• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Circuit Ideas for You

Get free circuit ideas online.

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
Home » Simple Positive Voltage to Negative Voltage Converter Circuit

Simple Positive Voltage to Negative Voltage Converter Circuit

Last updated on 27 July 2025 by Admin-Lavi Leave a Comment

This article for Simple Positive Voltage to Negative Voltage Converter Circuits shows how to change positive DC voltage to negative DC voltage using special converter circuit.

This circuit is useful for many electronic things.

One famous and easy to use chip is IC 555 which is strong and works well.

IC 555 are mostly used in astable mode to make square wave signal for voltage change.

Circuit Working:

Simple Positive Voltage to Negative Voltage Converter Circuit Diagram

Parts List:

ComponentValueQuantity
Resistors (All resistors are 1/4 watt unless specified)
4.7k1
33k1
Capacitors
Ceramic 0.022μF1
Ceramic 0.01μF1
Electrolytic 22μF 25V1
Electrolytic 100μF 25V1
Semiconductors
IC 5551
Diodes IN40012

In this circuit IC 555 work as astable multivibrator.

It change +12V to -12V and make square wave again and again.

This square wave run a switching part using resistors, capacitors and diodes to make negative voltage.

Circuit tested on Vero board to show how to get negative voltage from positive source.

It look like dual power supply by using both +12V and -12V.

Negative voltage is always with few volts less than positive one.

IC 555 is main part of this circuit and is working at about 1 KHz.

IC is put in holder.

Pin 3 of IC give square wave if we check.

Capacitor C3 charges through diode D2 when output is high.

When output goes zero then C3 discharges and C4 charge through D2.

Use capacitors C3 and C4 with 25V rating or more.

Do not connect load more than 50 mA.

Always get negative voltage at point between C4 cathode and D1 anode and compare to ground.

Formulas:

To make positive to negative voltage converter we must choose right parts and do some calculations.

This gives needed formulas to build our own circuit.

555 Timer Frequency:

When IC 555 work in astable mode with two resistors R1, R2 and one capacitor C which decide the output frequency.

Formula:

f = 1.44 / (R1 + 2 × R2) × C

where,

  • R1 and R2 in ohms
  • C is in farads.

Capacitor Value C:

Capacitor helps clean the output voltage and reduces ripple.

Formula to find output capacitor Cout:

Cout = Iout × D × (1 – D) / f × ΔVout

where:

  • Iout is the output current
  • ΔVout is the ripple voltage we allow

By using these formulas we can make and change the converter to match our need.

How to Build:

To build a Simple Positive Voltage to Negative Voltage Converter Circuit we need to follow the below mentioned steps:

  • Collect all parts shown in circuit diagram.
  • Connect pin 1 of IC 555 to ground.
  • Connect pin 2 to pin 6.
  • Connect pin 3 to -12V output using capacitor C3 and diode D1.
  • Connect pin 4 and pin 8 to +12V supply.
  • Connect pin 5 to ground using capacitor C2.
  • Put resistor R2 between pin 6 and pin 7 and capacitor C1 to ground.
  • Connect resistor R1 from pin 7 to +12V.
  • Put diode D2 between C3 and D1 and ground.
  • Connect capacitor C4 between D1 and -12V output and then to ground.

Conclusion:

This Simple Positive Voltage to Negative Voltage Converter Circuit gives negative voltage from positive power.

It is important to understand the circuit first and use correct part ratings and add safety like insulation and fuse.

Do testing and prototyping carefully to avoid problems and get reliable work.

References:

Negative to Positive Voltage Converter

Filed Under: Power Supply Circuits

About Admin-Lavi

Lavi is a B.Tech electronics engineer with a passion for designing new electronic circuits. Do you have questions regarding the circuit diagrams presented on this blog? Feel free to comment and solve your queries with quick replies

Previous Post: « Fire Alarm Circuit using Thermistor and IC 555
Next Post: Battery Charger Circuit using SCR »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar




Categories

  • Alarm Circuits (35)
  • Amplifier Circuits (67)
  • Arduino Projects (59)
  • Audio Circuits (99)
  • Automobile Circuits (19)
  • Battery Charger Circuits (54)
  • Free Energy (13)
  • Heater and Temperature Controllers (10)
  • High Voltage (1)
  • Indicator Circuits (42)
  • Inverter Circuits (16)
  • LDR Circuits (18)
  • LED and Lamps (123)
  • Meters and Testers (30)
  • Motor Controllers (18)
  • Oscillator Circuits (34)
  • Power Supply Circuits (93)
  • Remote Control Circuits (7)
  • Security and Protection (26)
  • Sensors and Detectors (99)
  • Solar Circuits (22)
  • Timer Circuits (32)
  • Transistor Circuits (65)
  • Transmitter Circuit (14)
  • Tutorials (6)
  • Water Level Controller (4)

Recent Posts

  • Electronic Eye Circuit using IC 4049
  • Sound And Light Metronome Circuit using Transistors
  • Simple LED Circuit
  • IR Burglar Alarm Circuit
  • LED Blinking Circuit using 555 Timer

Recent Comments

  1. Admin-Lavi on FM Transmitter Circuit (100 meters range)
  2. DEVINDER SINGH on FM Transmitter Circuit (100 meters range)
  3. Admin-Lavi on Constant Voltage, Constant Current Battery Charger Circuit
  4. Bill on Constant Voltage, Constant Current Battery Charger Circuit
  5. Admin-Lavi on Long Range FM Transmitter Circuit (2km)

Copyright © 2025 | New Circuit Ideas