Blog

Experimenting with Flyback Transformers - Winner's Announcement

rscasny

What is Experimenting with Flyback Transformers? Flyback transformers are used in switched-mode power supplies, converters, inverters, and much more. They are a unique device, They function as an isolated inductor, storing energy in every cycle. (A t...
- 2 Feb 2024
All Final Blogs are with the Judges -- Experimenting with Flyback Transformers

rscasny

Just to let everyone know: all the final blogs are with the judges. I expect to announce the winners this week. Thanks for participating. Randall --element14 Community Team
- 27 Jan 2024
DC to DC Demystified - Summary - It Flies Back!

Anthocyanina

At the start of the challenge I had just a bit of knowledge about flyback transformers and converters from briefly exploring them in class, but from the day i saw the challenge announcement, it piqued my interest and my curiosity went all in in...
- 26 Jan 2024
Final - Magic Lightbox: Project Summary

javagoza

Table of Contents My motivation to participate: A gapped man studying gapped transformers Exploring Project Themes: Learning the Theory of Flyback Transformers The Clip that Inspired My Magic Lightbox Project System overview The Roadmap Encounterin...
- 25 Jan 2024
DC to DC Demystified - Blog 5 - Application description and part selection

Anthocyanina

I've been called weird a fair number of times for carrying a multimeter or screwdriver in my backpack to a social outing. I think that's just basic everyday stuff to carry around, but people just don't get it. Anyway! I decided that instead of trying...
- 24 Jan 2024
DC to DC Demystified - Blog 4 - Of common mode chokes and other transformers

Anthocyanina

In the previous blog I mentioned we were going to take a quick look at calculating common mode filters. Unfortunately, we're going to have to skip that bit for now as I was unable to get a complete understanding of how to design common mode filters, ...
- 24 Jan 2024
Blog 5 - Magic Light Box: Building The Prototype

javagoza

Disclaimer: The content presented in this blog showcases the results of conducted experiments. The schematics provided depict the components used in these experiments. The experimentation involved a commercial LED b...
- 23 Jan 2024
Blog 0: Introduction_Building an EMC-Optimized SMPS for PEMF Therapy

sunnyiut

Design Challenge: Experimenting with Flyback Transformers Title: EMC-Optimized SMPS for PEMF Therapy device by Kamrul Hussain Blog: 0 - Introduction Date: 23 Jan 2024 Introduction: Sorry for my late start. I received the kit vary late due to the cus...
- 22 Jan 2024
DC to DC Demystified - Blog 3 - Zener clamps and moving forward

Anthocyanina

Previously, we learned how to take care of the high frequency ringing using a primary side RC snubber across our switch, but there was still a voltage spike that, while for the test circuit is fine, can really get to dangerous levels if we were ...
- 22 Jan 2024
Blog 4 - Magic Light Box: DC/DC Flyback Converter Testbench and LED Dimmer Driver

javagoza

Table of Contents Learning and growing from mistakes. Designing power converters like a pro Improving the MOSFET driver Struggling with the Calculations. Feel Free to Skip This! Applying theoretical calculations and making things worse and the...
- 21 Jan 2024
Flybacks from the Ground Up – Part 6 (Final): “… Landing is Mandatory”

Gough Lui

My five optional blogs are in and it’s time to cap it off with a (mandatory) final blog, adhering to my “one blog a day” cadence to ensure I can deliver in time. As this blog needs to be standalone, it will be a slightly abridged su...
- 21 Jan 2024
Blog 2: Switching MOSFET's at +100kHz frequencies in high voltage environments - it's a precursor to getting Flyback Transformers to work properly.

BigG

Introduction Intentional instability. According to Wikipedia, this is a highly sought after feature in fighter aircraft design. I think, based on my experiments so far, I could say the same for flyback transformers! As with many other flyback transf...
- 20 Jan 2024
Flybacks from the Ground Up - Part 5: Going Back to Basics & Getting More Than I Bargained For

Gough Lui

After my hubris in the last posting leaving me with egg on my face, I decided I would need to go back to basics. After all, the saying is that you need to learn to walk, before you can run (or fly), so it’s time I try the most basic of flyback ...
- 20 Jan 2024
DC to DC Demystified - Blog 2 - Ring ring!? not today!

Anthocyanina

Previously we explored the very basics of getting a flyback converter up and running, but by the end of it, real world components showed us it wouldn't be so easy after all... But do not despair! Physics may have pulled a fast one on us, but we can u...
- 19 Jan 2024
Flybacks from the Ground Up - Part 4: Trying to Fly(back) & PLC Bode Plots

Gough Lui

After some rather anti-climactic abuse and safety tests which put me at ease, I decided it was time to fly even before I could walk so to speak … in the name of flybacks. After all, I got a late start to this challenge and time is running out,...
- 19 Jan 2024
Flybacks from the Ground Up - Part 3: Insulation Resistance, Teardown & Abuse

Gough Lui

Now that I’ve looked at the basics of flyback topology converters and performed some basic measurements, it’s time to start some experiments. But unlike most posts, somehow I woke up this morning and chose violence against flyback transfo...
- 18 Jan 2024
Flybacks from the Ground Up - Part 2: What’s a Flyback & LCR/Pulse/Bode Plot Measurements

Gough Lui

In the last blog, I mainly looked at the specifications and unboxing of the transformers included in this Experimenting With Design Challenge. In this section, I’ll be tackling questions about what a “Flyback” is and doing some basi...
- 17 Jan 2024
Flybacks from the Ground Up - Part 1: Introduction & Unboxing

Gough Lui

Thanks to element14 and Bourns for selecting me as one of the challengers for the Experimenting with Flyback Transformers Design Challenge. Power conversion is a key part of modern electronics designs and almost every low-power, low-cost, energy-effi...
- 16 Jan 2024
DC to DC Demystified - Blog 1 - Does it fly back?

Anthocyanina

This being my first blog, i'll begin with a short introduction: My name is Sara, I'm an electronics engineering student and electronics is also my hobby, I came across the element14 community when looking for help with a function generator, and have ...
- 10 Jan 2024
Blog 3 - Magic Lightbox: Understanding Flyback Converters.

javagoza

Table of Contents The maker's nightmare. Switched Mode Power Supplies SMPS and Linear Power Supplies Comercial SMPS Flyback Converters Regulation in flyback converters Choosing the victim. Creatively torturing an SMPS transformer. Experiment 1...
- 7 Jan 2024
Blog 2 - Magic Lightbox: Understanding Flyback Transformers. How to characterize them.

javagoza

Table of Contents To start, a little history of Bourns and Kaschke Components A quick look at the components manufactured by Kaschke Flybacks transformers Galvanic Isolation and Safety Standards Push-Pull Transformers vs Flyback Transformer Co...
- 25 Dec 2023
Blog 1 - Magic Lightbox: Smart LED Dimmer Flyback Driver Project Introduction.

javagoza

Introduction This marks my initial post introducing myself to the Experimenting with Flybacks Transformers competition, generously sponsored by Bourns and Element14. Bourns, an established American electronics company with over 70 years of experience...
- 25 Dec 2023
Blog 1: Transforming my understanding of flyback transformers, one hack at a time

BigG

Introduction We all start with an idea and a plan. I started with an inkling of what flyback transformers were about, having seen common chokes being used for isolated signal coupling, and I had an itch I wanted to scratch. I wanted to see if I could...
- 16 Dec 2023
Experimenting with Flyback Transformers - Optional Power Adapter

rscasny

Some of you requested the optional power adapter in your application forms. We have them now and will be shipping them to the participants that had requested them. Randall --element14 Community Team
- 11 Nov 2023
What Is So Special About a Flyback Transformer?

rscasny

What Is so special about a flyback transformer? The simple answer is how energy is stored in the gap of its core. Basically, it is a coupled inductor with a gapped core. During every cycle, the input voltage is applied to its primary winding. Energy...
- 29 Oct 2023