Superpower compared to a Shunt Regulator

All the flavor with no calories! If heat is measured in calories, Superpower uses very few calories compared to a shunt regulator. The shunt we measured looks like the one here: http://www.tnt-audio.com/jpg/ph_21.5_reg.jpg. Components are on the bottom and the top is mostly 2 heat sinks. This model has a maximum output current of about 220mA as you can see below.

Beyond the size and heat issues, shunt regulators also need several volts of overhead at Vin, known as drop out. This one is no exception, with a drop out of 4V to 5V.

Ripple Rejection


Superpower vs. Hynes Ripple Rejection


Superpower's extreme output isolation again delivers better ripple rejection than any other regulator, even a shunt. This graph shows the level of AC output voltage compared to an input sine wave superposed onto the DC value of Vin, so the lower the value the better the performance. The shunt regulator has rejection (PSRR) in the -100dB range across the audio band, and also had 2nd and 3rd harmonics that are not shown here that are in the main audio band. Superpower has -115dB at very low frequencies such as those of a mains power supply. This gives about a factor of 6 advantage to Superpower!

Dynamic performance


The Superpower has low noise comparable to the shunt as you can see in the photos below. Keep in mind however, power supply noise is a secondary consideration in amplification systems—it's well known that the primary contributor to noise is the amplifier input noise and not the supply noise.

The measurements were made by pulsing a power transistor to sink 200mA from a Hynes and from a SPJ78 Superpower. Superpower Vout=5V, shunt Vout=15V (it can't go as low as 5V).

Superpower, 200mA pulse

Superpower 200mA dynamic response
5V SPJ Superpower at 200mA. Bottom trace shows Vload across a ½Ω load resistor. Top trace shows Vout to ground. Notice the fast transitions, clean settling and low noise.


Superpower, 1A pulse

Superpower 1A dynamic response
The SPJ78 can easily supply 1 amp of output current. Bottom trace is Vload across a ½Ω load resistor, and vertical scale is 400mA/div.


Shunt Regulator, 200mA pulse

Hynes 200mA dynamic response
Shunt delivering 200mA. Bottom trace shows Vload across a ½Ω load resistor. Top trace shows Vout to ground. The response is very fast and clean and noise is very low.


Shunt Regulator, 250mA Pulse

Shunt 250mA dynamic performance
Paul Hynes shunt regulator when maximum current is exceeded. Notice that an attempt to get more than approximately 220mA results in failure to regulate Vout. Bottom trace shows 100mA/div.


NOTICE

This site is being gradually updated. If you have any problems please email super@belleson.com

The Industry Standard SPX

Order now from our store.

  • 5V to 30V output
  • World's lowest output impedance
  • Superb ripple rejection (135dBV)
  • Instant step response
  • Extreme low noise
  • TO-220 footprint
  • No thermal pad needed!

High Voltage!

Tube lovers—SPHV is BACK!

  • Variable output 5V to 450V
  • Up to 500mA output current
  • Super low 0.5V drop-out at 100mA
  • Small TO-220 footprint!
  • Low output impedance
  • Fast response
  • Low noise

Belleson accepts credit card payments and PayPal

SPHP—1000 Watts for your music server!

SPHP, a 10A Superpower with adjustable output voltage from 5V to 100V

  • Same low noise
  • Same blazing step response
  • Same great ripple rejection.
Just lots more current and much higher output voltage. For sale on our order page See more information in the data sheet here.

Build a power supply

A PCB and parts list for building a compact dual positive or positive+negative power supply are on this new page.

Transformer Calculator!

Use the Belleson Transformer Calculator to calculate the minimum Vrms voltage of a transformer for your Superpower based supplies.

It's Official

We're proud to announce the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent 8,294,440 to the Superpower design.

Use the Superpower regulator in...

  • Headphone amps
  • DACs
  • Buffers
  • Clocks and reclockers
  • Preamps
  • Microphone preamps
  • Phono stages
  • Phono motors
  • Tube preamps and input stages
  • Line powered guitar effects boxes
  • Anywhere an extremely clean, quiet, dynamic power source is needed