POWER SUPPLY CIRCUITS

A low voltage power supply converts AC inputs to DC output voltage. This low voltage
power supply needs rectifier to convert AC to pulsating DC and filter to smoothen pulsating DC
to pure DC output voltage and sometimes regulate the voltage to maintain constant voltage. A
transformer is used to step down the AC voltage.

220 VAC Step down

Source Rectifier Filter Regulator Load
Transformer

Ripple

Block Diagram of Low Voltage DC Power Supply

220 VAC Source – is a common AC Supply in AC outlet.

Step Down Transformer – This is used to reduce the 220 volts into smaller voltage.

Rectifier – This circuit AC voltage to pulsating DC voltage. Diode is the perfect device
used as rectifier because of its capability to conduct current in one direction.

Filter – This circuit reduces ripple voltage to become smooth DC voltage.

Regulator – This circuit maintains the DC voltage to keep up with the varying need for
power. This is because the output voltage suffers when maximum power load is
connected to the power supply.
 Transformer

Primary Secondary 12V 220V Primary Secondary 12V

220V

0V

12V
0V 0V 0V
Single Winding Secondary Center Tapped
Primary Secondary 12V
Primary Secondary
220V 12V 220V

0V
6V 9V

110V
110V
3V 0V
6V

0V 0V
0V 0V
Multiple Secondary (multi-tapped) Multiple Secondary

Transformer Windings
Rectifier Circuits

Rectifier has two types, the (1) Half Wave Rectifier and the (2) Full Wave Rectifier.

1. Half Wave Rectifier

Half wave rectifier allows current to flow though the load for only one-half
of each cycle. Let’s examine what happens to the input signal in half wave rectifier using
the ideal diode. When the sinusoidal input voltage goes positive, the diode is forward
bias and conduct current though the load resistor.
When the input voltage goes negative during the second half of its cycle, the diode is
reversed-biased. There is no current, so the voltage across the load resistor is 0V.

2. Full Wave Rectifier

The full-wave rectifier is the most commonly used type in DC power

supplies. The difference between a half-wave and full-wave rectification is that a half-
wave rectifier allows unidirectional (one way) current while a full-wave rectifier allows
bidirectional current to the load during one cycle.

2.1 Center-Tapped Rectifier

The full-wave center-tapped circuits used two diodes and a center-tapped

transformer.

2.2 Full-Wave Bridge Rectifier

This is the most commonly used rectifier in DC power supply. Bridge

rectifier uses four diodes. When the inputs cycle is positive, diodes D1 and D2 are
forwarded biased and conduct current in the direction. A voltage is developed across
R1. During this time, D3 and D4 are reversed-biased.

When the input cycle is negative, diodes D3 and D4are forward biased and
conduct current in the same direction through R1 as during the positive half-cycle.
During this cycle, D1 and D2 are reverse-biased.
 Choosing Rectifier Diode in your Power Supply

K A

Rectifier Diode

Input

-VP(in) = PIV

Advantages of Half-Wave Rectifier

1. Simplicity
2. Low Cost
3. It requires only one diode and can be used with or without transformer

Disadvantages of Half-Wave Rectifier

1. It is not very efficient since only half of the input used
2. Average output voltage is low
3. Ripple frequency is hard to filter

Advantages of Full-wave Rectifier

1. It is efficient since it operates on both half cycle of the sine wave
2. Ripple frequency is easier to filter
3. Since the current in the halves of the transformer secondary are opposite, there is no
problem with DC core saturation.
Disadvantage of Full-wave Rectifier
1. It requires a center-tapped transformer
2. Diodes require high PIV rating
3. For given transformer, the peak voltage requirement is lower in the full-wave rectifier
than in the half-wave

Advantages of Full-Wave Bridge Rectifier

1. It can be operated without a transformer.
2. For a given transformer, the output voltage from a bridge is higher
 ANALOG MULTI-TESTER

Electronics test instruments are vital instruments that are often used for troubleshooting,
repairing and analyzing the operation of a specific device. The most frequently measured
electrical parameters are the voltage resistance, and current.

The multi-tester or Multi-meter or sometimes called VOM (Voltmeter, Ohmmeter,

Miliammeter) is the best instrument that can measure voltage, resistance, current. This is
a combination tester that can measure both AC and DC voltage, Resistance and Current.

Voltage - (V) term used to designate electrical pressure or force that cause current
to flow.
Resistance – Symbolized “R” and measured in ohms. Opposition to current flow and
dissipation of energy in the form of heat.
Current – measured in amperes, it is the flow of electrons through a conductor. Also
known as electron flow.
Voltmeter – Instrument used to measure difference in potential between two
points.
Ohmmeter – Device used to measure electrical resistance. Is used to measure the
resistance of a load or circuit. It I connected across the circuit. The circuit must be
disconnected to a voltage source before using the ohmmeter.
Ammeter- used to measure current in a circuit.
Ampere – Unit of electrical current.
AC Voltmeter – is used to measure alternating current (AC) voltage potential across
a load or circuit. It is connected across the load regardless polarity.
DC Voltmeter – is used to measure direct current (DC) voltage potential across a
load or a circuit. It is connected across the load in accordance with the circuit
polarity.
DC milliammeter – an instrument used to measure DC current. It is connected in
series with the load in accordance with the circuit polarity.
Wattmeter – used to measure power directly from the load or circuit.
Calibration – to adjust the correct value of reading by comparison to a standard.

Names and Parts of the Multi-Tester

Meter scale - a calibrated scale for resistance, AC and DC voltage, current and decibels.
Indicator pointer – The most common meter movement used is the D Arsonval meter
movement. It utilizes the theory that current flowing through a coil produces a
 magnetic force. Such forces, together with the permanent magnet force, cause the coil
to rotate.
Mechanical zero adjuster – screw located right below the center of the meter scale use
to set the pointer to the zero mark at the left side of the scale.
Zero ohm adjuster - a potentiometer located at the right side of the case use for
adjusting the meter pointer to the zero mark on the ohms scale of the meter dial when
the test leads are shorted together.
Range selector knob – function range switch, 4 functions, 12 functions, 16 measuring
ranges.
Positive (+) jack measuring terminal – plug-in connector at the lower right in the front
panel for red positive test probes.
Negative (-) jack measuring terminal- plug-in connector at the lower left in the front
panel for black negative probes.
Red test probes (+) – plugged to the positive jack measuring terminal.
Black test probes (-) – plugged to the negative jack measuring terminal.
Output (series condenser) terminal – measuring terminal measuring decibels.
Front panel – shows the different settings for ACV, DCV, Resistance, Current, and
Decibels measurement.
Rear case- back cover of the instrument
Optional accessory
a) Connector for hFe test

b) Connection pin to test

c) Transistor base clip

d) Transistor collective clip

Steps in using the multi-tester

Preliminary adjustments

Adjust pointer to zero before any measurements are made.

Check that the pointer indicates zero at the extreme left end of the scale ;if it’s off zero ,
use a small screw driver to turn the screw on the meter movement slowly, clockwise or
counterclockwise until the pointer is exactly over the zero mark.

Operating suggestions

1. Set the range switch to the proper position before making any measurement.
2. Never apply more voltage or current than the amount noted in each position.
3. When the voltage or current to be measured is unknown, always start with the highest
range in each case.
 4. If meter indication is in the lower half of the scale and falls within the range of a lower
scale , rest selector switch to a lower range for greater accuracy.
5. Avoid placing the meter in a place where severe vibrations is encountered.
6. Do not store the instrument in hot or damp places.
7. Do not check resistance when voltage or current is present in the circuit.
8. Discharge capacitors before measuring or testing it.
9. When the instrument is not use, put the selection switch to off position. If the
instrument does not have off position, put the instrument to AC position.
10. If excessive voltage or current was accidentally applied on a certain range, disconnect
the leads from the circuit and check the instrument operation on that range by applying
proper input.
11. Avoid dropping the instrument; it might destroy the pointer of the meter movement.
12. Replace batteries if adjusting the zero ohm adjustment not able to put the indicator
pointer above the 0 ohm scale.
13. Do not use test probes in discharging high voltage.
14. In case of accidental misused that leads to destroy or burned internal components of
the instrument, replace component with the same value.

AC Voltage measurement

1. Set the selector switch to the appropriate ACV RANGE.

2. If the voltage is unknown use the highest range.
3. Plug the test probes into the measuring terminal jack.
4. Place the test probes on each side of the AC voltage to be measured.
5. Polarity of the test probes is unimportant on AC range.
6. Read the ACV scale as follows:
ACV Range Scale Volts/Division Volt/Subdivision
0-----10 0-----10 1 0.2
0-----50 0-----50 5 1
0-----250 0-----250 25 5
0-----1000 0-----10 1000 20

DC Voltage measurement

1. Plug the red test lead into the positive jack terminal and the black test lead into
the negative or common jack terminal.
2. Set the range selector switch to a selected DC volt range position.
3. Connect the red test lead to the positive polarity of the circuit to be tested and
the black test lead to the negative.
4. In case the polarity of the voltage is unknown, observe the deflection of the
meter. If it deflects to the left or opposite direction, reverse the connection of
the probes in order to get the right polarity of the voltage.
5. Read the DC voltmeter scale as follows:
 DC Range Scale Volts/Division Volt/Subdivision
0.1 0-----10 0.01 0.002
0.5 0-----50 0.05 0.01
2.5 0-----250 0.25 0.05
10 0-----10 1 0.2
50 0-----50 5 1
250 0-----250 25 5
1000 0-----10 100 20
DC Milliammeter

1. Plug the red test probe into the positive jack terminal and the negative probe
into the negative or common jack terminal.
2. Set the range selector switch at a selected DC ma range position.
3. Connect the red test probe in the series to the positive side of the circuit being
tested and the black probe into the negative.
4. Read the DC mA scale as follows:

DC mA Range Scale uA \mA \Division uA\ mA\ subdivision

50 mA 50 5 uA 1 uA

2.5mA 250 0.25 mA 0.05 mA

25 mA 250 2.5 mA 0.5 mA

0.25 mA 250 0.25 mA 0.005 A

Resistance Measurement

Range Maximum Reading Scale Ohms\ Division

X1 2K 0-------2 0.2

X10 20K 2-------10 0.5

X100 200K 10------20 1

X1K 2M 20------50 2

X10K 20M 50------100 5

X100K 200M 100------200 20

200------500 100

500------1K 500

1K------2K 1000
 APPLICATION OF THE VOM TO VARIOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENT
A) Resistor
1. Color codes the resistor to determine the exact value.
2. Set the selector range switch to Rx, the multiplier nearest to the actual
value of the resistor being measured.
3. Connect to the test probe tip together for zero ohms adjustment.
4. Rotate the zero ohms adjustment knob until the pointer rest above the
zero mark of the meter Scale.
Note:
Always set the meter to zero before making measurements.

5. Connect the test probe tip in the parallel with the leads of the resistor to
be measured.
Note:
a) In measuring resistance, always put off the power of the circuit
being measured.
b) Disconnect the resistor from the circuit to obtain an accurate
resistance reading
6. Read the resistance on the ohmmeter scale.
7. Multiply the scale reading with the selector range switch setting to
obtain the resistance value of the resistor being measured.
Note:
Conditions of the resistor
a) Good----- Pointer will deflect in between its maximum and
minimum value.
b) Open----- No deflection of the pointer, indicates infinity.
c) Change value---- Exceeds its maximum value specified by its
tolerance.
d) Shorted---- It is practically impossible for a resistor to become
shorted because of its construction.
B) Potentiometers or volume control
1. Determine the value of the potentiometer, printed on its body or cover.
2. Set the tester selector knob to the appropriate resistance range.
3. Place the tester probes lead at the exterior terminals of the
potentiometer to determine the value of the potentiometer.
Note:
a) This two exterior terminals are the fixed resistance of the
potentiometer.
b) The center terminal is the wiper arm and movable part
connected directly to the shaft of the potentiometer which is
 responsible for the variations of the resistance between the two
terminals.
4. Put one test probe to the center terminal.
Note:
No resistance reading indicates an opener potentiometer.
5. Rotate the shaft counter clockwise, the resistance reading should be
high.
Note:
No movement on the meter pointer indicates open
potentiometer.
6. Slowly rotate the shaft clockwise, the resistance should gradually fall to
zero.
Note:
Inconsistent movement of the pointer indicates a dirty contact of
the potentiometer.
7. Transfer the probe connected to one end terminal to the other end
terminal while the other probe remains connected to the center
terminal.
8. The resistance should be high, slowly rotate the shaft counter clockwise,
the resistance gradually fall to zero.
C) Fixed the capacitor or condenser
1. Set the tester to the highest resistance setting.
2. Connect the test probes tip in parallel with the terminal of the
capacitor.
3. Observe the movement of the meter pointer.
Note:
a) Always discharged capacitor before checking.
b) Never check capacitors in the circuit.
Conditions of the resistor
a) Good ---- Pointer deflects forward and goes back to its
normal position
b) Open----- No deflection of the pointer
c) Shorted----- Pointer deflects forward and rested the zero
d) Leaky---- Pointer deflects forward, goes back, but not to its
normal position.
e) Changed Value---- Pointer deflects on reading than expected
and goes back to its normal position.
D) Filter capacitor or electrolytic capacitor
1. Select appropriate setting.
Note:
a) Never used a setting higher than RX10K
b) The higher the capacitance the lower the setting.
c) The lower the capacitance the higher the setting.
2. Observed the movement of the pointer of the meter.
Conditions of the capacitor
a) Good---- Pointer deflects forward and goes back to its normal
position
b) Open---- No deflection or movement of the pointer
c) Shorted---- Pointer deflects forward and rested the zero
d) Leaky---- Pointer deflects forward, goes back, but not to
normal position.
e) Change Value---- Pointer deflects forward, but not to
expected reading on the scale and goes back to normal
position.
Note:
This can be concluded by testing a new capacitor with
the same Value and compare the reading of the two
capacitors.
E) Transformer (induction type)
1. Set the tester to appropriate resistance range.
2. Connect both probes in parallel with the terminals of the primary
winding.
Note:
Conditions of the transformer
a) Open---- No deflection of the pointer.
b) Shorted---- Indicates zero reading.
c) Good---- Pointer deflects slightly forward that indicates
continuity.
3. Put one probe to one terminal of the primary winding, and the other
probe to the iron core of the transformer.
Note:
a) There must be an indication of infinity or no deflection of the
pointer.
b) Any reading indicates a grounded transformer.
4. Set the tester to resistance range RXI.
5. Connect both probes in parallel with the secondary winding.
 Note:
There must be continuity and the resistance is low almost near
zero.
6. Connect one probe to one of the terminal of the secondary winding
and the other probe to the core of the transformer.

Note:

a) There must be an indication of infinity or no deflection of the

pointer.
b) Any reading indicates a grounded transformer.
7. Connect one probe to one of the terminal of the primary winding and
the other probe to the one terminal of the secondary winding.
Note:
a) There must be an indication of infinity or no deflection of the
pointer.
b) Any reading indicates a shorted transformer.
F) Autotype transformer
1. Set the tester to appropriate resistance setting.
2. Connect both probes in parallel with the terminals of the primary
winding.
Note:
a) There must be continuity or deflection of the pointer but not
zero.
b) Zero reading indicates a shorted winding of the transformer.
3. Connect both probes in parallel with the secondary winding.
Note:
a) There must be continuity or deflection of the pointer but not zero.
4. Connect one probe to any of the terminal of the primary winding and the
other probe to the any terminal of the secondary winding.
Note:
a) There must be continuity or deflection of the pointer but not zero.
b) In case the reading on the scale is zero, the terminals under the
test are the common terminal to both winding.
G) Diode
1. Set the tester to appropriate resistance setting, RXI.
2. Place the positive probes to the positive terminal of the diode and the
negative probe to the negative terminal of the diode.
Note:
This is forward test of the diode.
a) Good---- The pointer will deflect to a certain position but not to zero.
b) Open----- No deflection of the pointer.
 c) Shorted---- Pointer deflects to zero reading.
d) Resistance change----- High resistance reading.
3. Place the positive probes to the negative terminal of the diode and the
negative probe to the positive terminal of the diode.
This is the reverse test of the diode.
a) Good---- The pointer must indicate infinity or no deflection.
b) Shorted---- The pointer deflects zero reading
c) Partially shorted----- High resistance reading
4. Set the tester to the highest resistance range.
5. Apply reverse test to the diode.
Note:
This is the leakage test of the diode.
a) Good---- The pointer must indicate infinity or no deflection.
b) Leaky---- Any reading or movement of the pointer.
H) Full wave diode (+)
1. Set the tester to resistance range, RXI.
2. Put the positive probes to the center terminal of the diode, and the
negative probe to the one end of the terminal.
Note:
a) Good---- Pointer deflects forward but not to zero
b) Open---- No deflection or movement of the pointer.
c) Shorted---- The pointer deflects zero
3. Repeat the same procedures in testing the other terminal of the diode. The
same observation must be implied to determine the condition of the diode.
4. Leakage test, apply the same procedures of testing a single diode.
I) Full wave diode (-)
1. Set the tester to resistance range, RXI.
2. Put the negative probes to the center terminal of the diode, and the
positive probe to the one end of the terminal.
3. The same observation must be implied in testing wave diode (+) to
determine the condition whether it is good, open, shorted, or leaky.
J) Bridged type diode
1. Set the tester to resistance range, RXI.
2. Put the positive probes to the positive output terminal, and the negative
probe to the AC input terminal.
Note:
a) Good----- Pointer must deflects forward but not to zero mark
b) Shorted---- The pointer deflects to the zero mark.
c) Open---- No deflection of the meter pointer.
3. Transfer the negative probe to other AC input terminal, the positive probe
remains at the positive output terminal.
 Note:
The same observation in #2 should be implied to determine the
condition of the diode.
4. Transfer the negative probe to the negative output terminal, the positive
remain connected to the positive output terminal.
Note:
The same observation in #2 should be implied to determine the
condition of the diode.
5. Apply the procedures of the reversed test
Note:
a) There must be infinity or no movement of the meter pointer.
b) Any movement or deflection of the pointer indicates a defective diode.
6. Set the tester to the highest resistance range.
Note:
Leakage test
The same observation in #6 should be implied.
K) Transformer (induction type)
1. Set the tester to resistance range, RXI to check the primary winding of the
transformer.
Note:
a) Good---- High resistance reading on the meter scale
b) Open---- No movement or deflection to the pointer
c) Shorted---- Pointer deflects to the zero mark
2. Put one probe to any terminal of the primary winding, and the other probe
to the core of the transformer.
Note:
a) There must be an indication of infinity or no movement of the pointer.
b) Any reading indicates a grounded transformer.
3. Connect both probes to the terminal of the secondary winding.
Note:
a) Good---- The resistance reading is low and near to the zero mark.
b) Open---- No reading or movement of the pointer.
4. Connect one probe to any terminal of the secondary winding, and the other
probe to the core of the transformer.
Note:
The same observation in #2 should be implied.
5. Put one probe to any of the terminal of the secondary winding, and the
other probe to the core of the transformer.
Note:
a) There must be infinity or no movement of the pointer.
b) Any reading indicates a shorted primary and secondary winding of the
transformer.

a.