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what is a voltage divider? — Parallax Forums

what is a voltage divider?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-10-29 16:19 in General Discussion
Thanks for the help so far..but I have to ask what is a voltage divider? I
need one for 0 - 300 volts DC. Is this something I have to build or buy?
I am new to all this..but learning fast

Thanks
Jason

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-09 06:28
    A voltage divider is two resistors connected in series. Do a google search for
    "voltage divider" and you will have no problem finding the voltage divider
    theory, circuit and appropriate formulas. IF your still having problems post
    your calculated values on the list and somone can tell you if you have chosen
    correctly.
    Good Luck
    -=Randy Knutson
    miller wrote:
    Thanks for the help so far..but I have to ask what is a voltage divider? I
    need one for 0 - 300 volts DC. Is this something I have to build or buy?
    I am new to all this..but learning fast

    Thanks
    Jason


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-09 13:24
    You might enjoy http://www.wd5gnr.com/basiccir.htm which talks about
    lots of basic circuits including voltage dividers.

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * 8 channels of PWM
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak5.htm



    >
    Original Message
    > From: miller [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=bLqkvqNrdrGucG_M0J0kLwhA1CUpMLqYlzlUA3Pmqe1ffMeGRZ7HiLdCt2jYtOq5wWYExappLDGxZUKP3p-Uwew]miller12@r...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 12:08 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] what is a voltage divider?
    >
    >
    >
    > Thanks for the help so far..but I have to ask what is a
    > voltage divider? I need one for 0 - 300 volts DC. Is this
    > something I have to build or buy? I am new to all this..but
    > learning fast
    >
    > Thanks
    > Jason
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-09 17:51
    Be careful when designing your voltage divider because the voltage that is
    output will vary depending on the varying load that is being pulled from it.
    In other words..if your circuit turns a device on and off, the voltage from
    your voltage divider will be different when the device is on than when the
    device is off. You will have to calculate worst case loading of your voltage
    divider.


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-10 00:24
    Lies! Lies I tell ya!

    Voltage dividers were invented by Parallax to market stamps. I know I
    know, sounds far fetched right? Well thats what they WANT you to
    think! Let me tell you a story...

    I had some (assumed) faulty modulating motors (Honeywell) that I
    wanted to test out on the bench. Not having a handy DDC hookup and
    monitor anywhere near where I wanted to work, I decided to rig up a
    pair of transformers (+12vdc signal, 24vac motor). Slapped the two
    transformers into a nice box, bought a pot and rigged it up to
    control the 12vdc. Nice red glow from the pot. Hmmm, thinks I. I
    think I've forgotten how to do this. Off to radio shack I go and grab
    another pot. I check the net and find a diagram - DOH, forgot the
    load resistor so I was roasting the pot when there was no load on the
    wiper.

    After getting it all working and making it look all cool with a nice
    box, I decided to get fancy and throw a dc voltmeter into the lid.
    Off to Active components I went. They have nothing along those lines.
    I asked about an LCD display and he pointed out some LCDs but said
    I'd have to drive it myself. He pointed at the stamp display and I
    was instantly addicted. IT WAS A CONSPIRACY!

    Just say no to voltage dividers!
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-10 01:23
    At 19:24 10/09/02, ghidera2000 wrote:
    >Lies! Lies I tell ya!
    >
    >Voltage dividers were invented by Parallax to market stamps. I know I
    >know, sounds far fetched right? Well thats what they WANT you to
    >think! Let me tell you a story...
    >
    >I had some (assumed) faulty modulating motors (Honeywell) that I
    >wanted to test out on the bench. Not having a handy DDC hookup and
    >monitor anywhere near where I wanted to work, I decided to rig up a
    >pair of transformers (+12vdc signal, 24vac motor). Slapped the two
    >transformers into a nice box, bought a pot and rigged it up to
    >control the 12vdc. Nice red glow from the pot. Hmmm, thinks I. I
    >think I've forgotten how to do this. Off to radio shack I go and grab
    >another pot. I check the net and find a diagram - DOH, forgot the
    >load resistor so I was roasting the pot when there was no load on the
    >wiper.
    >
    >After getting it all working and making it look all cool with a nice
    >box, I decided to get fancy and throw a dc voltmeter into the lid.
    >Off to Active components I went. They have nothing along those lines.
    >I asked about an LCD display and he pointed out some LCDs but said
    >I'd have to drive it myself. He pointed at the stamp display and I
    >was instantly addicted. IT WAS A CONSPIRACY!
    >
    >Just say no to voltage dividers!

    Great story... I'm still chuckling. The "trick" to voltage dividers is not
    only in the RATIO of the values chosen, but also in the ACTUAL
    values. Let's assume a 50-volt source that we want to measure using a
    device that wants to see 5 volts maximum. We COULD make a divider
    consisting of 1/4 watt resistors with values of 1 ohm and 9 ohms. That
    divides the voltage 1:10, but look, a 10 ohm load with 50 volts across it
    will allow 5 amps to flow. That's a not so cool 250 watts (man that seems
    awful high, but I double checked my math) that will blow the divider
    network. Maybe we should try 1K and 9K resistors. That's a more
    manageable 1/4 watt of dissipation, but since we don't want to run the
    resistors at 100% of the dissipation rating, let's at least double the
    resistance once more. I'd go 5 times more, maybe 10 times. Of course the
    smaller resistor is probably a pot and has a max resistance 50% or so over
    the nominal value so it can be adjusted for calibration... unless you can
    get precision resistors with the exact needed values. Either way, taking
    power dissipation into consideration, voltage dividers work just fine....

    .... unless, in the example above, the measurement device draws enough
    current to upset the division of voltage across the divider. In that case
    we need a better measuring device, or else we have to lower the resistance
    of the divider and up the power rating of the resistors, assuming the
    source will tolerate this added load. Typically measuring devices with a
    very high impedance are readily available and the power draw by the
    measuring device can be ignored.


    Jim H
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-28 21:19
    In addition to the other answers, you might enjoy reading:
    http://www.wd5gnr.com/basiccir.htm

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * NEW: PAK-VIa - Read PS/2 keyboards or mice -- double the buffer, lower
    current consumption.
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak6.htm




    >
    Original Message
    > From: miller [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=-No75MiRlDcC8i8sTB_DLIvMo-ltLXavv3Z0CM_KM3ximRHp0tblIxCvzRTR1uGSNp6rChtVCbVoY3yyc_iL5A]miller12@r...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 12:08 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] what is a voltage divider?
    >
    >
    >
    > Thanks for the help so far..but I have to ask what is a
    > voltage divider? I need one for 0 - 300 volts DC. Is this
    > something I have to build or buy? I am new to all this..but
    > learning fast
    >
    > Thanks
    > Jason
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-29 11:42
    Thanks, Al! That was quite handy.

    On Mon, 2002-10-28 at 16:19, Al Williams wrote:
    > In addition to the other answers, you might enjoy reading:
    > http://www.wd5gnr.com/basiccir.htm
    >
    > Al Williams
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-29 14:17
    If you don't know what a voltage divider is, you probably should not be
    playing with voltages (0 to 300 vdc) which can kill you! Please get a copy
    of any ARRL handbook and at least learn some basics before you have a lethal
    accident!

    Jim

    Original Message
    From: Al Williams [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=kfO_P_WQU-iyNkE9H7_yqJadrnLGqUjH6AVzDUw3M0aqEsNDCPMtKh2P0dhSUKqXQlocj4yIXay0TkTY]alw@a...[/url
    Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 4:20 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] what is a voltage divider?


    In addition to the other answers, you might enjoy reading:
    http://www.wd5gnr.com/basiccir.htm

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * NEW: PAK-VIa - Read PS/2 keyboards or mice -- double the buffer, lower
    current consumption.
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak6.htm




    >
    Original Message
    > From: miller [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=d6fh9nFoYhFrCqSf6jHCKPeOTPo4slwT5FLsJTryEWdrGnQuDsNQUZpeSIo5AhCR8yXbBsr40qdXR8p9Xrw]miller12@r...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 12:08 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] what is a voltage divider?
    >
    >
    >
    > Thanks for the help so far..but I have to ask what is a
    > voltage divider? I need one for 0 - 300 volts DC. Is this
    > something I have to build or buy? I am new to all this..but
    > learning fast
    >
    > Thanks
    > Jason
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >


    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-10-29 16:19
    FYI: Caddock sells a line of SIP voltage dividers with outputs ratios
    of 10:1 up to 10000:1. So at 1:100 a 300VDC would read 3VDC. Just
    send this into a A2D chip then to the stamp. The ones we use cost
    about $9. Your mileage may vary. Did I mention a tolerance of .1% to
    .05%?

    www.caddock.com

    Hope this helps
    Paul

    > Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 15:19:59 -0600
    > From: "Al Williams" <alw@a...>
    >Subject: RE: what is a voltage divider?
    >
    >In addition to the other answers, you might enjoy reading:
    >http://www.wd5gnr.com/basiccir.htm
    >
    >Al Williams
    >AWC
    >* NEW: PAK-VIa - Read PS/2 keyboards or mice -- double the buffer,
    >lower
    >current consumption.
    >http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak6.htm
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: miller [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=YmZFdIVxC2uv9FSBQGyiMsrVJxnj-31D-KoR_zC3KzC5K8Xm9k1fxLtaFB0FZS2KI89VWE4Qn72xubUyOUg]miller12@r...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 12:08 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] what is a voltage divider?
    >
    >
    >
    > Thanks for the help so far..but I have to ask what is a
    > voltage divider? I need one for 0 - 300 volts DC. Is this
    > something I have to build or buy? I am new to all this..but
    > learning fast
    >
    > Thanks
    > Jason
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >





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