PFC Switching Power Supply Design

I’ll implement the custom SR footprint behavior in-place by converting Q3/QSR1 to use the large exposed drain pad as the single routable drain connection, removing the problematic split drain pad routes, then rerouting and checking DRC.
Implemented the custom Q3/QSR1 drain treatment and rerouted the affected SR nets.
What changed:
  • Disabled the small duplicate drain pads D_1–D_4 on Q3 and QSR1.
  • Left the large exposed drain pad D_5 active as the single merged drain region.
  • Deleted and rerouted affected SR nets.
  • Re-ran DRC and router preflight.
Result:
  • Q3/QSR1 no longer appear in router preflight warnings.
  • The original Q3/QSR1 multi-drain footprint issue is resolved.
  • Remaining DRC is reduced but not fully clean: 3 airwire trace artifacts, 3 dangling-trace warnings, and 7 overlapping-copper errors remain, now mostly outside the Q3/QSR1 merged-drain issue.
Next best step: clean the remaining non-SR trace/via overlap artifacts, then rerun full DRC and final creepage review.
Clean DRC and review
Fix remaining artifacts
Run final creepage
Check power routing
Update routing notes

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Project Specification — 400Hz Isolated PFC Power Supply
Project Overview
Status: Draft
Design an isolated AC-DC switching power supply for 120–230 VAC, 400 Hz input with two regulated DC outputs: 12 VDC at 10 A and 5 VDC at 5 A. The AC input must be isolated from the DC outputs. The 12 V and 5 V outputs do not require isolation from each other and will share the secondary return.
Intended Use
  • Production-intent power supply design for a 400 Hz AC source.
  • Likely aerospace/defense/industrial 400 Hz environment; exact compliance target remains to be confirmed.
  • User is experienced with production PCB design, so architecture should be suitable for manufacturable hardware rather than a hobby-grade supply.
What the Device Should Do
  • Accept 120–230 VAC input at 400 Hz.
  • Provide reinforced or safety-rated isolation between AC input and all DC outputs.
  • Deliver 12 VDC at 10 A continuous.
  • Deliver 5 VDC at 5 A continuous.
  • Maintain a shared secondary ground between the 12 V and 5 V outputs.
  • Use power-factor-correction front end unless later requirements show passive/no-PFC is acceptable.
Main Features
  • AC input protection and EMI filtering.
  • Rectified high-voltage DC bus.
  • Active boost PFC stage targeting approximately 380–400 VDC bus.
  • Isolated primary-to-secondary DC/DC stage.
  • Main regulated 12 V rail.
  • Non-isolated secondary-side synchronous buck from 12 V to 5 V.
  • Overcurrent, overvoltage, thermal, inrush, and fault protection.
System Architecture

Diagram


"120–230 VAC, 400 Hz Input" "Fuse / MOV or TVS / Inrush Limiter" "EMI Filter" "Bridge Rectifier" "Active Boost PFC" "~390 VDC Bulk Bus" "Isolated DC/DC Converter" "12 VDC / 10 A Main Output" "Secondary Synchronous Buck" "5 VDC / 5 A Output" "Secondary Return"
Hardware Subsystems
AC Input / Protection
  • Fuse or circuit protection sized from final input current and fault analysis.
  • Surge protection appropriate to the source environment.
  • Inrush limiting for high-voltage bulk capacitor charging.
  • Common-mode and differential-mode EMI filter.
  • Safety-rated spacing and components on the primary side.
Rectification and PFC
  • Full bridge rectifier feeding an active boost PFC stage.
  • Target HV bus: nominally 380–400 VDC.
  • PFC controller and boost components must be selected against 400 Hz input operation, low-line input current, thermal limits, and EMI.
Isolated DC/DC Stage
  • Converts HV bus to isolated 12 V secondary rail.
  • Candidate topologies: LLC resonant, two-switch forward, active clamp forward, or phase-shift/full-bridge depending on final controller/reference design availability.
  • Flyback is likely marginal for 145 W continuous output and should not be the default unless a proven design/controller supports the required power and thermal margin.
5 V Rail
  • Derive 5 V / 5 A from the isolated 12 V rail using a synchronous buck converter on the secondary side.
  • 5 V output shares ground with 12 V output.
Interfaces and Connections
  • AC input connector: 120–230 VAC, 400 Hz.
  • DC output connector: 12 V, 5 V, shared secondary return.
  • Optional signals to consider: PWR_GOOD, inhibit/enable, remote sense, chassis/earth connection, fault output.
Power and Runtime Expectations
  • 12 V rail: 12 V × 10 A = 120 W.
  • 5 V rail: 5 V × 5 A = 25 W.
  • Total DC output: 145 W.
  • Estimated total input power: ~160–175 W depending on efficiency.
  • Design target recommendation: size magnetic, semiconductor, thermal, and protection parts for at least 175–200 W electrical stress margin.
Power Tree and Power Budget

Table


Rail / StageVoltageCurrentPowerNotes
12 V output12 VDC10 A120 WMain isolated rail
5 V output5 VDC5 A25 WBuck-derived from 12 V secondary
Total outputs145 WContinuous stated load
12 V source equivalent including 5 V buck12 V~12.3 A~147 WAssumes ~92% buck efficiency for 5 V rail
AC input estimate120–230 VAC~0.75–1.5 A RMS~160–175 WDepends on efficiency/PF and line voltage
Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations
  • Production-oriented PCB with primary/secondary isolation barrier.
  • Creepage and clearance must be designed to applicable safety standard and pollution/altitude category.
  • Use safety-certified parts for fuse, X/Y capacitors, optocouplers/digital isolators, transformer insulation system, and input protection.
  • Layout must be reviewed for primary high-current loops, PFC switching loop, transformer isolation, EMI, thermal paths, and secondary high-current copper.
Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements
  • None required unless a digital PFC/controller or telemetry/control interface is selected.
Physical Design Expectations
  • Board size, height, mounting, airflow, chassis/earth bonding, and thermal limits are TBD.
  • High-voltage primary and isolated secondary should be clearly partitioned.
  • Keepout/slot strategy may be needed along the isolation barrier.
Important Design Decisions
  • Confirmed: AC input isolated from DC outputs.
  • Confirmed: 12 V and 5 V outputs do not need isolation from each other.
  • Confirmed: PFC controller is TI UCC28064A / UCC28064ADT.
  • Confirmed: isolated DC/DC topology is active-clamp forward for lower-risk bring-up.
  • Recommended: 12 V is the main isolated regulated output; 5 V is derived from the 12 V secondary rail by synchronous buck.
  • Recommended: use an active boost PFC front end followed by an isolated DC/DC converter rather than a single-stage flyback.
Assumptions
  • Output rails are continuous rated, not peak-only.
  • PFC is desired/required because the user requested a PFC switching supply.
  • 400 Hz source may imply aerospace/defense requirements, but DO-160, MIL-STD-704, and EMI limits are not yet confirmed.
  • Reinforced vs basic isolation requirement is not yet confirmed.
  • Input transient/surge profile, hold-up time, output ripple, remote sense, and operating temperature are TBD.
Change Notes
  • Initial requirements captured: 120–230 VAC 400 Hz input; 12 VDC 10 A and 5 VDC 5 A outputs; AC-to-output isolation required; 12 V/5 V mutual isolation not required.
  • User confirmed TI UCC28064A as the PFC controller and active-clamp forward as the isolated DC/DC topology.
  • Project Overview

  • Intended Use

  • What the Device Should Do

  • Main Features

  • System Architecture

  • Hardware Subsystems

  • AC Input / Protection

  • Rectification and PFC

  • Isolated DC/DC Stage

  • 5 V Rail

  • Interfaces and Connections

  • Power and Runtime Expectations

  • Power Tree and Power Budget

  • Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations

  • Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements

  • Physical Design Expectations

  • Important Design Decisions

  • Assumptions

  • Change Notes

400Hz Isolated PFC Power Supply thumbnail
Isolated 120–230 VAC 400 Hz PFC supply producing 12 VDC at 10 A and 5 VDC at 5 A from a shared secondary ground.

Properties

VAC

Pricing & Availability

Distributor

Qty 1

Arrow

$25.95–$37.85

Digi-Key

$24.98–$25.24

HQonline

$1.31–$1.45

LCSC

$33.05–$33.94

Mouser

$79.14–$228.45

TME

$14.38

Verical

$30.63–$177.69

Controls