CurtZHP
Well-known member
Recently built an adjustable bipolar power supply with a separate 48VDC rail to keep on the bench for tinkering with audio circuits. (Schematic attached.)
This is based off of a fixed-voltage bipolar supply I've used successfully numerous times. All I really changed was the resistor network around each of the bipolar regulators (LM317 and LM337). I followed the datasheets and put a 120 Ohm resistor between the regulator's adjustment pin and output, with a 5K trimmer between that and ground.
Here's the problem....
The positive rail works fine. I can adjust its output anywhere from a few volts on up to about 35VDC.
The negative rail is the issue. I can adjust down to a couple volts, but the absolute highest it will go is about 11VDC. Input voltage is about +/- 37VDC. At first, I was blaming the trimmer, because that was a salvaged part from who-knows-where. Most of the other parts in this supply were purchased new for this project, including the LM337. I replaced the trimmer with a brand new one, and the result is the same.
I even tried putting a load on the supply to see if that mattered. It didn't. I also tried, just for grins, adjusting the positive trimmer while measuring the negative rail, just to see if there was some odd interaction going on. Didn't make any difference, which I suppose is a good thing.
Checked for shorts or any other such boo-boos.
At a bit of a loss. It's probably something stupidly simple.
Help?
This is based off of a fixed-voltage bipolar supply I've used successfully numerous times. All I really changed was the resistor network around each of the bipolar regulators (LM317 and LM337). I followed the datasheets and put a 120 Ohm resistor between the regulator's adjustment pin and output, with a 5K trimmer between that and ground.
Here's the problem....
The positive rail works fine. I can adjust its output anywhere from a few volts on up to about 35VDC.
The negative rail is the issue. I can adjust down to a couple volts, but the absolute highest it will go is about 11VDC. Input voltage is about +/- 37VDC. At first, I was blaming the trimmer, because that was a salvaged part from who-knows-where. Most of the other parts in this supply were purchased new for this project, including the LM337. I replaced the trimmer with a brand new one, and the result is the same.
I even tried putting a load on the supply to see if that mattered. It didn't. I also tried, just for grins, adjusting the positive trimmer while measuring the negative rail, just to see if there was some odd interaction going on. Didn't make any difference, which I suppose is a good thing.
Checked for shorts or any other such boo-boos.
At a bit of a loss. It's probably something stupidly simple.
Help?