Making a home made power supply for an Home-electronics Lab is the first thing an hobbyist can do. A simple +5VDC Power Supply is FYBSc text book circuit. So skipping that part, I would like to present the next best thing and that is An Electronic Crowbar.
A mechanical crowbar is a tool that consists of a metal bar with a single curved end and flattened points, often with a small fissure on one or both ends for removing nails or used as a lever. An Electronic Crowbar is not for removal of anything but it is for protection from excessive supply voltage to a load (like an IC).
To cater such need a fast switching device from the basket of power electronics, a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) aka Thyristor can be used. Its application is essentially to cause a short circuit for a sufficient time to cause the fuse or circuit breaker to open and protect the load. Whenever the voltage exceeds a specific limit, the gate of the thyristor energizes and triggers the thyristor. A large current is then drawn from the supply and it reduces the over voltage at the load.
The following circuit diagram illustrates the above concept.
A mechanical crowbar is a tool that consists of a metal bar with a single curved end and flattened points, often with a small fissure on one or both ends for removing nails or used as a lever. An Electronic Crowbar is not for removal of anything but it is for protection from excessive supply voltage to a load (like an IC).
To cater such need a fast switching device from the basket of power electronics, a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) aka Thyristor can be used. Its application is essentially to cause a short circuit for a sufficient time to cause the fuse or circuit breaker to open and protect the load. Whenever the voltage exceeds a specific limit, the gate of the thyristor energizes and triggers the thyristor. A large current is then drawn from the supply and it reduces the over voltage at the load.
The following circuit diagram illustrates the above concept.
