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+--- Thread: Several questions about the circuit protection that using linear power supplies (/showthread.php?tid=2445)
Several questions about the circuit protection that using linear power supplies - Jand - 2017-12-22
This is a two-part question:
- Why do so many projects that I see are using basic linear transformer power supplies (i.e., mains->transformer->rectifier->regulator) but not have any kind of input protection beyond a fuse? Is a fuse really going to help prevent damage to the circuit? Are they assuming that it's going to be plugged into a surge protector, so it doesn't need to worry about excessive input voltage?
- If it is a good idea to include more protection in a simple power supply, is a simple crowbar-type arrangement like this appropriate?
My thought process was that I just want the fuse to open and the whole thing to become inactive if anything goes out of spec, so during an overvoltage, I basically just want to short-circuit and blow the fuse. The rule of thumb that I have heard is that your device should be able to tolerate during normal operation anywhere between 100-140 volts from a 115v nominal mains supply. This means a peak AC voltage of ~198, hence the 200v TVS diodes. The clamping voltage of common 200v TVS diodes(http://www.kynix.com/Product/Cate/109.html) seems to be in the 320-330v range, so a 300v gas discharge tube was chosen to take up the larger surges a little bit before the diodes reach their limit. Anything more than the GDT can handle would probably just arc across the component leads and trip the mains circuit breaker or blow the power supply's fuse instantaneously, right?
Is this enough? Should I also fuse the mains neutral and use a lower voltage TVS diode for D2 in order to open the circuit in the case of reversed hot and neutral? It seems like it might be over doing it to try to protect against grossly incorrect mains wiring like that. Also, now I'm starting to ask myself if it isn't even more dangerous to risk opening the neutral side of the circuit before the hot side fuse blows...
RE: Several questions about the circuit protection that using linear power supplies - mwaters - 2017-12-22
The primary surge protection is okay, but you will need a good 5v regulator circuit on the output. Preferably current limited; mine uses an adjustable 7805 followed by an extremely fast 400 mA fuse, but that's not optimal.
There is a thread here somewhere that has some good advice and ideas for a voltage regulator.
The fuse is to protect the board components in case, for example, the E-field coax shorts out.
RE: Several questions about the circuit protection that using linear power supplies - RichoAnd - 2017-12-22
Look for a trafo with seperate windings /primary/secondary and built in PTC-thermistor instead of fuse.
The efficiency is poor and it's not good at transforming high frequency spikes :-)
/Richo
RE: Several questions about the circuit protection that using linear power supplies - allsorts - 2017-12-22
My two cents, probably worth less.
If anything more than a quick blow fuse significantly increased safety then I'd expect to see that in ordinary commercial designs.
A small transformer is going to saturate so what goes in will be limited at the output.
Switching/fusing the neutral is a very bad idea unless it's a mechanically linked double pole swich. The thing will look dead but isn't.
The fuse needs to after the switch not before. So you can switch off and you are not changing a live fuse.
How do you know that the diodes aren't zapped open circuit after a surge?