Hello All,
I have been a audio engineer for about 15 years and decided just to get into electronics about a year ago and could use some newbie advice.
I am trying to build a power supply that I saw online for the under the DIY Links, 'SSLtech's KPS-1' I belive it is.
My really dum question is this. How should I measure the rail voltages comming off of the +, -, and ground. Right now the multitester read 18.5 from the + rail and 16.9 from the - rail. Should these not be of equal power. Also I hear people talking about testing the power supply under load, I assume this means while its supplying power to the device, correct? Should I use my ground as reference when testing the + voltage or the - voltage. Again I know these are stupid questions but I could use some help.
Also one last thing I have noticed is that all power supplys use 2 pairs of small capacitors on the inputs and outputs of voltage regulators. much smaller then the smoothing cap. I know how to figure out the correct capacitor size needed for the first smoothing cap, immediatly past the rectification, but I cannot find no information on obtaining correct capacitor sizing for these regultors. Also I notice they vary between 100NF, .01 Uf, 10 UF, etc.. The only information that I can find is that they help keep the regulators stable. Again any knowledge on these would be appreciate. Thanks in advance for helping a very green newbie.
Todd
I have been a audio engineer for about 15 years and decided just to get into electronics about a year ago and could use some newbie advice.
I am trying to build a power supply that I saw online for the under the DIY Links, 'SSLtech's KPS-1' I belive it is.
My really dum question is this. How should I measure the rail voltages comming off of the +, -, and ground. Right now the multitester read 18.5 from the + rail and 16.9 from the - rail. Should these not be of equal power. Also I hear people talking about testing the power supply under load, I assume this means while its supplying power to the device, correct? Should I use my ground as reference when testing the + voltage or the - voltage. Again I know these are stupid questions but I could use some help.
Also one last thing I have noticed is that all power supplys use 2 pairs of small capacitors on the inputs and outputs of voltage regulators. much smaller then the smoothing cap. I know how to figure out the correct capacitor size needed for the first smoothing cap, immediatly past the rectification, but I cannot find no information on obtaining correct capacitor sizing for these regultors. Also I notice they vary between 100NF, .01 Uf, 10 UF, etc.. The only information that I can find is that they help keep the regulators stable. Again any knowledge on these would be appreciate. Thanks in advance for helping a very green newbie.
Todd