Unregulated power supply design

[chimera_786]

Hello! first post here. I been trying to develop a power supply for my work bench. I have one that I purchased on ebay but now its time to design one.

However, I cant really seem to understand the basics of building a power supply. Not because I cant find enough resources to read up on, but because every single article which I have read, has always used different equations and the explanation is not quite adequate.

Can you or someone, please point to some good links or papers even that explain the fundamentals behind a UNREGULATED POWER SUPPLY.

I want to build one up and see how the output voltage responds to varying load (let it be resistive or inductive) and then once I have figured that out, move over to regulating it (LDO regs or switching)

[sacherjj]

Are you just wanting to test how it works, or do you have a target voltage in mind?  An unregulated supply is simply a rectifier and filter (usually a capacitor).

THis page is really good about explaining the fundamentals: http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/Design/dcpsu.htm

[phil_jp1]

I don't know why you are after a unregulated PSU but it's very simple .
Just a tranny , bridge rectifier , big caps will do the job .

I don't think that he's after an unregulated power supply. I think that he wants to build fixed voltage regulated power supply.
Am I right?

If so, sacherjj gave you a good source of info on that topic.
In addition, if you want you can watch first part of the video I've made about building similar power supply:
http://jumperone.com/2011/08/lm317-adjustable-psu/

There you can see what happens to AC voltage during all the linear power supply stages.

[chimera_786]

All of you are awesome!!!!

Sorry for not being able to get back regarding this thread. i have been caught up trying to find employment as a design engineer and let me tell you one thing.. the job market is hard these days

I am not entirely after an unregulated power supply. Its going to involve a switch mode power supply eventually using a very concise and efficient chip: LM2576S-ADJ

I haven't used this chip but i have very carefully read and calculated situations using its data sheet.

I have ordered the basic caps and diodes ( i already had a transformer) and once they get to me.. ill build it up and run some real world simulations on the unregulated power supply circuit and post back with schematics and screen captures.

if time permits, i urge all of you to keep a periodic check on this thread for updates and maybe hand over some guidance to me 

thank you phil_jp1 , Dave.S and sacherjj

[nessatse]

However, I cant really seem to understand the basics of building a power supply.

Sorry for not being able to get back regarding this thread. i have been caught up trying to find employment as a design engineer and let me tell you one thing.. the job market is hard these days

 

[phil_jp1]

However, I cant really seem to understand the basics of building a power supply.

Sorry for not being able to get back regarding this thread. i have been caught up trying to find employment as a design engineer and let me tell you one thing.. the job market is hard these days

 

You just said out loud what we're all were thinking