Question

What are the three basic elements inside a standard voltage regulator?

Answer 1

Basically, there are two types of Voltage regulators: Linear voltage regulator and Switching voltage regulator.

There are two types of Linear voltage regulators: Series and Shunt.There are three types of Switching voltage regulators: Step up, Step down and Inverter voltage regulators.Linear Regulator

Linear regulator acts like a voltage divider. In Ohmic region, it uses FET. The resistance of the voltage regulator varies with load resulting in constant output voltage.

Advantages of linear voltage regulator

Gives a low output ripple voltageFast response time to load or line changesLow electromagnetic interference and less noise

Disadvantages of linear voltage regulator

Efficiency is very lowRequires large space – heatsink is neededVoltage above the input cannot be increasedSeries Voltage Regulator

A series voltage regulator uses a variable element placed in series with the load. By changing the resistance of that series element, the voltage dropped across it can be changed. And, the voltage across the load remains constant.

Answer 2

Voltage regulator helps in maintaining a constant voltage level automatically.

• Electronic voltage regulators is known to be a simple voltage regulator that can be made from a resistor in series with a diode.
• Electromechanical voltage regulators is a voltage regulators which is easily accomplished by coiling the sensing wire to make an electromagnet.
• Automatic voltage regulator is used in power stations or in stand by power systems, will have automatic voltage regulators (AVR) to stabilize their voltages as the load on the generators changes.