An easy guide to merging power supplies from dual 12V to 24V

Mondo Digital Updated on 2024-01-30

First, a quick overview of the answers.

To get 24V from two 12V power supplies, you can connect the two power supplies in series. The specific operation is as follows: connect the positive pole of the first power supply with the negative pole of the second power supply, and then the negative pole of the first power supply is used as the negative pole of the whole circuit, and the positive pole of the second power supply is used as the positive pole of the whole circuit.

2. Detailed description.

The principle of power supply series connection

Power series refers to the connection of two or more power supplies in a way that connects the positive and negative electrodes end-to-end. In a series circuit, the total voltage is equal to the sum of the supply voltages, while the current is consistent. Therefore, by connecting two 12V power supplies in series, you can get a total voltage of 24V.

Required Materials:

The following materials are required for the power supply series:

1) Two 12V power supplies: Make sure the voltage output of these two power supplies is stable and the same.

2) Wire: used to connect the positive and negative poles of the power supply. It is recommended to use a well-insulated wire to ensure safety.

3) Insulating tape: After the connection is completed, it is used to wrap the exposed wire part to prevent short circuit.

Procedure

1) Turn off the power: Always make sure that all power is turned off before performing any circuit operation to avoid the risk of electric shock.

2) Connect the power supply: Connect the positive pole of the first power supply with the negative pole of the second power supply through a wire. Make sure the connection is secure and wrap the exposed portion of the wire with insulating tape.

3) Identify the positive and negative poles: Use labels or wires of different colors to identify the positive and negative poles of the entire circuit. The negative pole of the first power supply is the negative pole of the entire circuit, and the positive pole of the second power supply is the positive pole of the entire circuit.

4) Test voltage: After the connection is completed, use a voltmeter to test the voltage of the whole circuit. Under normal circumstances, a voltage of 24V should be measured.

Precautions

1) Safety first: When operating the power supply, it is important to pay attention to safety and avoid the danger of electric shock. Make sure to operate in a dry, well-ventilated environment and away from flammable materials.

2) Choose the right wire: choose the appropriate wire cross-sectional area according to the current size to prevent the wire from overheating and causing fire.

3) Check the quality of the power supply: Before going in series, check the quality of the two power supplies to make sure that they can work normally and the output voltage is stable.

4) Avoid short circuit: During the connection process, make sure that the positive and negative electrodes will not accidentally touch, resulting in short circuits. Wrap exposed wires with insulating tape for added security.

5) Test and verification: After completing the series connection, be sure to use a voltmeter to test the voltage of the entire circuit to ensure that the output voltage is the expected 24V. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the temperature of the power supply and wires to ensure that there is no abnormal heating.

Common problems and solutions

1) Voltage less than 24V: If the test finds that the voltage is less than 24V, it may be caused by the unstable output of one of the power supply voltages or poor wire connection. The solution is to check and replace the problematic power supply or reconnect the wires.

2) Power supply heating: If the power supply or wire is found to be abnormally heated during use, it may be caused by excessive current or insufficient cross-sectional area of the wire. In this case, stop using it immediately and check the circuit to ensure that it is safe before using it.

3. Summary and expansion.

Through the introduction of this article, we have learned the principle and operation method of how to use two 12V power supplies to obtain a 24V voltage in series. In practice, different supply voltages and quantities can be selected to be connected in series or parallel to meet specific voltage and current requirements. At the same time, in order to ensure the safety and stability of the circuit, we also need to pay attention to the selection of appropriate wires, check the quality of the power supply, and avoid problems such as short circuits. Hopefully, this article can provide readers with some help and guidance in power operation.

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