How does 2N3055 work here?
Good day,all
In a lot of power supplies the main transformer has several outputs, which are switched via a relay when the supply output exceeds a certain voltage.
Below is a Mastech HY1803 psu schematic - the SK1 relay switches the transformer outputs, while the schematic around the U2A opamp handles the switching after the output voltage exceeds 5V.
The question is - why is that switch needed? Am I understanding it right that it is just to lower the transformer output voltage when the voltage on the psu output is lower than 5V and lower the 2N3055 dropout voltage and, therefore, the power dissipation? Are there any other reasons to do that?
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