[CIRCUIT IDEAS]

Dual Polarity DEEPAK GUPTA

Power Supply SANJAY KUMAR

A power supply is the fundamental building block of dropout.

all but the simplest of electronic devices. It converts
the alternating current (AC) from our wall outlets
into direct current (DC) at some specified voltage. A
dual polarity power supply is capable of supplying
+/-DC voltage. Dual polarity power supply is
created mostly to power up operational amplifier
circuits and other circuits that require dual supply
voltage. The voltage is adjustable, requires a few
parts, and easy to build. The circuit design of this
dual polarity power supply is regulated with the use
of a positive (LM337) and negative (LM317)
voltage regulators.
In the above circuit, TX1 is the center tap
transformer. Each side can provide half of the
output capacity of the secondary side that they split.
It converts 240V AC to a lower value. Here we have
used a 24VCT (12-0-12) transformer, which will
supply a peak voltage of 12(1.414) = 16.97V to
the rectifiers.The peak output voltage should be
slightly higher than the desired regulated voltage so
as to compensate for diode drop and regulator
Diodes D1, D2, D4, and D5 form the rectifying
circuitry. The output of which is a pulsating DC
waveform.C1 and C2 are used for filtering the
output DC waveform. Whereas C3 and C4 are
used to improve the transient response and filter
high frequency line noise. Resistors R1-R4 set the
regulated output voltage. Both LM337 and LM317
are adjustable 3-terminal positive voltage
regulators, capable of supplying in excess of 1.5A
over a 2V to 37V output range and -2V to -37V
output range respectively.
The LM317 & 337 regulators develop 1.25V
across R1 and R3, respectively. This reference
voltage causes a constant current to flow through
the voltage-setting resistors R2 and R4 which
generates an output voltage approximately equal
to the following relationship:
Vout=1.25*(1+R2/R1)
D3 and D6 protect the regulator from damage in
the event the input is shorted.
Capacitors C5 and C6 improve the regulators'

D3

D1 LM317
3 2
V1 V0 +Vdc
A/W
D2 1 R1
120 C7 C9
C3 470uF 470uF
0.1uF
TX1 C1 C5 R2
2200uF 10uF 13K

GND
R4
13K
C2
2200uF
D5 C8
R3 C10
C4 C6 120 470uF 470uF
0.1uF 10uF
1

D4 A/W
2 3
V0 V1 -Vdc
LM337 D6
 [CIRCUIT IDEAS]

ripple rejection from 65dB to 80dB (typical) by output.

preventing ripple voltage from being amplified at
the output of the regulator.C7 and C8 are
electrolytic capacitor that stiffen the output voltage
and reduce output impedance. Capacitors C9 and
C10 filter any high frequency noise present at the
The other application of polarity power supplies are
Brushless DC motor testing, Aircraft ground
support systems, Hybrid vehicle systems, Water
treatment.