Inverter 12v 3kv PDF
Inverter 12v 3kv PDF
Inverter 12v 3kv PDF
DG 5 SGA
Version of Nov.8th,1999
Rev. 3.1
inverter
Fig. 2: Sine-wave voltage and conventional square wave voltage with both 230 Volt rms
Fig. 2 shows a sine- as well as a square wave voltage with in each case an rms of 230 Volt. In both cases an electric
lamp would light with the same intensity. This is, as we know, the definition of rms. As we recognize in Fig. 2, however
the peak value of the sine-wave voltage is 325 Volts, i.e. factor 2 more than rms. For electric lamps this is insignificant
and electric engines are appropriate for it. Electronic devices were even designed for the peak voltage of sine-wave
voltage, because internally they generate DC voltage from the AC supply voltage. A condenser will be loaded on exactly
the peak value of the sine-wave voltage. Electronic devices thereby usually cannot be operated on 230 Volt square wave
from fig. 2. The industry nevertheless manufactured square wave inverters according to this principle in former times.
Our inverter works with a trick, to obtain the same results from square wave voltage as for sine-wave voltage.
Fig. 3: Square wave voltage with duty cycle 25% for 230 Volt rms ("modified sine")
Square wave voltage in fig. 3 developes the same peak value as sine-wave voltage of 230 Volts, i.e. 230 Volt * 2 = 325
Volts and nevertheless thereby obtains the demanded rms of 230 V. Square wave voltage as shown in fig. 2 (full half
wave) with peak value of the corresponding sine-wave voltage would cause double amount of electrical power on
electric consumers. The electrical power rises by square of voltage, and square of 2 results in factor 2. The trick is, to
switch the output power only for one half of every conducting cycle, thus resulting on a duty cycle of 25% on behalf of
the complete oscillation period. If the calculated double amount of electric power will be generated only half the time,
effective power remains the same. Industry called this cam shape "modified sine", in order to be able to differentiate
the devices from conventional square wave inverters.
The inverter may feed nearly all electrical appliances, designed for 230 Volts, with exception of rotary field engines, that
use condensers for generation of an auxiliary phase (condenser engines). Engines of this type are used in most
refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and some few machine tools. Fluorescent lamps with a series inductivity to
limit the operating current also won't work correctly on our inverter. This problem can be solved by increasing the duty
cycle on more than 25% while decreasing the peak voltage to 275 Volts. Instead fluorescent lamps with electronics
(energy saving lamps) will work very well on the inverter. There may also be problems with some small plug power
supplies. An increased magnetizing current results on square wave voltages, while there would be an predominantly
inductive load (cos << 1). Duty cycle 25% and cos =0 will result in load currents up to factor /2 (approx. factor 1.5).
But don't be confused: Cos f most electrical appliances is between 0.8 and 1 and would be harmless.
Our inverter is suitable for:
electric drills, fret saws, circular saws, electric chain saws, grinders
Vacuum cleaners, coffee machines,irons, dryers, mixers, sewing machines, electric razors, etc.
inverter
Schematic diagram:
Description of function:
The inverter chops the 12 Volt DC Battery voltage into a square wave voltage of 50 cycles per second and duty cycle of
25%, transformed by transformer Tr1 to 230 Volt rms. IC1 forms the oscillator with 100 cycles per second (120 cycles
per second for 60 cycles output). Frequency is determined by C1 and the resistors R4 and R5. Resistor R6 determins the time
of the flyback of the oscillator and affects likewise the frequency. In addition, R6 affects the rms of the output voltage,
which must be considered if necessary, if the circuit shall be used for other frequencies. 60 cycles per second can be
achieved by alignment, higher frequencies require changes in the frequency-determining parts. For high stability of
frequency, special attention must be spent on condenser C1. Ceramic capacitors are not usefull, due to their high sensitivity
on temperature. Most foil condensers may keep the frequency quite constant, even against strong temperature variations.
IC2 determines the pulse width and thus rms of the output voltage. The regulater consists of transistor T1, which receives
its signal from the diodes D4 and D5, taken from the primary tranformer coil. The regulator adjusts the output voltage
by changing the pulse width. It prevents also rising of rms on inductive or capacitive load. The characteristics of regulation
can be adapted by changing D4 (important on 24 Volts applications!). Lower voltage level of D4 results in "softer" regulation,
i.e. an reduction of the proportional factor.
Against earlier versions of the inverter, IC 8 now will be switched directly by the oscillator signal, thus avoiding errors
by unexpected oscillations of the PWM-IC 2. Here the alternate allocation of the impulses for both transistor lines, i.e. for
the positive and the negative half wave of the output voltage takes place. The final frequency of 50 cycles per second
develops. Flip-flop IC7 stores a switching off instruction of the current limiter for the rest of the half wave. From the gates
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inverter
IC5 (4093-III) and IC6 (4093-IV), the control signal arrives at the complementary MOSFET-driver stage transistors T5/T6
and T7/T8. T6 and T7 are N-channel-enhancement mosfets and T5 and T8 are the complementary P-channelenhancement mosfets. These transistors correspond to the well-known CMOS basic circuit (CMOS = Complementary
MOS), which represents the basic of the CMOS logic family (CMOS inverters). Only the resistors R44 to R47 are new in
this circuit. They provide current limitation during shifting process and protect in cases of disturbances. The control unit
ist suitable for inverters up to 10 kW output power. The driver stage transistors T5 to T8 provide the signals for the
power mosfets, which alternately magnetize transformer Tr1. Inductive idle currents, how they are needed e.g. by
electric motors, can be returned to the battery, thanks to the integrated antiparallel recirculating diodes of the transistors.
Thus they do not generate unnecessary losses, contrary to early inverters.
The most important task in our inverter is done by the mosfet transistors T13 to T28. They are connected in two groups, each
of 8 transistors. They generate alternatingly the positive and negative wave of the output voltage. Each transistor line works
on ist own transformer coil. After a transistor line is beeing switched off, the magnetic energy stored in the magnetic field
of the transformer returns back to the battery by the integrated recirculation diodes of the second transistor line. The
idle current of consumers with inductive load takes the same way. In case of strong heating up of the transistors, which
should only happen on defects in the equipment, the bimetal thermal switch F2 shuts off the control electronics. In
normal operation, temperature of the heat sink should be as low, that you could touch it by your hands.
The source-currents of the mosfet transistors pass over resistor R20 with the very low value of 0.001 ohms. Load currents
of 100 amperes thus produces a voltage drop of only 0.1 Volt, according to an energy dissipation of 10 Watts. The
electronic current limiter becomes effective for currents above 350 Amperes, i.e. on voltage drops on R20 of more than
0.35 Volts. Main cause for such high currents are short-circuits or consumers with "large" inductances, e.g.
welding transformers or large battery chargers, which exhibit remanence magnetism. Also large electrolytic capacitors
from switching power supplies cause immense peak currents (computer screen), just as asymmetrical load of devices
with single period rectifiers or thyristor regulaters, which cause a magnetical bias to the transformer of the inverter.
The electronic overload protection by IC9 is a special feature of our inverter. It needs a additional negative supply
voltage, which is produced by a charge pump, consisting of IC10 and the transistors T9 and T10. IC9 works as threshold
switch (Schmitt trigger). Sensitivity can be affected by change of the value of R22. A value of 1.5 kOhm means e.g.
shutdown at lower currents (for inverters with smaller power output.
While starting the inverter, the negative supply voltage from the charge pump will be missing. This leads to
immediate shutdown of the power mosfets, indicated by the red LED1. Thus indefinable control signals, that could result
in unwanted switching, which would force small batteries to break down, are prevented. Our inverter therefore requests
no maximum or minimum battery size - it works on any 12 Volt power supply. If the electronic overload protection
becomes active, a positive output signal will be present at pin 6 of IC9. Through resistor R13 the flip-flop IC7 is set,
which keeps the blockage upright until the next half wave on pin 11 appeares. IC7 may be closed likewise by transistor
T3, which receives its signal from the optional "load detection" . If no load is detected, the inverter will be shutdown by
this circuitry in order to save battery power.
Sensitivity of the shutdown circuitry may be tested by disconnecting the lead to resistor R20 and applying variable voltages
at connector "C" in the range of 0 ... 1 Volt (important: transformer Tr1 must also be disconnected!). At approx. 0.35 Volts
the red LED1 would light up and would get dark again at voltages of scarcely more than 0 Volt. Parallel to resistor R20 a
100 uA measuring instrument may be attached for display of load currents.
The optional "load detection" shall not be described here in detail. It consists of the circuit parts around resistor
R33, transformer Tr2, relay1 and the ICs 12 and 13. If this part of the circuit shall not be used, the inverter would work
in continuous operation. Thus T3, R10, R9, D6, R15 and D3 would be obsolete. The 230 Volts load would be
connected directly to clamp 5 and 6 of transformer Tr1. The "load detection" recognizes an active load by a small DC
through the contacts of relay1 and resistor R43. The inverter will be switched on for approx. 5 seconds. If then a load
current would appear on R33, the inverter will remain switched on, indicated by LED2 (yellow). The limitation of the
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output power of 3000 Watts is due to power dissipation of R33. Instead of the "amateur-solution" of R33 and Tr2, a
typical current transformer may be used. Some loads do not switch on the inverter, e.g. energy-saving lamps. For this
the manual activation at port "G" is intended. A small 1 VA-transformer in parallel to the energy-saving lamp would also
cause a DC-current and thus would solve the problem.
Data:
output voltage: 230 Volts rms (square wave voltage with duty cycle Tp=25% "modified sine")
total: 0.5A to 2,5 A, depending upon quality and max. induction of the used transformer
pulse width regulation for the stabilization of rms of the output voltage
Transformer:
We can make the transformer by changing the windings of an old transformer.
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Battery voltage
Upeak (secondary)
Urms (secondary)
11,8 Volt
297 Volt
210 Volt
12,35 Volt
311 Volt
220 Volt
320 Volt
227 Volt
12,9 Volt
325 Volt
230 Volt
13,5 Volt
340 Volt
240 Volt
The table applies to fixed duty cycle of 25% and/or sine-wave voltage and without consideration of the magnetization
energy. Our inverter will keep the output voltage constant on an rms of 230 Volts, due to its pulse width regulation, even if
the peak value will drop or rise, due to the battery voltage. The peak value will not exceed 350 Volts (247 Vrms for sinewave voltage), critical for electronics, even in case of fully loaded battery. Theoretical, without pulse width regulation, the
rms could rise again up to the theoretical factor of 2, according to a duty cycle of 50%, because of the magnetization
energy. The recirculating magnetization energy already forms the beginning of the next half wave of the output voltage (see
fig. 6). But without load there is no rms by definition, so this consideration is only of theoretical nature, with one exception:
A measuring instrument, calibrated on rms would indicate a wrong output voltage and small consumers, who need less than
the magnetizing energy of the transformer, could get damaged.
Width
Deep
Power
Primarily
Secondary
idle current
150 mm
125 mm
50 mm
460 VA
2 x 13 W
325 W
1,4 Ampere
150 mm
125 mm
50 mm
460 VA
2 x 14 W
350 W
1,2 Ampere
150 mm
125 mm
67 mm
600 VA
2 x 10 W
250 W
2,2 Ampere
150 mm
125 mm
67 mm
600 VA
2 x 11 W
275 W
1,6 Ampere
150 mm
125 mm
67 mm
600 VA
2 x 12 W
300 W
1,4 Ampere
150 mm
125 mm
95 mm
1000 VA
2x9W
225 W
1,4 Ampere
2000 VA
2 x 11 W
275 W
2,2 Ampere
140 mm
80 mm
850 VA
2 x 12 W
300 W
1,5 Ampere
170 mm
inverter
170 mm
140 mm
75 mm
850 VA
2 x 13 W
325 W
1,3 Ampere
175 mm
140 mm
60 mm
750 VA
2 x 13 W
325 W
1,2 Ampere
Wire strength:
Current densities from 3.5 A/mm2 to 4 A/mm2 are used on industrial transformers. If our inverter is not beeing used
excessivly, current densities may even be higher. A transformer with 1000 VA needs approx. 84 ampere from the 12
Volt battery on nominal load. Since the two primary coils alternate mutually, we may count from 42 amperes. (This is
strictly not correct, since the acceptance applies only if both windings would exhibit double surface for heat emission). For
a round wire this would mean a diameter of 4 mm. Such wire is hardly to wind, also automats can't do it perfectly. A
solution may be wires with rectangular cross section or several smaller wires in parallel.
After winding the transformer, the sheet metals must be inserted again. With each layer we change the direction of the
sheet metals, while in the original condition several sheet metals were probably summarized into packages, in order to
increase the air gap and linearize magnetizing currents. This effect isn't needed for our inverter. Magnetizing currents
are always extremely nonlinear in square wave transformers, and they are asymmetrical also. This has no effect on
the performance of the inverter and the output voltage.
After the transformer has been built, it should first be tested. Therefore we attach its 230 Volts windings to public
electricity mains or any other 230 Volts source. Each low-voltage coil should now show 9 Volts. Now we can connect
the beginning of one "primary" coil with the end of the other. At the free ends a voltage of 18 V now should appear. If
this voltage would be 0 V, the windings have been connected the wrong way.
The making of a transformer is a very laborious work. Nobody likes to take a transformer apart for a second time to correct
the windings. With unknown transformers it is advisable to apply first a sample coil of thin and easy to handle wire and test
the power input on idle. The windings of the sample coil can be changed without dividing the transformer. For this test
the transformer does not need the secondary 230 Volts coil. Only the electronics must be adjusted correctly (tested
with another, correct transformer or an oscilloscope: duty cycle 25%).
inverter
Transforer computation:
For the first regard, it appears difficult to seize the obscure and for precisive computation not accessible
magnetization procedures in the magnetic core of a transformer. I want to show, that in our case this is not necessary. As
the table with the numbers of turns shows, a tranformer may be built on different numbers of turns, only the relation to
each other must be exact.
We specify the maximum magnetic induction on a value of 1.5 Tesla. For computation now only two simple equations
are necessary:
1. Uind = n x /t converted: 1') n=Uind x t/
2. F = B x A
Uind=induced voltage
n=number of turns
F = magnetic flux
B= magnetic induction
For power electronics resistive load shall not calculate on energy conversion. Thus the whole battery voltage will apply on
the transformer coil for the whole switch-on time of the transistor. The switch-on time results in 5 milliseconds, dependend
on the period of the 50 cycles / second oscillation and a duty-cycle of 25% (period of a 50 cycle oscillation is 1 / 50 Hz =
20 milliseconds).
t= 5 ms
A= 4.8 x 10-3 m2
With equation 2) the magnetic flux calculates to = B x A = 1.5 Vs/ m2 x 4.8 x 10-3 m2 = 7.2 x 10-3 Vs
set in equation 1') results
Number of turns n=Uind x t/ = 12.7 V x 5 x 10-3 s / (7.2 x 10-3 Vs) = 8.82 (rounded up 9 turns).
By trying I built the transformer with 2 x 12 turns. The losses were clearly smaller thereby. The calculated flux in this case
was only 1.1 Tesla.
High load resistor R 20:
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fig. 8: control electronics on strip hole plate (previous version) and PCB of the "professional edition"
Assembly of the mosfet-transistors on the heat sink:
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inverter
this connection. For testing the current limiter, variable DC voltage may be applied to clamp "C" (0 ... 1 Volt). The switchoff should take place at about 0.35 volts.
The control unit may also be tested in connection with the mosfet transistors. Instead of the transformer, autolamps would
be connected. The brightness of the lamps may now be adjusted by turning resistor R16 or connecting a DC voltage to
clamp "D" as described above.
The autolamp also makes possible a very simple test to adjust the frequency. Therefore we put in series with the lamp the
12 volts output of a small tranformer, connected primarily to the mains supply. Both alternating voltages will now be added
or subtracted, dependent on the phase shift. The lamp will flicker. The goal is, to make this flickering very slowly.
Attention: The autolamp must be 24 volts or two lamps in series.
Final assembly:
fig. 11: 1500 VA inverter with 2 parallel transformers and 1000 VA inverter
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