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DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the faculty : Ch. Padmavathi
Designation : Lecturer in ECE
Branch : ECE
Institute : G.P.W, Nellore
Year/Sem. : III Sem
Subject : ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS - I
Subject Code : EC- 302
Topic : Power Supplies
Duration : 50 Mins.
Sub Topic : Operation of a series and shunt
type regulators
Teaching Aids : PPT slides , Scanned diagrams
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Objectives

On the completion of this topic the student will be


able to
• Explain the operation of series and shunt type
regulator circuits.

• List the advantages and disadvantages.

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What is a simple zener regulator?

Zener regulator will maintain constant voltage

across the load inspite of changes in load current or input

voltage

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Limitations of simple zener diode regulator

• It has low efficiency for heavy load currents

• Output voltage changes due to zener impedance

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Purpose of series voltage regulator

To overcome the limitations of a simple


zener regulator in a series regulator

• A transistor is utilized along with a zener diode.

• The transistor works as Emitter follower

• The Zener diode gives the reference voltage.

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Circuit of a simple series voltage regulator

VBE

VZ

Operation

Vout= VZ – VBE

Case (1): If output voltage decreases the increased


base emitter voltage allows transistor Q1 to conduct more
raising output voltage. So the output voltage is maintained
at constant level.
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Case (2): If output voltage increases the decreased
base to emitter voltage causes Q1 to conduct less
reducing output voltage. So output voltage
is maintained at constant level.

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Advantages of series voltage regulator

• Changes in zener current are reduced by a factor

• Effect of zener impedance is greatly reduced.

• So a stabilized output is obtained.

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Disadvantages of series voltage regulator

• Although the changes in zener current are reduced,

the output is not constant. It is because both VBE and

VZ decrease with increase in room temperature.

2. The output voltage cannot be changed easily

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Shunt voltage regulator

• It provides regulation by shunting current away from the

load to regulate the output voltage.

• Voltage drop across RS depends upon current supplied

to load resistor RL.

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Circuit of transistor shunt voltage regulator

Operation
VOUT = VZ+VBE
Case(1):
• If RL decreases the current through base of
Q1 reduces.
• So less collector current is shunted.
• So load current increases maintaining regulated
voltage across the load.
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Case(2):

• If RL increases current through base of Q1


increases

• More collector current is shunted

• So load current decreases maintaining regulated


voltage across the load

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Disadvantages

• A large portion of total current through RS flows through

Q1 rather than to the load.

• There is power loss in RS.

• There are problems of over voltage protection in the


circuit.

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Summary

• A transistor is connected in emitter follower mode in


series to the load.

• The zener regulator provides the reference voltage.

• A stabilized output is obtained across the series voltage

regulator.

• A shunt voltage regulator provides high current power

supplies.

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Quiz

1. The transistor in series voltage regulator acts


as
a) Switch

b) Reference

c) Emitter follower

d) None

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1. A transistor shunt regulator provides

a) Low voltage & high current

b) Higher voltages

c) Lower currents

d) None

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Frequently asked questions

3. Explain with neat sketch the operation of a series


voltage regulator?

5. Explain with neat sketch the operation of a shunt voltage


regulator?

7. List the advantages and disadvantages of a series


voltage regulator?

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