Need Voltage Doubler Circuit

Should I regulate the output? How about a voltage regulator IC like the LM317?

I don't know why anyone could need anything that's not here:

Cheers! Rich

Are we sure about that? Only one-half of the capacitor stack is charged each half cycle, but both capacitors are discharging each half cycle.

Which brings up a circuit I ran across years ago and was able to find again yesterday. This one claims to charge both capacitors each half cycle, making it a true full-wave circuit. I haven't tried it or analysed it - I just put it out for consideration.

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Two of those diodes are superfluous, and otherwise it is a standard dual output voltage doubler, similar to what I posted with an LTspice ASCII schematic. If your load is fairly constant and no more than a couple of watts, the string of zeners (or a single 48V zener) in that circuit will give you decent line and load regulation. It also has the advantage of current limiting, so a short circuit on the output can be tolerated. It's dirt simple, cheap, and meets your requirements. You don't need a fancy voltage regulator, and you would need an LM317H to get a 48 VDC output, and you might also exceed its 60 VDC input maximum.

Paul

I suspect you might be able to get by with sufficient filtering, but if you want to try regulation, you need a unit that is rated for the full supply across the regulator, like the TL783 (less than $2 from Digikey).

Keep in mind that you have to start with a supply that stays at least 2 volts above the regulated output, even at the bottom of the ripple and at low line voltage, so you will need a significant extra voltage at the input supply.