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We almost always underestimate the needed design parameters of a power supply, as we fail to take in to account all the losses evolved in the circuit. Audio Gadgets helps greatly in getting a more accurate approximation to what will finally be needed to meet our design goals. To use Audio Gadgets to design a power supply just choose the power supply type you wish to evaluate from the list. Then enter the minimum, nominal, and maximum wall voltages, the voltage drops, the desired output voltage and current. Audio Gadgets will do the rest for you by displaying the regulators dissipation, the load dissipation, the output capacitor voltage rating needed, the input capacitor voltage rating needed, the average current through the diodes, the peak current through the diodes, the transformer's secondary voltage, the needed transformer's power rating, the transformer's secondary current, the transformer's peak power rating needed, the transformer's winding ratio.
Half-Wave
The Half-Wave power supply configuration has little to recommend it, other than simplicity and low cost. One diode, one capacitor--that's all there is to it. Only one half of the voltage cycle is used in this configuration, that is, the one that allows the diode to conduct. It has the highest ripple and the lowest efficiency of all the power supply types.
Full-Wave CT
The Full-Wave CT power supply configuration is the classic tube amplifier power supply. It requires two diodes, one capacitor, and a center tapped transformer. It is not as efficient as the Full-Wave Bridge power supply, as only one half of the winding is used at any given point in the cycle, although both halves of the voltage cycle are used.
Full-Wave Bridge
The Full-Wave Bridge power supply configuration is probably the most commonly used power supply. It requires four diodes (usually in one package), one capacitor. It is more as efficient than the Full-Wave CT power supply, as all of the winding is used along with both halves of the voltage cycle.
Full-Wave Bridge CT
The Full-Wave Bridge Center Tapped power supply configuration differs from the Full-Wave Bridge in that it yields a positive and negative supply rail along with a ground point. It requires four diodes (usually in one package), two capacitors, and a center tapped transformer.
Voltage Doubler
The Voltage Doubler power supply configuration allows the creation of a power supply whose output voltage far exceeds the peak transformer secondary voltage. Two diodes, two capacitor--that's all there is to it. Only one half of the voltage cycle is used in each leg of this circuit, that is, one diode conducts, then the other--each builds up a voltage in its associated capacitor, which are in turn stacked one above the other, thus, doubling the voltage.
Design Variables
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