Secret Diagram

The simple short circuit and overload protector design presented here can be used for protecting valuable mains operated gadgets like amplifiers, TV sets, DVD players or any other similar appliance.Normally all sophisticated gadgets today incorporate an in built short circuit protector arrangement, yet still adding a more comprehensive external protection device could only benefit the connected system.

Moreover, for gadgets such as amplifiers which are home built this protection device could prove to be very effective and useful. Also for an hobbyist who prefers building electronic gadgets at home could be greatly benefited with the present idea.

The presented short circuit protector design works on a very basic principle and costs not more than a couple of dollars.

Let's learn the functioning details of the proposed circuit.

On applying power, the high current from the 220V input is dropped sufficiently by C1, rectified by D1 and filtered by C2 to feed the gate of the triac T1.

The triac conducts and switches ON the connected transformer primary thus switching ON the load which in this case is a power amplifier.

The transistor Q1 along with R1, R2 forms a current sensor stage.

R2 specifically is chosen such that it develops adequate voltage across itself at the specified dangerous high current threshold.

As usual the formula for determining R2 = 0.6/current(A)

As soon as the triggering voltage accumulates across R2, Q1 activates and sinks the gate voltage of the triac to ground making it switch off.

The regulation continues as long as the short or overload condition is not removed.

The above short circuit regulation ensures that the current level above the specified dangerous level is restricted safeguarding the precious devices associated with the connected amplifier.

If a latching feature is required for the above design, the emitter Q1 can be configured with an SCR and the SCR can be used for latching and switching off the triac.