Build an Adjustable 2-30 volt power supply with the LM317
by Lewis Loflin
The LM317 is an adjustable three-terminal positive-voltage regulator capable of supplying more than 1.5 A over an output-voltage range of 1.25 V to 32 V. It is exceptionally easy to use and requires only two external resistors to set the output voltage. Furthermore, both line and load regulation are better than standard fixed regulators.
By using a heat-sinked pass transistor such as a 2N3055 (Q1) we can produce several amps of current far above the 1.5 amps of the LM317. Please note that at low output voltages at high current Q1 can get very hot.
Circuit Operation
L1 is a 120 to 24 volt transformer. The one I used was rated for 25.2 volts RMS at 3 amps from Radio Shack. Diode bridge D1 should also be rated at 3 amps or greater and at least 50 PIV or greater. D1 could also be four 3 amp diodes. C2 is a 2200 uF 50 volt electrolytic that will charge up to almost 40 volts with a 25.2 volts. (1.414 * 24.5 volts RMS)
R1 is a 180 ohm half watt and R2 is a 5K ohm potentiometer. This is used to set the output voltage of the LM317. C1 is a 10-47 uF electrolytic while Q1 can be a TIP41 (TO-220 case) or 2N3055 (TO-3 case).
This LM338T voltage regulator chip (aka LM338) works in exactly the same way as the LM317T voltage regulator, the only difference being it can deal with higher currents. The LM338T is rated at 5 Amps continuous current. Used with a suitable heat sink the LM338 will produce continuous currents of up to 8 Amps.
In all cases VOUT = 1.25 * ( 1 + R2/R1 )
Above we boost the current out of a LM317. See LM317 Adjustable Voltage current Boost Power Supply
- Quick navigation of this website:
- Basic Electronics Learning and Projects
- Basic Solid State Component Projects
- Arduino Microcontroller Projects
- Raspberry Pi Electronics, Programming
- Arduino Measures Current from Constant Current Source
- Constant Current Source Theory Testing
- Arduino Controlled Power Constant Current Source
- All NPN Transistor H-Bridge Motor Control
- Basic Triacs and SCRs
- Comparator Theory Circuits Tutorial
- Constant Current Circuits with the LM334
- LM334 Constant Current Source with Resistive Sensors
- LM317 Constant Current Source Circuits
- Introduction Hall Effect Switches, Sensors, Circuits
- Transistor Driver Circuits
- Opto-Isolated Transistor Drivers
- Added Nov. 16, 2014
- ULN2003A Darlington Transistor Array with Circuit Examples
- Tutorial Using TIP120 and TIP125 Power Darlington Transistors
- Driving 2N3055-MJ2955 Power Transistors with Darlington Transistors
- Understanding Bipolar Transistor Switches
- N-Channel Power MOSFET Switching Tutorial
- P-Channel Power MOSFET Switch Tutorial
- H-Bridge Motor Control with Power MOSFETs
- More Power MOSFET H-Bridge Circuit Examples
- Build a High Power Transistor H-Bridge Motor Control
Web site Copyright Lewis Loflin, All rights reserved.
If using this material on another site, please provide a link back to my site.