Skip to content
  • MySensors
  • OpenHardware.io
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo
  1. Home
  2. Hardware
  3. AC -DC transformer sourcing

AC -DC transformer sourcing

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
19 Posts 7 Posters 3.0k Views 5 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • jeremushkaJ jeremushka

    For a specific project of wall switch light without Neutral wire, i need to design a specific AC-DC tranformer.
    I have the specifications for the conception of the bobin... However, i do not find any good supplier to produce it at a affordable price.
    Or need to produce in big quantity. Without to know if it is working well, i would like to produce few samples only.

    Does anyone design his own transformer 220V - 5V ? any suggestions of supplier at good price?

    A Offline
    A Offline
    APL2017
    wrote on last edited by APL2017
    #10

    @jeremushka Before helping you out here are a few thoughts to share:

    1. I have to disappoint you, AC-DC transformer does not exist. By definition, transformer is an AC to AC device, so most likely you are looking for a power supply (PS) to convert 220VAC to 5VDC.
    2. How do you expect to power PS without neutral wire? Use ground wire instead? in USA and most likely in other countries, ground wire must not be load carrying wire. There are few designs with very low power consumption, I believe less than 2-3mA, designed & FM certified to eliminate shock in case of failures. I guesstimated 2-3mA because typical GFCI trip point is 4-5mA, so GFCI allows ground current leak of less that 4mA.

    If you don't care about 2) at risk of electrical shock, lawsuit, etc. advise:

    1. What is expected power consumption
    2. What form factor required (PCB module, panel module, wall plug, etc.)
    monteM 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • poordomP Offline
      poordomP Offline
      poordom
      wrote on last edited by
      #11

      Good Morning Jeremushka,

      I was looking at purchasing an AC/DC transformer, I found one, see the following: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC-DC-110V-220V-to-3-3V-700mA-2-3W-Switching-Switch-Power-Supply-Buck-Converter/32829978591.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.1d582e0ecZHxyR

      I understand you may want to build your own, but I figured for the price of the above unit, could be a viable alternative.
      Dom

      jeremushkaJ 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • A APL2017

        @jeremushka Before helping you out here are a few thoughts to share:

        1. I have to disappoint you, AC-DC transformer does not exist. By definition, transformer is an AC to AC device, so most likely you are looking for a power supply (PS) to convert 220VAC to 5VDC.
        2. How do you expect to power PS without neutral wire? Use ground wire instead? in USA and most likely in other countries, ground wire must not be load carrying wire. There are few designs with very low power consumption, I believe less than 2-3mA, designed & FM certified to eliminate shock in case of failures. I guesstimated 2-3mA because typical GFCI trip point is 4-5mA, so GFCI allows ground current leak of less that 4mA.

        If you don't care about 2) at risk of electrical shock, lawsuit, etc. advise:

        1. What is expected power consumption
        2. What form factor required (PCB module, panel module, wall plug, etc.)
        monteM Offline
        monteM Offline
        monte
        wrote on last edited by
        #12

        @apl2017 said in AC -DC transformer sourcing:

        How do you expect to power PS without neutral wire? Use ground wire instead?

        Obviously he expects to power PS like it is powered in schematics he provided and like it is powered without neutral wire in every retro-fitting smart switches and dimmers that are present on the market and, apparently are certified. For example mentioned above Livolo switch. How do you expect to retro-fit those into the wall if there is no neutral wire, because mechanical switch that were installed there before didn't need it?

        A 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • monteM monte

          @apl2017 said in AC -DC transformer sourcing:

          How do you expect to power PS without neutral wire? Use ground wire instead?

          Obviously he expects to power PS like it is powered in schematics he provided and like it is powered without neutral wire in every retro-fitting smart switches and dimmers that are present on the market and, apparently are certified. For example mentioned above Livolo switch. How do you expect to retro-fit those into the wall if there is no neutral wire, because mechanical switch that were installed there before didn't need it?

          A Offline
          A Offline
          APL2017
          wrote on last edited by APL2017
          #13

          @monte Well, yes there are few designs with very low power consumption, I believe less than 2-3mA, designed & FM certified to eliminate shock in case of failures. I guesstimated 2-3mA because typical GFCI trip point is 4-5mA, so GFCI allows ground current leak of less that 4mA. That is why it is important to specify expected power consumption.

          monteM 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • T Offline
            T Offline
            TSD
            wrote on last edited by
            #14

            Hi Jeremushka,

            Are you designing your own AC/DC power supply? For low power levels (<20W), typically flyback converters are used.

            If you want to build your own flyback converter, you could use this controller IC:
            https://ac-dc.power.com/products/tinyswitch-family/tinyswitch-4/

            And this transformer: https://www.soselectronic.com/products/myrra/74010-48847

            If you're looking for a complete solution, the Aliexpress converter suggested by @poordom looks good, the 5V version can be found here and is even cheaper:
            https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5V-700mA-3-5W-AC-DC-Precision-Buck-Converter-AC-220v-to-5v-DC-step-down/32677330307.html?gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.99734.0&scm_id=1007.13339.99734.0&scm-url=1007.13339.99734.0&pvid=a8341147-314f-4c36-aec2-aa63ad557688

            It's dirt cheap, I don't have any clue about its quality. I'm sure it'll work, I just don't know about its safety level.

            jeremushkaJ 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • axillentA axillent

              a few examples without transformer

              0_1536473904000_livolo-2wire.png

              0_1536474055292_2wire_switch.png

              0_1536474067832_example-capacitor-mcu-triac-2wire.jpg

              jeremushkaJ Offline
              jeremushkaJ Offline
              jeremushka
              wrote on last edited by
              #15

              @axillent Thanks. The dfirst diagram is interesting. I do not understand the idea of having a buzzer here (grey part). But the violet schematic is good. Seems it used a divider to compare the value of the voltage in order to determine when we can disconnect the load on positive wave.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • poordomP poordom

                Good Morning Jeremushka,

                I was looking at purchasing an AC/DC transformer, I found one, see the following: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC-DC-110V-220V-to-3-3V-700mA-2-3W-Switching-Switch-Power-Supply-Buck-Converter/32829978591.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.1d582e0ecZHxyR

                I understand you may want to build your own, but I figured for the price of the above unit, could be a viable alternative.
                Dom

                jeremushkaJ Offline
                jeremushkaJ Offline
                jeremushka
                wrote on last edited by
                #16

                @poordom Thanks. I will check about that

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • T TSD

                  Hi Jeremushka,

                  Are you designing your own AC/DC power supply? For low power levels (<20W), typically flyback converters are used.

                  If you want to build your own flyback converter, you could use this controller IC:
                  https://ac-dc.power.com/products/tinyswitch-family/tinyswitch-4/

                  And this transformer: https://www.soselectronic.com/products/myrra/74010-48847

                  If you're looking for a complete solution, the Aliexpress converter suggested by @poordom looks good, the 5V version can be found here and is even cheaper:
                  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5V-700mA-3-5W-AC-DC-Precision-Buck-Converter-AC-220v-to-5v-DC-step-down/32677330307.html?gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.99734.0&scm_id=1007.13339.99734.0&scm-url=1007.13339.99734.0&pvid=a8341147-314f-4c36-aec2-aa63ad557688

                  It's dirt cheap, I don't have any clue about its quality. I'm sure it'll work, I just don't know about its safety level.

                  jeremushkaJ Offline
                  jeremushkaJ Offline
                  jeremushka
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #17

                  @tsd Perfect! It is what i was looking for. For the moment, i am using using this IC controller (iW1700-01) https://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/sites/default/files/EBC10010_Reference_Design.pdf. I have a transformer that i can use for flyback typology.
                  Now, i need to know think how to switch the load without Neutral Wire.

                  Here in France the standard is that we do not have Neutral wire connected to the light switch. We have only the Live wire (Phase L) and the second wire connected the light and the Neutral wire is connected to the Light to the main electrical board.
                  Neutral wire is used for the wall socket. It is why, it is a little bit complex to design it.

                  Then, the second issue is that in our installation most of the time we have the concept of "va et vient" where 2/3 buttons are connected together at different places of the room to switch off/on the same light.

                  Today in the market LIVOLO can do that, with "push button". or i have found FIBARO company where you can install the module directly behind the switch without to change any buttons. but it is very expensive about 50 euros per wall switch.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • A APL2017

                    @monte Well, yes there are few designs with very low power consumption, I believe less than 2-3mA, designed & FM certified to eliminate shock in case of failures. I guesstimated 2-3mA because typical GFCI trip point is 4-5mA, so GFCI allows ground current leak of less that 4mA. That is why it is important to specify expected power consumption.

                    monteM Offline
                    monteM Offline
                    monte
                    wrote on last edited by monte
                    #18

                    @apl2017 well, in Europe we have 30ma and 10ma GFCI's for use in home networks, didn't see lower. Does Z-wave have such low power consumption?

                    @jeremushka really interesting question. How doesn't GFCI trip with those switches installed? Or where current leaks? Could you measure your livolo's switch consumption? I am curious.

                    EDIT: Ok, so I've got my thoughts together. Let's take the lowest leakage consumer GFCI - 10ma, 220v (Europe). That's 2,2Watts of power available to leak without tripping the cut-off. 2,2W for 3.3V that is needed for typical mysensors sensor is 0,66A. And typical board will consume not more than 25mA during transmission if I am correct. So we can have around of 25 mysensors smart switches sitting on one 10ma GFCI without tripping it. I'm not sure if we have to divide it by 2 for the only one half of syn wave?

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • T Offline
                      T Offline
                      TSD
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #19

                      @jeremushka
                      Indeed, it is a complex way to switch on a lamp, but if you only want to change the switch, I guess it's what you need to do. It would be much easier to insert something at the light bulb, as your neutral is available there.
                      My French is not that good, but I think you can solve your "va et vient" by changing the NO relay in your reference schematic with a NO/NC relay (SPDT switch).

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      Reply
                      • Reply as topic
                      Log in to reply
                      • Oldest to Newest
                      • Newest to Oldest
                      • Most Votes


                      22

                      Online

                      11.7k

                      Users

                      11.2k

                      Topics

                      113.1k

                      Posts


                      Copyright 2025 TBD   |   Forum Guidelines   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service
                      • Login

                      • Don't have an account? Register

                      • Login or register to search.
                      • First post
                        Last post
                      0
                      • MySensors
                      • OpenHardware.io
                      • Categories
                      • Recent
                      • Tags
                      • Popular