Many embedded systems these days need +5V power supply with some special functions such as power-fail

detection, zero-crossing signals for mains power suPresented here is the circuit of such a power supply for
embedded systems. It provides +5V, battery charger, zero-crossing signals and power-fail signal. The circuit is
based on popular low-cost components. It needs simple adjustment with potmeter POT1 to immediately get
you started.

Circuit and working
The circuit shown in Fig. 1 is built around a step-down transformer (X1), two bridge rectifiers(BR1 and BR2),
adjustable voltage regulator LM317 (IC1), 5V voltage regulator 7805 (IC2), hex inverter Schmitt trigger
74HC14 (IC3) and a few discrete components. pply and possibility to maintain the charging of built-in
batteries.
The mains power supply 230V AC, 50Hz is applied to connector CON1. Fuse F1 protects the input from
overloads. Resistor R1 and capacitor C1 filter some of the noise coming from the mains power supply. The
secondary of power transformer X1 is 12V, 2.5A.

CON3 provides +5V, 1A power supply using standard 5V regulator IC2. Rectifying bridge BR1 is of 2.5A. The
value of the main filtering capacitor (C4) should be at least 4700 F. IC2 provides regulated +5V with output
current up to 1A. If a higher current is needed, regulators like 78T05 (3A, 5V) or 78S05 (2A, 5V) can be used.
In practice, it is better to limit the load for 78XX up to around 0.7-0.8A. The unregulated output at CON4
provides voltage of 10V to 18V depending on the transformer used and the current consumption from the
power supply. This unregulated voltage can be used for peripheral functions. Fuse F2 is used to protect the
output.

The power supply incorporates battery charger with adjustable regulator IC1. A 6V rechargeable battery is
used to provide power supply to some parts of the system when the mains power supply does not function
properly. The maximum voltage level across the rechargeable battery is adjusted using potmeter POT1. The
maximum charging current is limited by resistor R7. Regulator IC1 can provide output voltage of +1.25V to
+Diodes D1, D2 and D3 protect regulators IC1 and IC2. Bridge rectifier BR2 is used only to provide signals
around the zero crossings. Capacitor C2 should have a small value. It is intended to cut only the very high
frequency, not to filterthe mains power supply. The values of R2 and R3 can be changed depending on IC3 and
parameters of the produced pulses.

CON5 provides power-fail signal when the voltage at test point TP2 falls below approximately 8V. Transistor T1
stops conducting and the control unit is intimated the same by a high signal at pin 3 of CON5.

The threshold voltage of the power-fail signal is regulated with zener diode ZD2 (7.5V) and resistors R4 and
R5. Transistor T1 should preferably be switching type, but most of the npn silicon transistors with a high gain
will also work well.

The outputs from pins 2, 3 and 4 of connector CON6 provide different signals with a frequency that is double
the frequency of the mains power supply (100 Hz). These signals are active near zero crossings of the mains
power supply and can be used for several purposes, such as:

1. The control unit can use them to measure the frequency of the mains power supply.
2. These can be used to synchronise the operation of the control unit with zero crossings of the mains power
supply.
3. he amplitude of signal TP4 is proportional to the secondary voltage of the transformer. The control unit can
measure it and determine the secondary voltage of X1.
4. Outputs TP5 and TP3 are TTL- or CMOS-compatible depending on IC3. IC3 can be CMOS or TTL; e.g.,
74HC14, 74HCT14, 74LS14, etc. It should have built-in Schmitt trigger.

Construction and testing
Use individual heat-sinks for IC1 and IC2. The size of the heat-sink should be calculated according to the
dissipated heat for each particular case; e.g., the thermal resistance should be below 5C/W for each heat-
sink. The metallic part of 7805 is connected to the ground pin, while the metallic part of LM317 is connected to
the output pin.