Description Using a single 7812 IC voltage regulator and multiple outboard pass transistors, this power supply can

deliver output load currents of up to ! amps" #he design is shown below$

%otes #he input transformer is li&ely to be the most e'pensive part of the entire pro(ect" )s an alternative, a couple of 12 *olt car batteries could be used" #he input voltage to the regulator must be at least several volts higher than the output voltage +12*, so that the regulator can maintain its output" If a transformer is used, then the rectifier diodes must be capable of passing a very high pea& forward current, typically 1!!amps or more" #he 7812 IC will only pass 1 amp or less of the output current, the remainder being supplied

by the outboard pass transistors" )s the circuit is designed to handle loads of up to ! amps, then si' #I-2.// are wired in parallel to meet this demand" #he dissipation in each power transistor is one si'th of the total load, but ade0uate heat sin&ing is still re0uired" 1a'imum load current will generate ma'imum dissipation, so a very large heat sin& is re0uired" In considering a heat sin&, it may be a good idea to loo& for either a fan or water cooled heat sin&" In the event that the power transistors should fail, then the regulator would have to supply full load current and would fail with catastrophic results" ) 1 amp fuse in the regulators output prevents a safeguard" #he 2!!mohm load is for test purposes only and should not be included in the final circuit" ) simulated performance is shown below$

Calculations #his circuit is a fine e'ample of 3irchhoff4s current and voltage laws" #o summari5e, the

sum of the currents entering a (unction, must e0ual the current leaving the (unction, and the voltages around a loop must e0ual 5ero" 6or e'ample, in the diagram above, the input voltage is 22 volts" 2 volts is dropped across 77 and 2! volts across the regulator input, 22 82 82! 9!" )t the output $8 the total load current is ! amps, the regulator supplies !"8:: ) and the : transistors 2"8// )mp each , ! 9 : ; 2"8// < !"8::" =ach power transistor contributes around 2"8: ) to the load" #he base current is about 1 8 m) per transistor" ) DC current gain of / at a collector current of : amp is re0uired" #his is well within the limits of the #I-2.//" 7esistors 71 to 7: are included for stability and prevent current swamping as the manufacturing tolerances of dc current gain will be different for each transistor" 7esistor 77 is 1!! ohms and develops 2 *olts with ma'imun load" -ower dissipation is hence +2>2,?2!! or about 1:! m@" I recommend using a !"/ @att resistor for 77" #he input current to the regulator is fed via the emitter resistor and base emitter (unctions of the power transistors" Ance again using 3irchhoff4s current laws, the 871 m) regulator input current is derived from the base chain and the 2!" m) flowing through the 1!! Ahm resistor" 871"18 9 2!" < 8 !" 88" #he current from the regulator itself cannot be greater than the input current" )s can be seen the regulator only draws about / m) and should run cold" Initial #esting and 6aulting 6or the initial test, do not connect a load" 6irst use a voltmeter across the output terminals, you should measure 12 *olts, or very close to it" #hen connect a 1!! ohm, @att resistor or other small load" #he reading on the voltmeter should not change" If you do not see 12 *olt, power off and chec& all connections" I have heard from one reader whose supply was / *olt, not the regulated 12 *olts" #his was caused by a short circuited power transistor" Bhould a short in any of the output transistors, occur, all : need to be un8soldered" Chec& with a multimeter set to resistance and measure between collector and emitter terminals" -ower transistors usually fail short circuit so should be easy to find the faulty one" 6inished -BU by 7yan Caurencia I4ve recently heard from 7yan Caurenciana in the -hilippines who has built himself a 12* !) power supply" Delow are images from 7yans power supply"

6inished -BU by )le(andro from *ene5uela Delow are some pictures from )le(andro in Caracas, *ene5uela" )le(andro4s power supply is used to drive his amplifier"

6inished -BU by )amer 7e5a from -a&istan Delow are some pictures from )amer 7e5a who built his 12* !)mp power supply and added water cooling"

Bome notes from )amer about his setup$ 6or better understanding, I have s&etched the inside of the heatsin&" #he body I got casted in )luminium from a casting shop" I smoothed the sides by myself" I used a 2mm thic& )luminium plate for the cover" Drilled : holes for the transistors and 2 for fi'ing" Drilled 2 holes for I%C=# and AU#C=#" Used 2 brass no55les +I%?AU#, with =po'y adhesive to ensure lea&8proof bonding" Used Bilicon 7#* caul& between the body and cover to form a gas&et" 3ept it overnight in a vice" Ane thing, I would li&e to share 88888888 #he 12* output should be collected right from the connecting point of all the CACC=C#A7B and the AU#-U# of C17812" -CD traces are not reliable for !) load" =ven the trace for the E7AU%D should be wide enough to withstand the high current" I had to reinforce the traces by soldering copper wire"