determining current use of circuit

[tempus fugit]

Hey all;

This something I've wondered about for some time now. If I want to check the
DC current consumption of a circuit powered by, say, +15v, all I need do is
insert an ammeter in series with the circuit. Easy enough. How do I
determine what the consumption of a dual supply circuit is though (i.e.,
+/-15v)? Do I insert the ammeter at a positive point in the circuit and at
a - point in the circuit and add the 2? Or can I just insert an AC ammeter
in between the xformer 2ndary and the rectifier circuit?
On that subject, If I have a xformer rated at 200mA, I assume that is an AC
current rating. Will measuring the AC current draw (by inserting the ammeter
before the rectifier circuit) give me the total current load on the xformer,
or do I need to include the DC current as well?

Thanks

 

[Robert C Monsen]

"tempus fugit" <toccata@no.spam.ciaccess.com> wrote in message
news:h0alc.46755$bQ1.24@nntp-post.primus.ca...

Hey all;

This something I've wondered about for some time now. If I want to check
the
DC current consumption of a circuit powered by, say, +15v, all I need do
is
insert an ammeter in series with the circuit. Easy enough. How do I
determine what the consumption of a dual supply circuit is though (i.e.,
+/-15v)? Do I insert the ammeter at a positive point in the circuit and at
a - point in the circuit and add the 2? Or can I just insert an AC ammeter
in between the xformer 2ndary and the rectifier circuit?
On that subject, If I have a xformer rated at 200mA, I assume that is an
AC
current rating. Will measuring the AC current draw (by inserting the
ammeter
before the rectifier circuit) give me the total current load on the
xformer,
or do I need to include the DC current as well?

Thanks

Consider a circuit with +15, 0, and -15 rails. Depending on the load between
the rails, the current will take different paths. For example, if you have a
15 ohm load between +15 and 0, and no load between the 0 and -15 rails, then
the current will travel out of the +15 terminal of your PS, back into the 0
terminal.

If, on the other hand, you now add a 15 ohm load between the 0 and -15 rail,
then the current will now travel out of the +15 back into the -15, and no
current will pass through the 0 terminal.

Thus, the total DC current is really the maximum of the 15 to 0 and the 0
to -15 current, not the sum.

Regards,
Bob Monsen

 

[tempus fugit]

Thanks Bob.

OK..... so how do I measure that?


"Robert C Monsen" <rcsurname@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:53clc.16866$0H1.1573656@attbi_s54...

"tempus fugit" <toccata@no.spam.ciaccess.com> wrote in message
news:h0alc.46755$bQ1.24@nntp-post.primus.ca...
Hey all;

This something I've wondered about for some time now. If I want to check
the
DC current consumption of a circuit powered by, say, +15v, all I need do
is
insert an ammeter in series with the circuit. Easy enough. How do I
determine what the consumption of a dual supply circuit is though (i.e.,
+/-15v)? Do I insert the ammeter at a positive point in the circuit and
at
a - point in the circuit and add the 2? Or can I just insert an AC
ammeter
in between the xformer 2ndary and the rectifier circuit?
On that subject, If I have a xformer rated at 200mA, I assume that is an
AC
current rating. Will measuring the AC current draw (by inserting the
ammeter
before the rectifier circuit) give me the total current load on the
xformer,
or do I need to include the DC current as well?

Thanks




Consider a circuit with +15, 0, and -15 rails. Depending on the load
between
the rails, the current will take different paths. For example, if you have
a
15 ohm load between +15 and 0, and no load between the 0 and -15 rails,
then
the current will travel out of the +15 terminal of your PS, back into the
0
terminal.

If, on the other hand, you now add a 15 ohm load between the 0 and -15
rail,
then the current will now travel out of the +15 back into the -15, and no
current will pass through the 0 terminal.

Thus, the total DC current is really the maximum of the 15 to 0 and the 0
to -15 current, not the sum.

Regards,
Bob Monsen

 

[Jamie]

sine you have 2 sept. outputs on your power supply it should be the
combined current.


tempus fugit wrote:

Hey all;

This something I've wondered about for some time now. If I want to check the
DC current consumption of a circuit powered by, say, +15v, all I need do is
insert an ammeter in series with the circuit. Easy enough. How do I
determine what the consumption of a dual supply circuit is though (i.e.,
+/-15v)? Do I insert the ammeter at a positive point in the circuit and at
a - point in the circuit and add the 2? Or can I just insert an AC ammeter
in between the xformer 2ndary and the rectifier circuit?
On that subject, If I have a xformer rated at 200mA, I assume that is an AC
current rating. Will measuring the AC current draw (by inserting the ammeter
before the rectifier circuit) give me the total current load on the xformer,
or do I need to include the DC current as well?

Thanks

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: determining current use of circuit
From: "tempus fugit" toccata@no.spam.ciaccess.com
Date: 5/2/2004 12:16 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <h0alc.46755$bQ1.24@nntp-post.primus.ca

Hey all;

This something I've wondered about for some time now. If I want to check the
DC current consumption of a circuit powered by, say, +15v, all I need do is
insert an ammeter in series with the circuit. Easy enough.

True -- except the voltage burden of the ammeter may change the current draw.

How do I
determine what the consumption of a dual supply circuit is though (i.e.,
+/-15v)? Do I insert the ammeter at a positive point in the circuit and at
a - point in the circuit and add the 2?

Circuits are specified for current draw on the + and the - separately. When
choosing a power supply for your application, choose one with a current
capability that's more than the greater of the two. For instance, if your
circuit uses 0.85A @ +15V and 0.01A at -15V, get a +/-15V power supply rated at
more than 0.85A.

Or can I just insert an AC ammeter
in between the xformer 2ndary and the rectifier circuit?
On that subject, If I have a xformer rated at 200mA, I assume that is an AC
current rating. Will measuring the AC current draw (by inserting the ammeter
before the rectifier circuit) give me the total current load on the xformer,
or do I need to include the DC current as well?

Thanks

If you're using a full-wave rectifier circuit like this (view in fixed font or
M$ Notepad):

Full Wave Rectifier Power Supply ____
| |
.-----o-----|78XX|----o-----o+
.-------. | | |____| |
-. ,-------o~ +o--' --- | ---
)|( | | --- | ---
)|( | | | | |
) ,---. | | o-------o-------o-----oGND
)|( | | | | | |
)|( GND | | --- | ---
-' '-------o~ -o--. --- _|__ ---
| | | | | | |
'-------' '-----o-----|79XX|----o-----o -
|____|


Buy a transformer with an AC current rating 1.8 times the larger of the two DC
current outputs.

Good luck
Chris