# Square wave voltage regulator

I wanted to build a simple amplifier for a square wave generator with the following configuration:

The presence of the amplifier is crucial since with my 12Ω load the output peak current may be near to 2A.

My main problem with this configuration is that my square wave generator is (and must be, for my project) adjustable. So, I can choose its amplitude value and set it from 0 to 20V, while the voltage supply is 24V.

Since the voltage supply is 24V, there will be a huge voltage drop between collector and emitter terminals, which will become heat.

Do you have an alternative configuration which avoids this problem?

It's exactly the same problem of a general linear voltage regulator. In such a case it's solved by choosing a PWM switched mode regulator. But that's true for a DC voltage regulator. Is there a similar configuration for a square wave voltage regulator?

• Is the load purely resistive? Does the frequency vary? – Andrew Morton Apr 5 at 8:37
• Resistive Load, constant frequency – Kinka-Byo Apr 5 at 8:39
• "Do you have an alternative configuration which avoids this problem?" Yes, PWM. In PWM the transistor is either fully off so $P = VI = V\times 0 = 0$ or fully on so in your case $P = 0.2 \times 2 = 0.4 \ \text W$. (0.2 V transistor saturation voltage and 2 A). That's why it's used so much. With your scheme at 12 V out you'll have $P = VI = 12 \times 1 = 12 \ \text W$. (All voltages in the calculations are across the transistor.) – Transistor Apr 5 at 8:53
• @Transistor Can you tell me how can I use PWM for a square wave regulation? – Kinka-Byo Apr 5 at 11:26
• Maybe, if you can tell us what it is you are making and what the 12 ohm load represents. Edit all the details into the question. – Transistor Apr 5 at 11:38