Smartphone charger using zener rectifier bridge

415

06:30:47

This zener rectifier bridge rectifies an AC Mains voltage to 5v for powering a mobile phone or Raspberry Pi .

Please do not build this circuit as a real circuit, as mains voltages can kill.

A zener diode works by conducting in both the normal ('forward') direction like a normal diode, but also in the reverse direction at its breakdown voltage (5.45v in this case). The resistor on the mains side reduces the current drop.

published 9 years ago

sircube

9 years ago

Theroretically, it works, but zener diodes that can withstand all that current are difficult to find and probably expensive. Also, I wouldn't try my phone on this thing, the output voltage is not stable enough.

sircube

9 years ago

And the output voltage of this may destroy your phone internal charging circuit, also.

rich11292000

9 years ago

Don't build this circuit because its just wrong

justinmh

9 years ago

Agreed, maybe try building a voltage regulator instead of whatever this is. Use regular diodes on the full wave bridge rectifier too. This circuit is too impractical. Also the main resistor has over 4 amps of current through it at 240 volts, that's almost 1000 watts of power being dissipated, incredible inefficient. I know you can buy 100 watt resistors as I've used them, but not sure 1000 watts exist. Use a transformer to step down the ac instead.

justinmh

9 years ago

If nothing else this would make a good heater since it dissipates 1000 watts.

Trys

9 years ago

Thanks for your comments. I really do appreciate them. So it's a phone charger that might blow up your phone that works as a room heater at the same time. Great!

justinmh

9 years ago

Yes, completely inefficient, don't build this.

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