The task: Take a DC boost converter controlled with with a PID loop. Input a 60Hz sine wave as the setpoint. This creates a 60Hz sine wave with a DC offset. Make another identical DC boost converter and slam them together across a resistive load. (See schematic). The end result is the DC voltage is cancelled out and the AC voltage is multiplied by 2.
I don’t like talking about this one. I was sprinting full speed for months. The goal: Get my electronics project in a peer-reviewed journal before I graduated from engineering school. I was on a mission and it was going to work. I had managed to take a 5V DC signal and crank it up to 41VAC RMS. The goal was 120VAC.
I had problems with a massive inductive spike on startup that confused the heck out of the PID loop to the point that I could never get the thing to start correctly. Damn causal systems! I created a massive capacitor bank to counter the massive inductive spike.
Then that stupid pandemic thing happened in 2020. I lost access to the university’s high end power supply needed to get this bird off the ground. In addition to a full load of senior engineering classes I was now spending 6 hours a day trying to convince a GRUMPY GRUMPY GRUMPY first grader to do his homework with me. (At-home learning works well….WHEN DONE CORRECTLY…but not for the little ones.)
I bought a 48V DC Meanwell PSU like you see for servers and such. I tried getting this to work at home. Working 18 hours a day pre-Pandemic was possible. My role as a father (and now first grade teacher) was not compatible. I chose to be a good dad. It stung. While comedians all over the world were endlessly ranting about their Netflix binges and ping pong table purchases, I was working myself beyond the absolute maximum and it wasn’t enough.
