Low power voltage tripler circuit using Schottky diodes 555 timer MOSFET inverter and capacitors

A perfect voltage multiplier would take in the supply voltage, and output a multiple amount of voltage. Current is divided in the process though, as there is never getting free power. Some of the voltage is lost with capacitor voltage multiplier due to the forward voltage drops of the diodes needed to make sure that current only moves in one direction where ever they are placed.

Low power Schottky diode voltage tripler using astable 555 timer controlled MOSFET signal inverter
Low power Schottky diode voltage tripler using astable 555 timer controlled MOSFET signal inverter

A voltage tripler using capacitors will output three time the supply voltage minus whatever all of the diode drops add up to. I estimate an average of about 0.6V per silicon rectifier diode, or 0.3V drop per schottky diode.

To lower the voltage drops of this circuit, I used Schottky diodes. I already had the 1N6263 schottky diodes from a semiconductor kit. But, I didn’t realize that they only have a maximum continuous current of 15mA. Luckily that’s plenty for this circuit, but don’t use them in a practical circuit that has higher power needs.

I don’t currently have a Schottky diode that I recommend for circuits that have a fair amount higher of a power demand.

I do have 15SQ045 Schottky diodes which are a lot larger and can handle a lot more power. The pins are much thicker than what can fit in a breadboard.

As shown in the video below, I calculated a final output voltage of 13V while powering the load, and a current of about 2.7mA when I measured the voltage across the LED current limiting resistor.  That means that at least 3 times that amount of current needs to go through the first Schottky diode at times. 2.7 times 3 is 7.1V. So I think we are fine using these diodes in this particular circuit.

Video below goes live on 27 April 2023 at 6am central standard time (CST)

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