Fig.

2: General-purpose power supply unit

This IC does not depend on external capacitors for frequency

stabilisation. Internal
structure of the IC combines
high-power
discrete transistor technology with modern
monolithic linear IC
processing. This combination yields a highperformance, singlechip regulator capable
of
supplying
10
amperes of current.

Fig. 3: Discrete power supply unit for QRO

regulator meant for providing an adjustable output votage of 1.25V to 15V at

current up to 10A. Its power dissipation
(PD) is 70W. For setting output voltage,
only two external resistors are needed.

Maximum input voltage rating is 20V

and ripple rejection is 74 dB. The output
voltage is decided by resistors R1 and
R2.
Vout = 1.25 (R1+R2/R1)

Transistor T1 is used for current

boosting. In this circuit the power dissipation (PD) of the IC is limited to 50W.
So, we need an outboard transistor for
current boosting. In this circuit the current boosting transistor used is TIP36C,
and its PD is 90W. A current-sensing
resistor (R5) of 0.15 ohm is used. When
the current is less than 4A, the voltage
across R5 is less than 0.6V and the transistor is in off state. The voltage regulation works as before. LM396 holds the
output voltage constant and the load current passes through LM396. When the
load current is greater than 4A, then the
voltage across R5 is greater than 0.6V
and the transistor turns on. The outboard
transistor will supply extra load current
of more than 4A.
It is a beautiful circuit because the
transistor current adjusts to the value of
the excess load current. The current
through LM396 is slightly more than 4A.
The outboard transistor handles the rest
of the current. Crowbar protection is
added against high-voltage DC output.
LED1 at VIN terminal is a normal voltage
indicator. If it goes off, it means that VIN
is very low. Capacitor between Adj. terminal of the regulator and the ground
increases ripple rejection.
Lab note: The protection diodes prevent the high-value capacitors, at the output stage of the regulator, from discharging via the low-current points into the
regulator and damaging it.

CYCLIC ON AND OFF TIMER FOR

COOLER PUMP
PRATAP CHANDRA SAHU

any of us use cooler pumps during summer. An air-cooler unit,

in addition to the fan motor,
uses a 35- to 50-watt pump motor. The
pump runs continuously and unnecessarily wastes power. The pump motor can,
in fact, be switched off for some time once
the pads are wetsave power and also
prolong the life of the motor. The given
circuit is a cyclic on-and-off timer which
helps to achieve this objective.
The circuit is simply an extended ver-

186

ELECTRONICS PROJECTS Vol. 20

sion of 555-based astable multivibrator

with a long time-period. The length of ontime is a multiple of the period of 555
output and the number of used CD4017
outputs being connected together in wiredOR fashion, using diodes. The off-time period is a multiple of the period of 555 and
the number of unused outputs of CD4017.
The circuit thus increases the on and off
time of the 555 waveform with the help of
4017 counter. The 4017 output being programmable, can be used to get different

duty-cycles of the overall on-off period, as

desired. It is recommended to set the ontime for three-four minutes and the offtime for seven-eight minutes as it suits
most coolers.
When there is inadequate water in
the tank, the pump is automatically
switched off. This is achieved by pulling
the reset and inhibit pins of 4017 to supply voltage. Taking these pins towards
ground potential (while the tank water
level is sufficient) through the water in-

side the tank, ensures that CD4017

is active. In the absence of water between sensor pins,
the circuit is both inhibited and reset.
Other uses of
the circuit include
on-and-off timer for
the exhaust fan. It
can also be used
where asymmetric
waveform of very
long time-period is
required for timer
applications.

SELF-SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY

ANAND S. TAMBOLI

ne of the main features of the

regulated power supply circuit
being presented is that though
fixed-voltage regulator LM7805 is used
in the circuit, its output voltage is variable. This is achieved by connecting a
potentiometer between common terminal
of regulator IC and ground. For every
100-ohm increment in the in-circuit value
of the resistance of potentiometer VR1,
the output voltage increases by 1 volt.
Thus, the output varies from 3.7V to 8.7V
(taking into account 1.3-volt drop across
diodes D1 and D2).
Another important feature of the supply is that it switches itself off when no
load is connected across its output
terminals. This is achieved with the help
of transistors T1 and T2, diodes D1 and
D2, and capacitor C2. When a load is
connected at the output, potential drop
across diodes D1 and D2 (approximately
1.3V) is sufficient for transistors T2 and
T1 to conduct. As a result, the relay gets
energised and remains in that state as
long as the load remains connected. At
the same time, capacitor C2 gets charged
to around 7-8 volt potential through transistor T2. But when the load is disconnected, transistor T2 is cut off. However,
capacitor C2 is still charged and it starts
discharging through base of transistor
T1. After some time (which is basically
determined by value of C2), relay RL1 is

de-energised, which switches off the

mains input to primary of transformer
X1. To resume the power again, switch
S1 should be pressed momentarily.
Higher the value of capacitor C2, more
will be the delay in switching off the
power supply on disconnection of the load,
and vice versa.
Though in the prototype a transformer with a secondary voltage of
12V-0V, 250mA was used, it can

nevertheless be changed as per users

requirement (up to 30V maximum and
1-ampere current rating). For drawing
more than 300mA current, the regulator
IC must be fitted with a small heat
sink over a mica insulator. When the
transformers secondary voltage increases
beyond 12 volts (RMS), potentiometer
VR1 must be redimensioned. Also,
the relay voltage rating should be
redetermined.

ELECTRONICS PROJECTS Vol. 20

187