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zorgrian
modified 11 years ago

9 volts DC To 100 volts DC using a 555 timer and an IRF8030 - this will power a Valve amplifier using 12AU7

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13:34:31
UPDATE: I have built this. It works well except that the frequency is of the pulses that come from the 555 must be increased above 15KHZ or higher! I found out that if the frequency is below the upper end of the human hearing range then no amount of smoothing with capacitors will cure the problem! That is to say that if you intend to use this to feed a 12AU7 valve or other valve then you will hear a horrible noise if the frequency is not increased!!!! Description: The 555 is set-up as an astable multivibrator with variable mark-space ratio control. The output of the 555 is fed into a MOSFET switching transistor the function of which is to dump the charge built-up in the inductor momentarily to ground. This in turn produces a massive spike in voltage which then passes through the diode. In reality I would use a Schottky diode, but the EC standard simulated diode seems to work fine here. Once the pulses have passed through the diode, they are smoothed-out or integrated to create a pseudo DC current. The potentiometer on the 555 allows the control of the high voltage produced by this circuit by varying the pulse width or mark-space ratio. WARNING! Do not build this with a IRF510 MOSFET. It will blow up in your face! I am now happily under-sampled! EveryCircuit? Not so accurate at lower sample rates! EveryCircuit? Another annoyance is the need to adjust n-MOS FETs to unrealistic KP values to make a simple circuit like this work.
published 11 years ago
jstynen
11 years ago
I know that once you add a time based source the simulation speed button disappears. It's only possible when only DC were used. A lot of people will add an oscillator using 555 or discrete parts in this case.
hurz
11 years ago
I wish you happy undersampling.
zorgrian
11 years ago
Thanks @jstynen! With your help I was able to get this little circuit simulation working
hurz
11 years ago
Almost the same result you can get with a standard rectangle EC source. No need for undersampling (for this simple example). Keep it up.
zorgrian
11 years ago
Yeah! I had a similar result with the EC pulse source BUT, I wanted to see the output (pumped or boosted) voltage climb a bit quicker. Mainly to see the effects of adjusting mark-space ratio (or pulse thickness), without having to wait 5 - 10 minutes for the result. I see that this thing is great for quickly putting together ideas BUT I have to say that Iḿ not at all sure why the simulation speed affects the output accuracy so much. If you don't believe me try it for yourself with this example. Increment the simulation speed (having resent the simulation) and see how much voltage is produced! It bottoms out around 60 volts below a certain rate (I have not bothered to find out what this is exactly)
zorgrian
11 years ago
As I have said someplace else here, I also do not understand why the simulation speed and the EC non DC sources cannot be implemented at the same time. IN terms of programming and CPU overhead, for sure this is no big deal!
zorgrian
11 years ago
At 847uS/S (sim speed) this example bottoms-out around 41 volts. This is not realistic at all. In reality this circuit would easily fire-up a DC potential of over 100 volts!
zorgrian
11 years ago
Another thing! I have had to set the KP value of the FET at 100mA/V²
hurz
11 years ago
First you have to understand how a simulatot works (roughly not exact) try to find some info on web for "subsampling" or undersampling. Maybe you will understand.
zorgrian
11 years ago
I have been using SPICE and QUCS, these are simulators but they don operate real-time in the same graphic manner. This is really great for visualizing ideas and, I think, even better for sharing ideas. However, there is no way this thing gets anywhere near the precision possible with SPICE or QUCS
zorgrian
11 years ago
And i'v noticed that some people use EC exclusively for making elaborate 7 segment LED signs. They must spend all day doing stuff like that. Amazing! Maybe it should be considered as a new form of art?

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