Maker Pro
Maker Pro

how to figure out the power consumption of a circuit

Kstarloomo

Jun 28, 2012
23
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
23
Hi, hw do I cal. The power consumption of a circuit? Take a single transistor switch for example
 

Jotto

Aug 24, 2012
120
Joined
Aug 24, 2012
Messages
120
On a transistor there is a loss of 0.7v at the junction. I believe this is the general figure that most use.

I might not be totally accurate but one of the geniuses here will correct me.
 

KrisBlueNZ

Sadly passed away in 2015
Nov 28, 2011
8,393
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
8,393
P = V I. Power (in watts) is voltage (volts) multiplied by current (amps).
So you need to measure, or calculate, the current going into the circuit, and multiply it by the voltage applied to the circuit.
You may also need to measure (or calculate) the current in different situations. The current consumption of most circuits depends on their state, which usually changes over time.

You also need to clearly define WHAT you're measuring.
For a common emitter switch, there are two current flows: the current into the base, and the current into the collector. You calculate them separately.

The base current is determined by the base series resistor. (The base-emitter resistor, if present, doesn't really come into the equation.) The current in the base resistor can be calculated using Ohm's Law, I = V / R, where V is the voltage across the base resistor (which is equal to the voltage applied to the base resistor minus about 0.7V for the transistor's base-emitter voltage) and R is the resistance of the base resistor.

The collector current is determined by the load supply voltage and the load resistance, in the same way. The voltage across the load is equal to the load supply voltage minus about 0.2V (the collector-emitter saturation voltage of the transistor).

The base-emitter voltage and the collector-emitter saturation voltage are higher if the transistor is a Darlington.

If the base current and the collector current both come from the same supply, you can add them together, then calculate the total power consumption by multiplying the total current by the supply voltage.

I hope this answers your question. If not, ask a more detailed and specific question.
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
Yes then how about for an ic, take 555 for an example.

if you want specific, for your particular circuit, put an ammeter in series with the power supply rail and measure the current drawn
Power (W) = V x A

if just a general power consumption then look at the datasheet for the IC

Dave
 

Kstarloomo

Jun 28, 2012
23
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
23
if you want specific, for your particular circuit, put an ammeter in series with the power supply rail and measure the current drawn
Power (W) = V x A

if just a general power consumption then look at the datasheet for the IC

Dave

thanks
 
Top