So as with most hobbies in my life they end up taking me down many other paths. My Saltwater aquarium hobby has me digging into electronics. I know enough to be dangerous. I've learned a lot in the past few weeks too.
I'm looking to get around 32 to 50VDC from 110AC Cheaply..but I don't want super terrible efficiency but I'm looking for a cheaper way than an AC transformer. I'm looking for about 1.5amps. Voltage isn't critical as it will be regulated by an LM317 Later on. I did the math on bringing the voltage down with a bunch of LM317 but I'm looking at loosing 60watts by the time I hit 40-50 and Also I don't know how well the lm317 IC will take to unsmoothed FW Bridged DC. Further more its WAY cheaper to smooth the voltage after I get it down to where I need it at 50v vs 120v. Here is a rough example of what I was thinking of doing.
I'm just looking for input as to how much waster power there is just in the converting the 120AC to 50DC like this. Is there a better method that is still cheap? What sort of drain or efficiency am I looking at clamping the voltage like this?
![Constant current supply.jpg Constant current supply.jpg](https://www.electro-tech-online.com/data/attachments/36/36458-279978c0a19dab893e3d10020e964454.jpg)
I'm looking to get around 32 to 50VDC from 110AC Cheaply..but I don't want super terrible efficiency but I'm looking for a cheaper way than an AC transformer. I'm looking for about 1.5amps. Voltage isn't critical as it will be regulated by an LM317 Later on. I did the math on bringing the voltage down with a bunch of LM317 but I'm looking at loosing 60watts by the time I hit 40-50 and Also I don't know how well the lm317 IC will take to unsmoothed FW Bridged DC. Further more its WAY cheaper to smooth the voltage after I get it down to where I need it at 50v vs 120v. Here is a rough example of what I was thinking of doing.
I'm just looking for input as to how much waster power there is just in the converting the 120AC to 50DC like this. Is there a better method that is still cheap? What sort of drain or efficiency am I looking at clamping the voltage like this?
![Constant current supply.jpg Constant current supply.jpg](https://www.electro-tech-online.com/data/attachments/36/36458-279978c0a19dab893e3d10020e964454.jpg)