I am hoping someone can shed some light on a concern I have regarding a dual polarity power supply that I am constructing. I am naturally a nervous wreck when it comes to big things such as capacitors potentially blowing up in my face. Having recently made a very amateur mistake and getting pelted in the throat by a 10uf cap wired backwards, it has caused me to be even more cautious and understanding when dealing with caps 100's of times larger. I have pretty much completed the + voltage rail of the supply, and it is working as expected. Before I wire up the the - voltage portion, I just wanted to get some clarification. I am basing this design on what seems to be a tried and true circuit, so I have no doubts it is safe. In the schematic attached, I have circled in "red" the area of concern.
Given a +24v and -24v and 2 10000uf 50v smoothing capacitors. It appears from the schematic that the potential across the 2 caps is 48v RMS. With peak voltages, it is well over 50v (the capacitor rating). Would not both caps charge to that potential? I know the answer is half... but this is where I'm looking for clarification.
Is it because of Kirchoff's Law? ex.
Vab = Vc1 +Vc2
or
48v = 24v + 24v
Also, one other question pertaining to this circuit. I am using a toroidal transformer with 2 output coils on the secondary. I have tied the middle 2 wires together for a center tap. Is it perfectly safe and reasonable to attach this center tap to ground?
Thank you so much for any help!![/B]
Given a +24v and -24v and 2 10000uf 50v smoothing capacitors. It appears from the schematic that the potential across the 2 caps is 48v RMS. With peak voltages, it is well over 50v (the capacitor rating). Would not both caps charge to that potential? I know the answer is half... but this is where I'm looking for clarification.
Is it because of Kirchoff's Law? ex.
Vab = Vc1 +Vc2
or
48v = 24v + 24v
Also, one other question pertaining to this circuit. I am using a toroidal transformer with 2 output coils on the secondary. I have tied the middle 2 wires together for a center tap. Is it perfectly safe and reasonable to attach this center tap to ground?
Thank you so much for any help!![/B]