INTRODUCTION :

An AC powered unregulated power supply usually uses a transformer to convert the voltage
from the wall outlet (mains) to a different, nowadays usually lower, voltage. If it is used to
produce DC, a rectifier is used to convert alternating voltage to a pulsating direct voltage,
followed by a filter, comprising one or more capacitors, resistors, and sometimes inductors, to
filter out (smooth) most of the pulsation. A small remaining unwanted alternating voltage
component at mains or twice mains power frequency
(depending upon whether half- or full-wave rectification is used)
ripple is unavoidably superimposed on the direct output voltage.

WORKING :
Regulated DC power supplies provide accurate DC voltage, which are derived from AC mains.
These DC supplies are cheaper in nature than the DC sources from battery. Such supplies
provide constant voltage irrespective of load variations for which they are designed. DC power
supplies are used extensively in various electronics laboratories, industries and communication
departments to feed DC voltage to the electronic modules..These power supplies are generally
customs made and preset for fixed
voltages like 5V/10V/15 Volts etc.
Reduction of AC Mains
This is achieved by using a device known as a Transformer an electromagnetic device
consisting of an ferrous iron core which has a large number of turns of wire wound
around it, known as the Primary Winding. The ends of these turns of wire being
connected to the input voltage (in this case Mains AC).A second number of turns of wire
are wound around the Primary Winding, this set being known as the Secondary
Winding.The difference between the number of turns provides us
with a way of reducing (in our case) a high AC voltage to a lower one.


Conversion of AC to DC
To convert our now low AC voltage to DC we use a Rectifier Diode connected to the
Secondary Winding.As our low AC voltage will be working at a frequency of 50Hz (Mains
AC frequency) it is desirable to reduce the inherent hum on this to a lower level. This is
achieved by a technique known as Smoothing (Ironing out the bumps in the AC). A
simple way to reduce the hum is to use Full Wave Rectification. Today this is usually
done by four diodes in a bridge configuration known as a Bridge Rectifier. (This can be
four individual diodes or a dedicated self contained package)
Regulation of Output Voltage
The Electrolytic Capacitor is a device capable of storing energy the amount of energy
and the time it remains stored depending on the value and also known as
Filter. Their values in this case being in the region of 470uF to 2000uF depending on the
application and the amount of current required from the output of the unit. One of
these capacitors is connected across the DC output of the rectifier diode(s) or bridge,
this capacitor also providing an extra degree of smoothing the output waveform. The
second capacitor is connected via a low value, medium to high wattage resistor, which
assists in limiting the current demand.

Voltage Regulator
A voltage regulator is designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage level . A
voltage regulator may be a simple "feed-forward" design or may include negative
feedback control. It may use an electromechanical mechanism, or electronic
components. Depending on the design, it may be used to regulate one or more AC or DC
voltages.loops



Schematic:



DATA SHEET OF REGULATOR (L7812cv) :



CONCLUSION :
SO at the end our variable dc power supply is completed which give variable dc volts and it
ranges from 5 to 20v. The main purpose to make this project is to make a regulated power
supply which converts AC to DC on a low budget, this project works on small amount of
voltages. We investigated that such supplies provide constant voltage without interruption. We
also investigated that the basic tool to convert AC to DC is BRIDGE RECTIFIER. Hence, it is
proved that by using the process of rectifying, filtering and regulation we are able convert
AC to DC very easily.