DC Voltage Sources

Prepared by: ALEXANDER T. MONTERO, REE, RME

1
Batteries
Batteries are the most common dc source.
Chemical interaction between the electrodes
and the electrolyte creates the voltage of the
battery.
They are made in a variety of shapes, sizes, and
ratings, from miniaturized button batteries
capable of delivering only a few microamps to
large automotive batteries capable of delivering
hundreds of amps. 2
Common sizes are the AAA, AA, C, and D.
Batteries Types
Primary batteries - cannot be recharged like
the some of the flashlight batteries
Secondary batteries – are rechargeale
batteries like the automobile battery

3
Types of Batteries and Their Applications
Alkaline
• This is one of the most widely used, general-purpose primary
cells available.
• Alkaline batteries are used in flashlights, portable radios, TV
remote controllers, cassette players, cameras, toys, and so on.
They come in various sizes as depicted in Figure 2–12.
• Alkaline batteries provide 50% to 100% more total energy for
the same size unit than carbon-zinc cells.
• Their nominal cell voltage is 1.5 V.

4
Types of Batteries and Their Applications

Carbon-Zinc
• Also called a dry cell, the carbon-zinc battery was for many
years the mostwidely used primary cell, but it is now giving
way to other types such as the alkaline battery.
• Its nominal cell voltage is 1.5 volts.

5
Types of Batteries and Their Applications

Lithium
• Lithium batteries (Figure 2–13) feature small size and long life
(e.g., shelf lives of 10 to 20 years).
• Applications include watches, pacemakers, cameras, and
battery backup of computer memories.
• Several types of lithium cells are available, with voltages from
of 2 V to 3.5 V and current ratings from the microampere to
the ampere range.

6
Types of Batteries and Their Applications

Nickel-Cadmium
• Commonly called “Ni-Cads,” these are the most popular,
general-purpose rechargeable batteries available.
• They have long service lives, operate over wide temperature
ranges, and are manufactured in many styles and sizes,
including C, D, AAA, and AA.
• Inexpensive chargers make it economically feasible to use
nickel-cadmium batteries for home entertainment equipment.

7
Types of Batteries and Their Applications

Lead-Acid
• This is the familiar automotive battery. Its basic cell voltage is
about 2 volts, but typically, six cells are connected internally to
provide 12 volts at its terminals.
• Lead-acid batteries are capable of delivering large current (in
excess of 100 A) for short periods as required, for example, to
start an automobile.

8
Battery Capacity
• Battery capacity is specified in ampere-hours (A-h).
• The ampere-hour rating of a battery is equal to the
product of its current drain times the length of time that
you can expect to draw the specified current before the
battery becomes unusable.
• For example, a battery rated at 200 A-h can theoretically
supply 20 A for 10 h, or 5 A for 40 h, etc.
• The relationship between capacity, life, and current drain
is

9
Battery Capacity

10
Electronic Power Supplies
• Electronic systems such asTV sets,VCRs, computers, and so on,
require dc for their operation.
• It obtains power from the commercial ac power lines by
means of built-in power supplies convert the incoming ac to
the dc voltages required by the equipment.
• Power supplies are also used in electronic laboratories.

11
Solar Cells
• Solar cells convert light energy to electrical energy using
photovoltaic means.
• The basic cell consists of two layers of semiconductor
material. When light strikes the cell, many electrons gain
enough energy to cross from one layer to the other to create a
dc voltage.

12