CHAPTER 5:VOLTAGE REGULATOR

POWER SUPPLY REGULATION

An ideal power supply provides a constant dc voltage despite
changes to the input voltage or load conditions as shown in figure 1.
The output voltage of a real power supply changes under load
as shown in the second plot. The output is also sensitive to
input voltage changes.
Voltage
Voltage

VNL
VNL

VFL

0
0

Current
0

Figure 1: Ideal power supply

VNL = no load output voltage
VFL = full load ouput volatge

Current
0

Figure 2: Real power supply

INTRODUCTION TO VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Basic diagram for voltage regulator system.

-AC voltage, 120 V rms connected to a transformer.

-Transformer, step down the AC voltage to desired DC output level.
- Diode rectifier provide a full-wave rectified voltage.
-Filtered by basic capacitor to produce DC voltage.
-Voltage regulator, remove ripple or AC voltage variation while remain the same
DC value even when voltage input varies or the load connected changes.
Reference: electronics device, Robert L.Boylestad

INTRODUCTION TO VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Definition:
A voltage regulator provides a constant dc output voltage that is essentially
independent of the input voltage, output load current, and temperature.
Voltage
Regulation

Load
Regulation

Series

Integrated
Circuit
Regulator

Line
Regulation

Shunt

Series

Reference: electronics device, Thomas L. Floyd

Shunt

INTRODUCTION TO VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Two main categories of voltage regulation:
1.

Line regulation: to maintain a nearly constant output voltage when the

input voltage varies.
Line _ Re gulation =

2.

( Vout / Vout )100 %

Vin

Load regulation: to maintain a nearly constant output voltage when the

load varies.
Vo
100 %
Load _ Re gulation =
Vo
(V / V )
Load _ Re gulation = NL FL 100 %
V FL

Reference: electronics device, Thomas L. Floyd

ZENER VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Output voltage will be maintain based on zener diode voltage, VZ even with
changes in voltage input and output load.

1.

2.

Rs is use to limit the diode current Iz.Value of Rs must be small enough

to maintain Vz and high enough to avoid large power dissipation at zener
diode, PDZ.
Vi must be larger than Vz so that zener diode can operates in reverse
biased region.

ZENER VOLTAGE REGULATOR

IZK = minimum current for
zener diode to operates.
IZM = maximum current
allowed to enter zener diode.
Value of Rz depends on value
of Iz and Vz

Ideal Zener

Practical Zener

ZENER VOLTAGE REGULATOR

From figure :
V0 = VZ + IZ rZ
Current through resistor Rs:
V V
Is = IZ + IL = i O
RS
Zener Current:
IZ = IS IL
Power Dissipation:

PDZ = I ZVZ

Based on 1st equation, Vo change with the changes of IZ (which relates to IL)
Major changes in Vo due to changes of Iz (resistance Rz) makes this type of
regulator less accurate

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Control
element

VIN

Reference
voltage

Error
detector

VOUT

Sample
circuit

Control element: consist of a pass transistor with the load between the input
and output.
Sample circuit: Sense the changes at output.
Error detector compares the sample voltage with reference voltage and
cause control element to compensate in order to maintain a constant output.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR

IL

VOA

Op-amp: consist of high Ao so that every little changes can be detected and
corrected. Compare the voltage V2 and Vz to conduct Q1 whether to increase
or decrease output current IL
R3: To control current into zener diode and make sure zener diode operates in
reverse bias region.
R1 and R2: form negative feedback circuit to detect any changes at the output
voltage.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR

IL

From feedback circuit:

R2
V0
V2 = V =
R1 + R2

From zener diode:

V + = V = Vz

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR

IL

VOA

If Vz higher than V-, the output of op-amp is positive

VOA = AO V + V

Thus VOA directly propotional to the voltage difference (Vz-V2)

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR

IL

VOA

-Value of RL suddenly decrease.

-Vo decrease as well.
-V2 decrease.
-VOA increase since Vz maintain.
R
-IB1 increase, IL increase
Vo 1 + 1 Vz
Thus voltage regulator output:
R2

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR

IL

VOA

Given the output, Vo = 18.6 V, IL(max) = 1A. Diode Ziner hold, VZ =6.2
V, and minimum current of 15 mA for a Zener diode to work reverse
breakdown region. Input voltage, Vi change or ripple from 22 V until
30 V and current I1 = 1 mA with full load. Find the suitable value for
R1,R2,R3.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: (SHORTCIRCUIT AND OVERLOAD PROTECTION)

1.
2.
3.

4.

Happen when the output connection is short circuit or overload.

The series-pass transistor can be quickly damaged or destroyed.
Current limit mechanism to limit the IL current output to one
maximum value when RL connection being short circuit or
overload.
Two main circuitry:
1. Series regulator with constant-current limiting.
2. Series regulator with fold-back current limiting.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR:

constant-current limiting.
RL = Output load resistance.
IL = Output current.
IL(sc) = Current output during short circuit.

Control and
constant-current
limiting circuit

When RL> 15,

Maintain 15 v output
regulator
When RL < 15, small
increase in IL and that
value maintain even when
short circuit (RL=0v)
IL(max)

Excessive amount of load current drowned can

damage the series transistor.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: constant-current

limiting.

Assume maximum current, IL(max) = 1A.

Resistance RSC value = 0.7.
VBE2 voltage = 0.7 v
When IL<IL(max)
VBE2 < 0.7v , VBE2 = ILRSC.
Transistor Q2 not conducted. Output voltage maintain 15 v.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: constant-current

limiting.

When RL decrease. IL reach IL(max),

VBE2 0.7v , Q2 conducted.
Current flow to IC2.
High current flow from Q1 was divert to Q2.
Thus IL will not exceed IL(max) where the constant-current limiting happen.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR:

constant-current limiting.
Maximum value of IL(max) in order to produce VBE2 = 0.7v across RSC
resistance:

I L (max) =

VBE 2 0.7v
=
RSC
RSC

RSC basically act as current detector components to detect the IL(max).

Disadvantages: produce high power dissipate during the short circuit at
RL especially at transistor Q1.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR:

constant-current limiting.
Voltage regulator below requires to maintain the voltage output 25 V.
Given VBE1 = VBE2 = 0.7 V.
a.
b.

Find the maximum value for RSC in order to limit the maximum
current, IL(max) = 0.5 A.
Based on answer in (a),determine the value of Vo when RL = 100
and RL = 10

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: foldback current limiting.

IL decrease when RL decrease instead of become constant.
Lower power dissipate at Q1 when RL is short.
Control circuit

IL(max)

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: foldback current limiting.

Prove lower power dissipated at Q1
Power dissipated at Q1:

PD = VCE1 I C = (Vi Vo )I L

Control circuit

Normal operation:

PD = (Vi Vo )I L (SC )

= (20 15)(1A) = 5W

IL(max)

Both type of
circuit

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: foldback current limiting.

Prove lower power dissipated at Q1
During short circuit, VO=0V and IL = IL(SC)
Control circuit

PD = (Vi Vo )I L (SC )

= (20 0)(1A) = 20W

PD = (Vi Vo )I L (SC )

= (20 0)(0.5 A) = 10W

IL(max)

Constantcurrent
Limiting

Fold-back
current
limiting

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: foldback current limiting.

From the figure above:

VRSC = VR 3 + VBE 2
VBE 2 = VRSC VR 3

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: foldback current limiting.

Ignore IB2, IE2, IR1:

R3
(I L RSC + VO )
VR 3 =
+
R
R
4
3

R3
(VRSC + VO )
VR 3 =
+
R
R
4
3

VR3 increase if Vo
increase and vice versa.
During this time VBE2 is
not conducted.

SERIES VOLTAGE REGULATOR: foldback current limiting.

If IL increase towards IL(max):

IL=IL(max)= 1 A.
Value of VRSC high enough for VBE2 0.7 V = VRSC VR3
Transistor Q2 ON.
IL will be limited.
R3

(VRSC + VO )
=
V
R3
RL decrease, Vo Decrease, VR3 Decrease.
R +R

SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

The shunt
voltage regulator
shunts current
away from the
load.
The load voltage is sampled and fed back to a
comparator circuit. If the load voltage is too high,
control circuitry shunts more current away from the
load.

SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Transistor Q1 parallel with Load resistance RL.

Control element will shunt the excessive or insufficient current
depends on changes at RL and Vo.
Resistance RS being used to limit output current IL towards certain
value.

SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Reference
voltage

Comparator circuit. V2
being feedback into
this circuit

VOA = AO V + V

Sampling
circuit

SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Assume initial IR4 is fixed, suddenly RL Decrease:

RL Decrease, Vo Decrease.
Vo decrease, V2 Decrease.
VOA decrease due to the ;

VOA = AO V + V = Ao(V2 VZ )
Decrease in VOA conduction at transistor Q1 decrease and ISH decrease,
thus less IL being shunt by ISH and increase IL.

SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

High power dissipated through R4 especially when RL suddenly being

short circuit.
R4 need to be ceramic or high power wire wound resistor.
Advantages:
No need current limit circuit since its naturally minimize the IL current.

SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

a. IL increase while input voltage, Vi and output voltage ,Vo is fixed.

Predict what happen at IC1.
b. Assume IL and Vo is fixed. Calculate the changes value of IC1, IC1
when changes in Vi is 1V.
Vi = 1 V.

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) REGULATOR

Regulator ICs contain:

Comparator circuit
Reference voltage
Control circuitry
Overload protection

Types of three-terminal IC voltage regulators

Fixed positive voltage regulator

Fixed negative voltage regulator
Adjustable voltage regulator

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) REGULATOR:

Fixed positive voltage regulator (78XX)
TO-220 case

AC
Input,
Vi

D-PAK

12

1. Input into IC 78XX must be larger at

least 2 V from output.
2. Transformer: Step down the AC input
voltage to suitable AC voltage.
3. Diode: Change the AC to DC level
with ripple.
4. Capacitor: filter the ripple from
previous circuit.

Type number
7805
7806
7808
7809
7812
7815
7818
7824

Output voltage
+5.0
+6.0
+8.0
+9.0
+12.0
+15.0
+18.0
+24.0

V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) REGULATOR:

Fixed negative voltage regulator (79XX)
TO-220 case

AC
Input,
Vi

D-PAK

12
1

1. Input into IC 79XX must be larger at

least 2 V from output.
2. Transformer: Step down the AC input
voltage to suitable AC voltage.
3. Diode: Change the AC to DC level
with ripple.
4. Capacitor: filter the ripple from
previous circuit.

Type number

Output voltage

7905
7905.2
7906
7908
7912
7915
7918
7924

5.0 V
5.2 V
6.0 V
8.0 V
12.0 V
15.0 V
18.0 V
24.0 V

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) REGULATOR:

Fixed voltage regulator with two polarity.

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) REGULATOR:

Adjustable voltage regulator. LM 317

1.
2.
3.
4.

Input voltage: 4 V until 40 V.

R2 is used to adjust the output voltage, Vo.
VREF is fixe with nominal value 1.25 V. ( 1.20 <VREF<1.30)
IADJ fixed 50A.
Current voltage, IREF:

I REF =

VREF 1.25
=
R1
R1

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) REGULATOR:

Adjustable voltage regulator. LM 317
Output voltage, Vout:
VO = VREF + (I REF + I ADJ )R2
VO = VREF +

VREF R2
+ I ADJ R2
R1

R
VO = VREF 1 + 2 + I ADJ R2
R1

Ignore IADJ since IADJ so small, IADJ50A

R
VO = VREF 1 + 2
R1