(off topic) Benchtop power supply
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Posts: 46,084
(Sorry for the dumb question, but I don't want to waste $200!)
When they speak of series and parallel output options, I understand that
means you can double the output current or output voltage. So can I power
my circuit off of one output at 5 volts, and power the steppers off of
another output at 12 volts without frying anything?
Thanks in advance,
-John
>Dual output is cool for op-amp work, just be sure you can turn the voltage
>all the way down and that the power supplies can be tied together. One with
>a +5 and +/- 12 would be even better.
>
>
Original Message
>
>
> > Can anyone suggest a good bench top power supply and where to get it? I'm
> > starting to play with stepper motors, and my wall warts just aren't
>cutting
> > it. I'm tired of trying to find just the right one with enough capacity
>for
> > what I'm driving.
> > I'm not allergic to spending a couple of hundred dollars, just as long as
> > it is a good one.
> >
> > Dual outputs? Adjustable? Anything I left out?
>
>
>
>
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When they speak of series and parallel output options, I understand that
means you can double the output current or output voltage. So can I power
my circuit off of one output at 5 volts, and power the steppers off of
another output at 12 volts without frying anything?
Thanks in advance,
-John
>Dual output is cool for op-amp work, just be sure you can turn the voltage
>all the way down and that the power supplies can be tied together. One with
>a +5 and +/- 12 would be even better.
>
>
Original Message
>
>
> > Can anyone suggest a good bench top power supply and where to get it? I'm
> > starting to play with stepper motors, and my wall warts just aren't
>cutting
> > it. I'm tired of trying to find just the right one with enough capacity
>for
> > what I'm driving.
> > I'm not allergic to spending a couple of hundred dollars, just as long as
> > it is a good one.
> >
> > Dual outputs? Adjustable? Anything I left out?
>
>
>
>
>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/
Comments
together so you can tie your 5-volt Stamp and 12-volt motor circuits
together.
The current limiting on the variable outputs is probably the best feature --
this can keep you out of trouble if you short something goofing around.
Original Message
> (Sorry for the dumb question, but I don't want to waste $200!)
>
> When they speak of series and parallel output options, I understand that
> means you can double the output current or output voltage. So can I power
> my circuit off of one output at 5 volts, and power the steppers off of
> another output at 12 volts without frying anything?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> -John
>
>
>
> >Dual output is cool for op-amp work, just be sure you can turn the
voltage
> >all the way down and that the power supplies can be tied together. One
with
> >a +5 and +/- 12 would be even better.
> >
> >
Original Message
> >
> >
> > > Can anyone suggest a good bench top power supply and where to get it?
I'm
> > > starting to play with stepper motors, and my wall warts just aren't
> >cutting
> > > it. I'm tired of trying to find just the right one with enough
capacity
> >for
> > > what I'm driving.
> > > I'm not allergic to spending a couple of hundred dollars, just as long
as
> > > it is a good one.
> > >
> > > Dual outputs? Adjustable? Anything I left out?
test equipment section. Here is one example:
http://www.web-tronics.com/30serdigrobe.html
Here are the advertisers links:
http://www.nutsvolts.com/adlinks.htm
Original Message
> Typically a power supply with dual outputs will allow you to tie the
grounds
> together so you can tie your 5-volt Stamp and 12-volt motor circuits
> together.
>
> The current limiting on the variable outputs is probably the best
feature --
> this can keep you out of trouble if you short something goofing around.
>
>
Original Message
>
> > (Sorry for the dumb question, but I don't want to waste $200!)
> >
> > When they speak of series and parallel output options, I understand that
> > means you can double the output current or output voltage. So can I
power
> > my circuit off of one output at 5 volts, and power the steppers off of
> > another output at 12 volts without frying anything?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > -John
> >
> >
> >
> > >Dual output is cool for op-amp work, just be sure you can turn the
> voltage
> > >all the way down and that the power supplies can be tied together. One
> with
> > >a +5 and +/- 12 would be even better.
> > >
> > >
Original Message
> > >
> > >
> > > > Can anyone suggest a good bench top power supply and where to get
it?
> I'm
> > > > starting to play with stepper motors, and my wall warts just aren't
> > >cutting
> > > > it. I'm tired of trying to find just the right one with enough
> capacity
> > >for
> > > > what I'm driving.
> > > > I'm not allergic to spending a couple of hundred dollars, just as
long
> as
> > > > it is a good one.
> > > >
> > > > Dual outputs? Adjustable? Anything I left out?
>
>
>
>
> 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/
>
>
tie the grounds together. Two vendors that I use for power supplies are
www.jameco.com and www.allelectronics.com .
Dennis
Original Message
From: Rodent [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=rtr_S6GljZKJBjDmfA0vqANlRvc26m1tms3rgmPfZSnYcM8QFdGphckrVAqfBV8Nwa1mqWp4WKy2U6c]daweasel@s...[/url
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 5:13 PM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] (off topic) Benchtop power supply
Typically a power supply with dual outputs will allow you to tie the
grounds together so you can tie your 5-volt Stamp and 12-volt motor
circuits together.
The current limiting on the variable outputs is probably the best
feature -- this can keep you out of trouble if you short something
goofing around.
Original Message
> (Sorry for the dumb question, but I don't want to waste $200!)
>
> When they speak of series and parallel output options, I understand
> that means you can double the output current or output voltage. So
> can I power my circuit off of one output at 5 volts, and power the
> steppers off of another output at 12 volts without frying anything?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> -John
>
>
>
> >Dual output is cool for op-amp work, just be sure you can turn the
voltage
> >all the way down and that the power supplies can be tied together.
> >One
with
> >a +5 and +/- 12 would be even better.
> >
> >
Original Message
> >
> >
> > > Can anyone suggest a good bench top power supply and where to get
> > > it?
I'm
> > > starting to play with stepper motors, and my wall warts just
> > > aren't
> >cutting
> > > it. I'm tired of trying to find just the right one with enough
capacity
> >for
> > > what I'm driving.
> > > I'm not allergic to spending a couple of hundred dollars, just as
> > > long
as
> > > it is a good one.
> > >
> > > Dual outputs? Adjustable? Anything I left out?
To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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I'm finding very few of the power supplies offer negative voltage. Being
I'm a electronics noobie, what would I need negative voltage for? I've
seen you guys talk about some LCD's requiring a negative voltage, but other
than that, would I be shorting myself if I didn't have negative voltage? I
always attempt to buy for the future, so the next project doesn't send me
back to the store [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Thanks in advance,
-John
negative supply. However, if the power supplies have a removable jumper that
connects chassis ground to the negative output terminal, you should be able
to tie them together to get a +/- supply. Some of the high-end units offer
this as a feature -- essentially you put the two supplies in series and your
ground point is referenced on the positive terminal of the negative supply
and the negative terminal of the positive supply. Like having a center-tap
on a set of batteries.
Like I mentioned, a 0-30 volt 2-3 amp supply with meters or displays is
ideal, and the adjustable current limiting is the second best feature. If
you can find one with +5 and +12 or +/- 12 then you would be set.
Original Message
> One last question, and I promise I'll stop.
>
> I'm finding very few of the power supplies offer negative voltage. Being
> I'm a electronics noobie, what would I need negative voltage for? I've
> seen you guys talk about some LCD's requiring a negative voltage, but
other
> than that, would I be shorting myself if I didn't have negative voltage?
I
> always attempt to buy for the future, so the next project doesn't send me
> back to the store [noparse]:)[/noparse]
a 741 Op amp. While it's one of the older Op amps on the market, it still
has a lot of life in it. But... you have to feed it with both a positive and
negative voltage.
I haven't read the other replys yet, but have you thought about building a
power supply? You can get a good book on power supply projects from Radio
Shack. So not only will you get a ps, you'll learn about one of the most
basic items needed by both the electronics dude and the circuit. Plus you'll
be able to fix the thing if it ever needs it.
Tom
kf4yyd
Original Message
From: John Walton [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=_vTkstPbjpg87webq0t2R5iYR0gOobr9PJ_4fXFY_9_CJj-4Qb0ESE3l7V57Y0zxxnAW2AXOnNg5]john@l...[/url
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 10:24 PM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] (off topic) Benchtop power supply
One last question, and I promise I'll stop.
I'm finding very few of the power supplies offer negative voltage. Being
I'm a electronics noobie, what would I need negative voltage for? I've
seen you guys talk about some LCD's requiring a negative voltage, but other
than that, would I be shorting myself if I didn't have negative voltage? I
always attempt to buy for the future, so the next project doesn't send me
back to the store [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Thanks in advance,
-John
To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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nice to have a negative voltage, so you can get
a negative swing to your output.
RS-232 uses -12 volts for its drivers -- which
people don't use much, as the MAX232 chips
generate their own -12 volts.
Some really old (1978) IC's used three voltages
(-5, +5 and +12).
Many bench supplies offer multiple voltages, and
they are constructed so that you can configure
negative voltages simply by using the proper
connections to 'Ground'. I believe these are
called 'floating' supplies.
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, John Walton <john@l...> wrote:
> One last question, and I promise I'll stop.
>
> I'm finding very few of the power supplies offer negative voltage.
Being
> I'm a electronics noobie, what would I need negative voltage for?
I've
> seen you guys talk about some LCD's requiring a negative voltage,
but other
> than that, would I be shorting myself if I didn't have negative
voltage? I
> always attempt to buy for the future, so the next project doesn't
send me
> back to the store [noparse]:)[/noparse]
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> -John