Limiting in-rush current at start up.

hifileslie · 7th September 2002, 07:51 AM

I am in UK (240v AC) and am designing a power amp psu with a 560va torroidal transformer with 30v secondaries and 40,000uf smoothing caps. What value current limiting device (thermistor)would I need to limit the inrush current at switch on, but not limit the amps peak output( approx 100w into 8ohms) Thank you.

supernet · 7th September 2002, 09:22 AM

Elektor magazine got one soft start circuit in their previous issues. It got four 10 ohm series resistors and relay to bypass them after some time.

I am using this circuit to power 1500VA toroid and works fine.

Supernet

TheFettler · 11th September 2002, 07:34 AM

for a 560va transformer I wouldn't bother unless the psu caps are huuuge .....

I've been using a 650va toroidal psu for years ( about the last 15 or so ) without any failures of fuses or psu components ( use slow-blow fuses, or they _will_ fail....)

if it really worries you , or you have a massive cap bank, or very expensive caps , have a look at this site. they have a number of ideas:

http://sound.westhost.com/project39.htm

HTH

ray

TheFettler · 11th September 2002, 07:42 AM

...another point , you specify a power output of 100W into 8R.

with a 560va tranformer and 40,000 uF caps you should never reach a point where any thermistor is going to affect the voltage rails. even with a really inefficient amp design the full-power current draw is never going to reach the point where it exceeds the rating of the tranny.

you can probably get away with using thermistors in each rail to the caps , this'll halve the loading on each and still keep the initial charging current down.

the magnetic inrush current won't be too bad for a 560va toroidal transformer.

ray

7th September 2002, 07:51 AM	#1
hifileslie diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002	Limiting in-rush current at start up. I am in UK (240v AC) and am designing a power amp psu with a 560va torroidal transformer with 30v secondaries and 40,000uf smoothing caps. What value current limiting device (thermistor)would I need to limit the inrush current at switch on, but not limit the amps peak output( approx 100w into 8ohms) Thank you.

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7th September 2002, 09:22 AM	#2
supernet diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Europe	Elektor magazine got one soft start circuit in their previous issues. It got four 10 ohm series resistors and relay to bypass them after some time. I am using this circuit to power 1500VA toroid and works fine. Supernet

11th September 2002, 07:34 AM	#3
TheFettler diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: south yorkshire, UK	for a 560va transformer I wouldn't bother unless the psu caps are huuuge ..... I've been using a 650va toroidal psu for years ( about the last 15 or so ) without any failures of fuses or psu components ( use slow-blow fuses, or they _will_ fail....) if it really worries you , or you have a massive cap bank, or very expensive caps , have a look at this site. they have a number of ideas: http://sound.westhost.com/project39.htm HTH ray

11th September 2002, 07:42 AM	#4
TheFettler diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: south yorkshire, UK	...another point , you specify a power output of 100W into 8R. with a 560va tranformer and 40,000 uF caps you should never reach a point where any thermistor is going to affect the voltage rails. even with a really inefficient amp design the full-power current draw is never going to reach the point where it exceeds the rating of the tranny. you can probably get away with using thermistors in each rail to the caps , this'll halve the loading on each and still keep the initial charging current down. the magnetic inrush current won't be too bad for a 560va toroidal transformer. ray