Transformerless Power Supply


Posted on Feb 4, 2014

A power supply project without using a power supply. This can save the expense of buying a transformer, but presents potentially lethal voltages at the output terminals. Under no circumstances should a beginner attempt to build such a project. Electric Shock Hazard. In the UK, the neutral wire is connected to earth at the power station. If you touch the `Live` wire, then depending on how well earthed you are, you


Transformerless Power Supply
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form a conductive path between Live and Neutral. DO NOT TOUCH the output of this power supply. Whilst the output of this circuit sits innocently at 12V with respect to (wrt) the other terminal, it is also 12V above earth potential. Should a component fail then either terminal will become a potential shock hazard. If you are not experienced in dealing with it, then leave this project alone. Although Mains equipment can itself consume a lot of current, the circuits we build to control it, usually only require a few milliamps. Yet the low voltage power supply is frequently the largest part of the construction and a sizeable portion of the cost. This circuit will supply up to about 20ma at 12 volts. It uses capacitive reactance instead of resistance; and it doesn`t generate very much heat. The circuit draws about 30ma AC. Always use a fuse and/or a fusible resistor to be on the safe side. The values given are only a guide. There should be more than enough power available for timers, light operated switches, temperature controllers etc, provided that you use an optical isolator as your circuit`s output device. (E. g. MOC 3010/3020) If a relay is unavoidable, use one with a mains voltage coil and switch the coil using the optical isolator. C1 should be of the `suppressor type`; made to be connected directly across the incoming Mains Supply. They are generally covered with the logos of several different Safety Standards...




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