Additional FPC Lab 3 & 4 hints and guidelines
The circuits given to you for Lab 3 and 4 are reference circuits.
You are free to justifiably replace components to meet the given design parameters.
To assist you, here are additional hints/guidelines (which means you are free to consider them and/or follow
alternative solutions):
1] The MOSFET and Gate Driver.
Consider the following part of Lab 3 schematic that has been coloured over in Yellow:
By carefully analysing the IRF520 MOSFET Module for Arduino, and it's schematic below, we realise that we can
replace the entire yellow section with the Arduino module.
Therefore, we can completely forgo the need for a Gate Driver and its setup components.
The next thin to realise it the Arduino Module has a n-channel MOSFET and the original La=b 3 schematic has a p-
channel MOSFET.
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The following diagram shows how to use a n-channel MOSFET for a buck converter:
Now you need to make some further adjustments to your original schematic to make it work with you Arduino
Module. Skip to page 3 if you do not want to figure it out on your own.
2] ] Inductor Coils
It is very difficult to find specific values for inductors regardless of COVID import restrictions/delays.
However, toroidal inductors are the easiest component to modify by yourself.
Get laminated copper wire and an appropriate ferrite core to and assemble your own inductor or modify an existing
one.
Either use precise calculations (taught in class) for the core or use the cheap RCL metre in the Lab to measure and
adjust the inductance or use a more elaborate method to measure inductance.
3] Diode(s)
First thing to do is download the datasheet for each diode and identify the following:
What type it is. (i.e. Signal, Rectification (power), Schottky...etc) as you will need to replace it with a diode
built for a similar purpose.
Next, identify the voltage and current capabilities of the Diode.
Then use the following as a guide:
We can never change the voltage characteristics of a diode. (i.e. If the forward bias voltage across it can handle
should be 10V then the replacement must support the same or higher value)
However, if we need it to allow 5A across it and we only have a model that supports 2A we can use 3 (or even 4 for
extra precaution) diodes in parallel to allow that current to flow through them collectively without burning out (these
are simple makeshift design modification that are acceptable as long as you clarify and understand what you are
doing).
For MBRS340 Diode, We can use MUR820 or MUR840. (but you may have to order from arrow.com which will take
one week to arrive)
Better alternative is to use UF5400 or UF5401...etc..
They are available at Silvertones, Colombo 02
http://www.silvertonesonline.com/index.php?sect=pricelist#res
4] Truly understand your circuits. Do not attempt to build exactly what's given as that is not expected and most
likely impossible given the availability of components.
Use the web and simulation tools to approximately understand your modifications.
Also check for components with Unitec and AsiaElectronics in Colombo as they are major suppliers apart from online
distributors.
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IRF520 available at: https://tronic.lk/product/irf520-mosfet-module-for-arduino
Arduino Uno Fast PWM library: https://github.com/maxint-rd/FastPwmPin
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Using a similar approach, you can use the same components for Lab 4 using the following image as a hint:
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