Design and build a dual input positive linear regulator

Abstract

Energy, the singular driving force that keeps the world moving till this very day. There are many forms of energy and the most used one in the world is electricity. There are many ways of generating electricity, by burning coal, fossil-fuel and natural gas to newer and cleaner methods like using solar-panels, wind-turbines and hydro-electric dams. Singapore has a total of 15 power stations generating and supplying electricity to its population of 5.6 million people. In Singapore, the main method of generating electricity comes from burning natural gas. Singapore also uses the type-G kind of power-plugs and outlets. The type-G kind of plug has 3 pins and a fuse incorporated[1] in it. From housing blocks to most places in Singapore the voltage that is given out by these power-outlets are usually 230V and the frequency is at 50Hz. A voltage regulator is an electronic circuit designed to keep the output voltage to the load at a constant voltage no matter what the load current is. The purpose of a voltage regulator is to maintain the output voltage at a constant voltage, regardless of how to input voltage and load current change. By keeping the voltage at a constant value, the voltage regulator also acts as a protection to the equipment. There are cases that the output voltage of 230V from the power-outlet is too high for the equipment or appliance to operate, to resolve this we need to step down the voltage from the power outlet to a lower voltage in order to use the equipment or appliance safely, certain electronics products and some very sensitive equipment that requires a constant amount of voltage and current, for these equipment the slightest of fluctuation in voltage or current could mean that the equipment is not functioning at the listed specification or might even damage the equipment. This is where a linear regulator comes into the picture.