. It says the capacitor is used to reduce ripple but it would appear to me that because it's in series that it would block the DC bias.
Additionally, it says R3 and R4 are used for stability and to prevent oscillations, but how does it accomplish that.
It's very frustraiting looking at these circuits and not being able to visualize how the current is flowing to the different branches. I have a pretty good understanding of how to do all the math involved with this stuff, but I can't just look a circuit like this one and picture whats happening on an intuitive level. It feels like I'm missing like one piece of information and once I figure out what that is, the lightbulb is going to go off!
Anyway, enough rambling, thanks for any insight you can offer. It is MUCH appreciated. Hopefully once I get a handle on some of this stuff I will be able to better contribute to the community.