Prototype Input Current Controller Demonstration

A quick demonstration of the prototype input current controller. This is a buck type SMPS which uses a TL494 controller. The purpose of the circuit is to control the current coming into the SMPS in order to regulate the power being taken from a vertical axis wind turbine. If too much power is extracted, the turbine will stall, and if too little power is taken, power will be lost to drag. This video just shows the controller going through its paces using a stepped reference input. I am quite happy with the results and will be making a PCB soon. An ATTiny85 is used to generate the stepped reference signal and to provide a PWM signal to a charge pump used to bootstrap the MOSFET driver. A video detailing the design of the TL494 compensation circuit is in the works.