PSU Question - (Newbie)

Dodgydave

Joined Jun 22, 2012
11,285
Why don't you run the fan on Halfwave using a diode in series with the fan across the Transformer, the same for the other fan using the diode on the other half cycle.
 

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CCinBR200

Joined Oct 4, 2020
80
Why don't you run the fan on Halfwave using a diode in series with the fan across the Transformer, the same for the other fan using the diode on the other half cycle.
Thank you for the idea. I am not familiar with those concepts. Where can I learn how to do that? (I also decided to go with just one larger fan - 330mA ). I surely must have been wrong about the current draw for the smaller fan.

Carlo
 

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CCinBR200

Joined Oct 4, 2020
80
Why don't you run the fan on Halfwave using a diode in series with the fan across the Transformer, the same for the other fan using the diode on the other half cycle.
I did some reading on this. I can't figure out how far this design will drop the voltage (from 39v?)
 

Dodgydave

Joined Jun 22, 2012
11,285
It uses only half of the AC cycle, so the voltage will be lower around half of the supply , probably about 12 to 14V with the capacitor.
 

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CCinBR200

Joined Oct 4, 2020
80
It uses only half of the AC cycle, so the voltage will be lower around half of the supply , probably about 12 to 14V with the capacitor.
Ohhh. That sounds good. Just to be safe, I'll try putting the L7812CV between the 1N4004 and the fan. Thanks for the ideas!
 

dl324

Joined Mar 30, 2015
16,845
Here's what I came up with. My thinking is that a 4k3ohm resistor will provide 9mA (39V/4300). How am I doing?
It's the base-emitter junction that needs to be turned on, so the calculation is
\(R=\frac{V_{BE}}{I_{D1}}=\frac{0.7V}{9mA}=77.7\Omega\)
The closest standard 5% value would be 75 ohms.

You're missing a connection dot on the cathode of C2 (critical) and the anode of C3 (cosmetic). The secondary voltage should be on the secondary, not by the switch. We don't wrap circuits like that. The preferred direction is left to right and top to bottom. There are exceptions to that rule, but this isn't one of them.

EDIT: 1N4745 is a 16V zener, so you're not understanding the circuit.
 
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CCinBR200

Joined Oct 4, 2020
80
What!! You don't need any Zeners they will conduct both ways.

, just use the 1N4004 diode .
Sorry. I got things confused. I am using 1N4004, not Zener.
I remeasured. What is see now is the volts at cathode are inching up from about 300mV. When it gets to 400mV, it drops again. Cycle repeats.Same at pin 1 of the L7812.
 

Dodgydave

Joined Jun 22, 2012
11,285
You need to put a load on across the capacitor , say a 100 ohms resistor the voltage across it will be around 14 V, and the fan should be able to spin .
 

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CCinBR200

Joined Oct 4, 2020
80
You need to put a load on across the capacitor , say a 100 ohms resistor the voltage across it will be around 14 V, and the fan should be able to spin .
I added a 100ohm resistor parallel to the cap. New results:
at anode of C2: 40V
at cathode of Zener: 40V
at anode of Zener: 39.2V
at cathode of cap: 39.2
at pin 1 of L7812: 39.2
at pin 3 of L7812: 3.5 (I assume it's in self-protect mode as 35V is it's max)
no spin

What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for all your patient help!
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,159
Note that after C2, there is the main power circuit branching off (not shown).
That regulator is going to be dissipating nearly 7 watts and will cook itself to death in short order. Are you familiar with what happens to an IC when you let the magic smoke out?
 

Thread Starter

CCinBR200

Joined Oct 4, 2020
80
So have you got the regulator the right way round.?

Try the method I gave in post#25 using just one diode .
I double-checked the pinouts and I think I have that part right. I am only using one fan so, as far as I can tell, what I drew is similar to your post #25 for one fan.
 
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