two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
(OP)
Hello all,
This is my first post here. So just a bit of background. I am NOT a fully educated Engineer. (read--Associates in Electronics with 25 years of experience) However, I do play one at work. So somtimes I ask pretty stupid questions.
Anyway, I have a project that is really perplexing me. I have a control module (Another company) that outputs TWO(2) 24VAC Sources and share a common. One source actuates a valve open, the other, Closed.
I need to interface OUR sensor to controll these two sources via a ucontroller. These 24VAC sources are the only avaliable source of power to the circuit. So I want to rectify them and use them to make a 5V source. Problem is that they are never on at the same time and they switch back and forth depending on what the controller module is telling the valve to do.
I have worked out the details but It requires two relays and two isolation transformers, and two bridge rectifiers.
Anyone got any ideas how to do this other then what I have come up with?
Any advise here is greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Bill12780
This is my first post here. So just a bit of background. I am NOT a fully educated Engineer. (read--Associates in Electronics with 25 years of experience) However, I do play one at work. So somtimes I ask pretty stupid questions.
Anyway, I have a project that is really perplexing me. I have a control module (Another company) that outputs TWO(2) 24VAC Sources and share a common. One source actuates a valve open, the other, Closed.
I need to interface OUR sensor to controll these two sources via a ucontroller. These 24VAC sources are the only avaliable source of power to the circuit. So I want to rectify them and use them to make a 5V source. Problem is that they are never on at the same time and they switch back and forth depending on what the controller module is telling the valve to do.
I have worked out the details but It requires two relays and two isolation transformers, and two bridge rectifiers.
Anyone got any ideas how to do this other then what I have come up with?
Any advise here is greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Bill12780





RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
You should probably check that the control module just switches between the two outputs and that there isn't a dead period in between where neither one is on. If there is, then you may need some significant capacitance to keep your supply up during that time, depending on how much current you're drawing from it.
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
You just use a fullwave rectifier. Which ever coil is energized provides half-wave power to your filter cap.
Your coils continue to be hooked up directly across the two outputs.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
GeekEE,
OK so "auctioneering diodes" I have never heard this term. I did a quick google and found mention of them for what looks to be a DC_DC converter. But nothing else..Can you give me a small brief education on this? Or possibly point me to the right website?
itsmoked,
"You just use a fullwave rectifier. Which ever coil is energized provides half-wave power to your filter cap."
I am confussed...I have no coils just three wires comming from a controller. I have NO IDEA what is happening in the controller. I belive that there is some delay in the switching but I would bet its pretty quick. I understand the need for the regulator and associated filter/transite caps etc.. But from your schematic I would need to hook both "Hots" to the one leg of the transformer and the "Neutral" to the other. I am not sure what that would do to the controller. If I knew what was going on in there I might could do this.
Right now I have one hot hooked to the coil of a relay and jumpered to the common contact I then drag the 24VAC through an isolation transfomer to seperate the grounds and then to the Bridge.
there are two of these circuits so that no matter what Hot goes live. It will rectify the voltage.
Could you please explain this a bit more?
Just so you know why I am asking this question is that I am currently using a 24VAC isolation transformer that is used in phones. Its the low end of the freq response is about 300hz and its getting a bit warm (running it at 60hz)and I am having a heck of a time finding a small isolation transformer that will suit my needs.
thanks for your input! (both of you!)
best,
Bill12780
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
When you have two supplies hooked up with diodes in that manner, the supply with the higher voltage will "win" and supply the current. Auctioneer diodes are usually used with two DC supplies (or a DC supply and a battery), but in this case it would work well to both rectify and choose between one supply or the other.
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Ah, but you seem to understand his "box" thingy better than me!
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
I disagree that an auctioneering diode is the same as rectifier diode, unless you mean that they are likely to be the same component type. The role in the circuit is different: auctioneering diodes are common in pure DC systems where a rectifier would have no purpose.
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Engineer..
Politician...
Lawyer...
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
So you're maybe one of those "I'm sorry I have to do this", types.
Hahaha.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
that is brilliant. I would have never thought to do it that way. (lack of formal education I would imagine)
I get the "auctioneering diode" thing now. I have used this before for batt/AC operated units. But nice term "to the highest bidder" / "highest current" I get it.
I am gonna build this up and see if it works. I am however gonna use a full bridge and put the diode on the DC supply. Has ScottyUK mentioned.
Will let you all know in a hour or so...
thanks for all your help!
Bill12780
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
The efficiency of the proposed schemes is so low that for every watt of 5V power you use, you are dissipating 5 watts.
You could use a 110V primary transformer at 24V you know.
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
logbook makes a good point about efficiency. Bill, if you use a linear regulator and you draw a significant amount of current, your regulator could be dissipating a lot of heat. If this is the case, you may need to investigate using a transformer or perhaps a switching regulator to make it more efficient. Do you know how much current you'll be drawing from your 5V supply?
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
I built the circuit and it smoked the rectifiers immediately and with out perjudice!
BUT...this idea lead me to exactly what logbook said. Then when I found the transformer I realized how I could do this with one bridge, one transformer and get the isolation I need.
I used a dual primary 115V/230 transformer. Instead of hooking the primaries as usual, I hooked one Hot to the top of the transformer and one to the bottom and used the two in the middle as the neutral. The transformer I have on hand is not the right ratio. But it proves my design.
I am not sure. But I think it has to have isolation from the two different grounds. (ac neutral and DC ground) Someone with more "Theory" then me might can answer that.
But at this point I think I have a resonable design. Thanks for all you guys input! Hope I can return the favor someday!
Best to all!
Bill12780
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Sounded good at first ... but one primary will strongly couple to the other. The ON circuit will drive the OFF circuit. If there is actually only one valve then you may get away with it.
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Your right. But each valve is controlled seperatly so there would be one of "my" circuits for each valve. (All hooked to the same sensor)
One thing I did forget to mention the HOTS are wired throught a relay that is self-firing. So each hot is physically disconnected when not in use.
Thanks for the input thought. I do appreciate a second, third or forth pair of eyes! I learned long ago no matter how smart you think you are---there is always someone smarter!
Bill12780
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
I don't see how two bridge rectifiers can possibly work.
You want to diagram your scheme Scotty? I want to see how you are going to sort out the two pseudo grounds.
You can't tie a bunch of separately derived DC returns together if they are powered from non-floated supplies.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Had assumed (and we all know where that leads!) that the two supplies were isolated. However what was I thinking of? Auctioneering diodes? If we assume that the supplies are isolated the bridges will self-auctioneer anyway, with the highest output hogging the load. Will scan a sketch in at work if I get time.
With the added information in Bill's last post we needn't worry about isolation. One PS with a changeover on the input. Just needs a big reservoir capacitor to ensure that the relay changes over without causing a dropout in the supply.
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
For weeks I'd been running the system this way.
I get it on site and mounted. Pick up the local extension cord plug it into my plug. Throw the switch in my hand. BAM! Bright aquamarine blue/green flash! What was that??!
I try to turn off the switch. It's welded closed. I'd let all the plasma out of the switch, with extreme prejudice, I might add. A breaker down the hall is tripped...
I had, of course, bonded the 120V Neutral to the safety grounds all over the box which was now mounted to a grounded 67,000lb steel machine. I look at the extension cord... The ground pin has been cut off. This allows it to be plugged into its outlet either way. Guess which way I got it.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: two 24VAC Sources to one 5VDC
Yes the scheme was with two bridges...I thought the same thing...."To many Grounds!" But I thought I will try it cause basically I am a hack. And what followed was that tell tell smell of burning semiconductor.
I do have the whole thing working. I am gonna try and post a schematic latter today so you can all see what I was doing for sure. AND to just get any opinions anyone may have.
and your right about the cap. I just did the math for the filter cap and doubled it (2200uf) seems to be fine. I only see a small "glitch" on my scope during the switch and my meter never even moves. (I am just using a toggle switch to simulate the control box right now.)
AND! I checked the +5VDC by running a different microcontroller circuit and it worked fine.
I will get that schematic up today sometime.
Thanks again for all your help!
Bill12780