400 Watts Xenon Flash Strobe Project

Hello guys,

I have designed a 400 Watts Xenon Flash Strobe Circuit, I want someone to verify the circuit because Im very unsure about the output that I get.

Design Reference :

Inductor Sizing : Click Here
SMPS Circuit : Click Here

Design Consideration :

Chosen Battery : 12V 7Ah SLA Battery ( Input to Boost Circuit )
Boost Circuit : To deliver 420V 1A

Circuit Schematic : **broken link removed**

I have selected the following Inductor for my Boost Circuit :



Specification :

Model :MSS1278T-124
Mount : SM
Core Mat: Ferrite
Shielded : Yes
Inductance Value : 120.0 uH
DCR max ohm :0.1823 ohm
Isat: 3.58 A
Ipk :1.9 A

Inductor Sizing Output :**broken link removed**

SMPS Output : **broken link removed**

Boost Circuit Config :

Freq : 500 Khz
Duty Cycle :97.32%

I dont know whether the above circuit delivers about 400 Watts power from a 12V 7Ah Battery.I have heard that at such high duty cycle doesnt work .

I tried simulating this in Orcad Pspice but was unsuccesful.

Please express your views and opinions on it.

Thank you in advance.

Some numbers don't fit. Not considering losses, you get an average input current of 420W/12V=35A. The inductor has to be designed for this current. A 7 Ah battery won't be well suited to deliver 35A (or 40-45 A, considering realistic losses).

Apart from this point, a boost converter isn't a good choice for a 1:35 voltage ratio due to high switching losses. A push-pull transformer converter would be a more reasonable option.

FvM said:

Some numbers don't fit. Not considering losses, you get an average input current of 420W/12V=35A. The inductor has to be designed for this current. A 7 Ah battery won't be well suited to deliver 35A (or 40-45 A, considering realistic losses).

Apart from this point, a boost converter isn't a good choice for a 1:35 voltage ratio due to high switching losses. A push-pull transformer converter would be a more reasonable option.

Click to expand...

What if I limit the current to 1A by using a current limiting resistor ?
Will this circuit work to deliver the designed load ?

Depends on flash rate you want the strobe to work at. You can stepup the voltage and discharge from a LOW ESR plastic cap easily with very low current and wait or higher current for faster recharge cycle time. But the power in the Xenon tube is determined by 1/2 CV^2 and the Energy power-time constant in Watt-Seconds is the figure of brightness ( or Joules) . The ESR of the tube and its energy rating in W-sec determine the peak brightness and duration of the pulse.

To simulate the sun, you need 1 kW-Sec or 1 KJ reflected over 1 sq m. (m^2)