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CurrentLimiter@DULMEN.net

10A - STOP (3kb)
Current limiter
This power supply is part of a larger project I am still working on, IRTS (Infra Red Train System). It is a system which controls a miniature railway system (Märklin 0) with a infrared remote control (like a remote control of a television). This project has nothing to do with the CompuTrein System but it is likely that I will use some of the designs in both projects. Originally I named the power supply IRTS-PS (Infra Red Train System Power Supply) but the schematic can be used in many applications.

General
I needed a power supply of 15 V capable of delivering about 10 A, but I couldn't find a suitable solution in my electronics books. Therefore I decided to design one myself. I had a short list of demands:

  • Voltage: 15 Vdc (unstabalized)
  • Current: 10 A
  • Absolutely short-circuit proof
  • Current-limiter (to prevent a fuse blow)
  • Voltage-cut-off after a few seconds overload or short-circuit
  • Reset-button after voltage cut-off

All this resulted in the schematic that is shown below. The first thing I needed was a powerful transformer with the right voltage output, a bridge rectifier suitable for the 10 A current and a big capacitor for depressing the 100 Hz ripple. I found these components in an old computer power supply. So now I had a power supply capable of delivering 10 A by 15 Vdc. I also found a housing (an old professional audio line amplifier) and a cooling ribbon for the current limiter (total costs: nothing).

Current limiter photo

Schematic description
Now I had to design the limiter. I choose a power MOSFET (T1, IRF9540) to limit the current because it has a very low internal resistance (low voltage drop, low power dissipation in normal operation) and an endless current amplification (no current needed at the gate). R6 and R7 are used as current sense resistors. The voltage difference over R6, R7 and T1 is supplied to the open collector opamp U1a. The voltage of the positive input is adjustable with R3. If the voltage on the negative input goes down (current is getting bigger) the open collector output of U1a closes. If this is the case T1 will cut off the output voltage and the voltage difference on the inputs of U1a will be even bigger. This prohibits that the open collector of U1a opens again. At the same time T2 opens and the ERROR lamp LP3 lights up. The power can only be restored if:

  • The voltage between R13 and R16 (delivered by R8) is bigger than the voltage between R10 and R11 (the open collector of U1b is closes). This causes T3 to open and the FREE lamp LP2 to light up.
  • The RESET button SW1 is pressed.

At this point the voltage at the output of U1a will go down and T1 will supply the output voltage again. The voltage difference on the inputs of U1a disappears and the open collector output opens again. T2 will shutdown and the lights LP2 and LP3 will go out. The RESET button looses his function because the voltage at the switch is to high now to influence the operation of T1.
Capacitor C1a is added to delay the shutdown of T1 a few seconds (RC combination R8,R16 and C1a). This is because U1aA is added to limit the current to 10 A. The inputs of U1aA measure the voltage over the current sense resistors R6 and R7 (note: without T1). If this voltage gets to high T1a will close a little, enough to reduce the output current. The maximum output current is adjustable with R4a.

Schematic

Click the schematic to view the full size

Part list (without housing, power switch, heat sink, fuses, etc.):
  • U1A, U1B: LM393
  • U1aA: LM358N
  • D1: 20V
  • D2: 1N4148
  • D3: 1N4001
  • T1: IRF9540
  • T1a,T3: BC560
  • T2: BS170
  • SW1: momentary make contact
  • LP1, LP2, LP3: 15V lamps
  • C1: 470µF/25V
  • C1a: 100µF/25V
  • C2a: 390pF
  • Bridge rectifier 10A*
  • Capacitor 10mF/25V (minimal) 20mF recommended*
  • Transformer 12-15V/10A*
  • R1: 82k
  • R1a: 1k
  • R2,R2a,R5,R15: 1k8
  • R3: 2k adj.
  • R3a,R6a: 10k
  • R4: 820
  • R4a: 2k adj.
  • R6,R7: 0,032
  • R8: 18k
  • R9: 82k
  • R10: 80k
  • R11: 150
  • R12: 47k
  • R13: 5k6
  • R5a,R14,R17: 3k3
  • R16: 5k6
*Gray parts are not specified in the schematic

If you have any questions, suggestions or remarks on this description or on the schematic please send me an e-mail and I will try to respond.

 
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