Electronic crowbar for AC or DC lines


Posted on Aug 22, 2012

For positive protection of electrical or electronic equipment, use this against excessive supply voltage. Due to improper switching, wiring, short circuits, or failure of regulators, an electronic crowbar circuit can quickly place a short circuit across the power lines, thereby dropping the voltage across the protected device to near zero and blowing a fuse. The triac and SBS are both bilateral devices, the circuit is equally useful on ac or dc supply lines. With the values shown for Rl, R2, and R3, the crowbar operating point can be adjusted over the range of 60 to 120 volts dc or 42 to 84 volts ac. The resistor values can be changed to cover a different range of supply voltages


Electronic crowbar for AC or DC lines
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The voltage rating of the triac must be greater than the highest operating point as set by R2, II is a low power incandescent lamp with a voltage rating equal to the supply voltage. It may be used to check the set point and operation of the unit by opening the test switch and adjusting the input or set point to fire the SBS. An alarm unit such as the Mallory Sonalert may be connected across the fuse to provide an audible indication of crowbar action. (This circuit may not act on short, infrequent power line transients).




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