gunrunnerjohn posted:And what Stan didn't mention is the fact that the filter capacitor typically used after the bridge stores the peaks, so that's where the peak voltage comes from. Stick a 100uf capacitor across the DC output and try that meter again.
Hi John, I went back to the work table to try your suggestion. Talk about FUN!
I had some capacitors on hand and selected a 100uf to put across the DC output and instantly let the "Magic Smoke" out of the cap as it was only rated for 10V as opposed to the 40V I saw when I squinted at the value printed on the side. POW! Those little guys are as loud as the old time cap pistol caps! (Get it?....CAP pistol. HA!)
Anyway, I then found a 100uf 35V cap and used it. The output value was indeed higher but not the ( X 1.4) factor I expected. I could read about 19.82 VDC on the meter which does validate the suggested higher output value. But in fact the meter would read that value for only a second and then after showing an assortment of other lower values and then it would lock up on a value of 1.
Since everything sparky is a mystery to me in general I called my experiment a success without further trials. What I don't get is if the statement by STAN2004:
"The 1.4 multiplier refers to the peak or maximum DC voltage after the bridge rectifier. Your meter only measures the average DC voltage. "
shows my meter only shows the "average" output value I assume that there are values that are higher and lower than the one shown but for maybe a minuscule period of time? What effect would the higher,average and lower values have on the LED strips if they were not protected by a voltage regulator such as the one I used in the original circuit? I'm guessing the strip would die a premature death.
Thanks for your input to my learning curve.
Mark
