15V Power Source ON delay circuit

Sep 102018

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15V Power Source ON delay

This 15V power source ON delay uses the well-known voltage regulator LM317 configured to have 15 volts in its output. This voltage source also uses a bipolar PNP transistor and an electrolytic capacitor, to achieve a delayed activation of the voltage regulator. See the image below.

This type of application is very useful when it is necessary to prevent a large amount of current from passing to the load when the voltage source is turned on.

How the 15V power source ON delay?

As the input voltage starts increasing at the Vin terminal of the voltage regulator, transistor Q1 sets the regulator pin Adj to zero volts. This is because the base of the transistor is practically connected to ground through the electrolytic capacitor C3, which initially is completely discharged.

At the beginning, the output voltage of the voltage source is the sum of the reference voltage of 1.25 V plus the voltage drop between the base and the emitter of the transistor. (Initially, V_CE = 0 volts)

As time passes, capacitor C3 begins to charge and eventually the voltage at the base of the transistor increases. Thus, the transistor Q1 enters the cut-off region, (there is no emitter-collector current) and the emitting collector voltage (V_CE = 13.75V)

At this time, the regulator operates normally and has 15 V regulated at its output. The output voltage is established by resistors R1 and R2. The semiconductor diode D is placed between the positive terminal of the capacitor C1 and the output Vout to provide a discharge path for the capacitor.