Electronics > Beginners
Help Learning Power Electronics
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braddrew0:
Hi Guys,


I'm predominately self-taught and I'm trying to get better at power electronics. I've been watching some interesting videos lately on YouTube on designs which use power electronics (eg CD spot welders, DIY soldering stations, basic SMPS, etc) and while I understand the rough concepts, being able to design something like that is well outside my league.

I'm a practical learner, and I learn best by making things. I was wondering if it would be possible for someone to propose a bunch of 'challenges' or problems, in increasing order of difficulty, that I could work my way through in order to learn practical power electronics design? Alternatively, if there's a good resource that offers practical challenges, I'd love to hear about it.


Thanks!
Psi:
You will be better off choosing your own challenges.
Something that, if you get it to work, is actually useful to you and that you will enjoy learning.


The main issue is getting the motivation to continue going through the periods when stuff doesn't work or keeps blowing up.
To keep going when it all seems hopeless and you just want to give up.

The best thing to help with that is working on something you actually want to work on.  Not something someone else recommended.
braddrew0:
That's really good advice but I think that's also my problem - I pick a project that seems simple and that I'm interested in, but then when it gets to be more than I can handle I lose motivation. I don't really have the experience to figure out what an 'easy' project is rather than something 'complex'.... maybe a better way to phrase my question is what are some easy power electronics projects and what are some more complex ones?
tpowell1830:

--- Quote from: braddrew0 on June 10, 2019, 02:10:18 am ---That's really good advice but I think that's also my problem - I pick a project that seems simple and that I'm interested in, but then when it gets to be more than I can handle I lose motivation. I don't really have the experience to figure out what an 'easy' project is rather than something 'complex'.... maybe a better way to phrase my question is what are some easy power electronics projects and what are some more complex ones?

--- End quote ---


Transformer with ferrous laminations with primary at mains voltage, secondary at a lower RMS voltage than desired DC voltage (use square root of 2 to multiply RMS voltage to get desired DC voltage), bridge rectifier, capacitor(s). Choose your desired power output - efficiency of transformer.

Very simple, yet a bit complex for beginners. Read up on this type of power supply. Determine desired ripple voltage and do your calcs to achieve, measure ripple to see if you achieve.

Hope this helps...

EDIT: To stave off all of the folks who are afraid to let beginners use mains voltage, make sure you are very careful and safety oriented around mains voltage because it can harm or kill you!
xavier60:
A bench power supply is a good project although I hesitate making the suggestion because of the risk of electric shock.
I have a suggestion that should minimize the risk.
Choose a transformer that has fly leads for the mains input and make fully insulated connections to the mains cord using two layers of heatshrink tubing. The idea is to have no exposed mains connections at least during the development stages.
An oscilloscope will eventually be needed for more advanced projects.
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