Can I connect 2 LM317 regulators to dual supply rail?

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My question is if I can connect 2 independent LM317 based 24 volt power supplys with one of the supply's plus and other's minus to get dual power supply config of -24v, 0v, +24v power supply.

I tried doing it and one of the regulator smoked. Logically it appeared to me that it should work. What am I doing wrong.

Is this the reason a LM337 exists?

Need some clarity.

Cheers
 
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My question is if I can connect 2 independent LM317 based 24 volt power supplys with one of the supply's plus and other's minus to get dual power supply config of -24v, 0v, +24v power supply.

I tried doing it and one of the regulator smoked. Logically it appeared to me that it should work. What I am doing wrong.

Is this the reason a LM337 exists?

Need some clarity.

Cheers

You need to use transformers with separate 20- 22v, 0v , and 20-22, 0v
not a centre tap.
see carlosfm schematic and recommendations:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/chip-amps/56106-lm338-regulated-snubberized-psu-audio-amplifiers.html

Cheers / Chris
 
if I can connect 2 independent LM317 based 24 volt power supplys with one of the supply's
plus and other's minus to get dual power supply config of -24v, 0v, +24v power supply.
Is this the reason a LM337 exists?

This is possible, if you have two isolated secondaries, instead of just one with a center tap.
If so, make two identical floating 24V regulator circuits, one on each secondary.
Then connect the +24V output of one to the common of the other.
This point is connected to the system ground. The remaining two output nodes will be at the
+/- 24V that you want. The LM337 can be used for the case of one winding with a center tap.
 
Thanks. What I used is a fairly standard variable regulator using LM317 including diode protection for C1 and C2 in the generic schematic. The front for each regulator board is a onboard bridge rectifier.

Two of such boards are being fed by a single 24-0-24 centre tapped transformer. Each board is sharing one leg of the centre tap.

I will figure out a way to load the schematic.

Cheers.
 
Two of such boards are being fed by a single 24-0-24 centre tapped transformer. Each board is sharing one leg of the centre tap.

That can't work. The "negative" regulator circuit is being shorted between its input hot and output hot terminals by the positive regulator circuit,
which has a direct connection between its input common and output common terminals.

Using two positive regulators for a bipolar supply requires two isolated secondaries. Then it's like connecting two batteries in series, no problem.
 
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But my question still remains...

A three terminal regulator (of either polarity) has a direct connection between the input common
and the output common. This means that connecting the two input commons of two regulators
together (as with a CT secondary winding) requires complementary regulators, because the
output commons must also be connected together to make a bipolar supply.
 
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That can't work. The "negative" regulator circuit is being shorted between its input hot and output hot terminals by the positive regulator circuit,
which has a direct connection between its input common and output common terminals.

Using two positive regulators for a bipolar supply requires two isolated secondaries. Then it's like connecting two batteries in series, no problem.

Understood. I thought the bridge rectifier in front of each regulator board will isolate the centre tap from presenting as a short. Looks to me it should work with 2 different windings.

Thanks
 
I thought the bridge rectifier in front of each regulator board will isolate the centre tap
from presenting as a short. Looks to me it should work with 2 different windings.

With a bridge rectifier, both ends of the winding involved have to be free to flip around in polarity
for the rectifier to work right. Connecting one end of the winding somewhere constrains the circuit
too much, and the circuit then cannot function properly.
 
I can't upload my pic via my phone. (It was an ugly cut-n-paste job anyway).
I will try and provide value by keeping it less than 1k words.🙂
So we have a ct transformer, connected to a bridge rectifier. The center-tap is 0V gnd - that conductor extends to the output. And we have + and - coming out from the bridge. So that is 3 terminals for PSU output. Two filter caps across in the usual manner.
Now on the positive rail, just past its filter cap, insert LM317 and two set resistors.
Where the adj pin/resistor connects to the 0V line, move right and insert another LM317 and its set resistors. This one's adj pin/resistor connects to the - rail.
There you have it. Hope you can help. Sometimes these little mysteries can bug me.
 
I can't upload my pic via my phone. (It was an ugly cut-n-paste job anyway).
I will try and provide value by keeping it less than 1k words.🙂
So we have a ct transformer, connected to a bridge rectifier. The center-tap is 0V gnd - that conductor extends to the output. And we have + and - coming out from the bridge. So that is 3 terminals for PSU output. Two filter caps across in the usual manner.
Now on the positive rail, just past its filter cap, insert LM317 and two set resistors.
Where the adj pin/resistor connects to the 0V line, move right and insert another LM317 and its set resistors. This one's adj pin/resistor connects to the - rail.
There you have it. Hope you can help. Sometimes these little mysteries can bug me.

Where's the path for the return current of the 2nd regulator?

Mike
 
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