Cheap Variable Power Supply
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:10 pm
Recently I was out looking for a variable DC power supply.
Something that would give a power output in the range of 1.5 - 12volts would be ideal.
While searching around I spotted on ebay a number of potential candidates. Surprisingly they are being sold as 'Tatoo Power Supplies'. Some very economical ones can be found for as little as $15 - $20.
I quickly purchased a suitable looking candidate.
On receiving the supply I was initially struggling to get anything out of it.
As can be seen from the picture - the unit had three audio style jacks on the front, and 1 switch. These where labeled.
LEFT | RIGHT | FOOT
Having no documentation to hand I whipped open the case and started to trace the circuit on the board.
In the end the fix was really easy. In the 'Tatoo' world they no doubt use a foot pedal to turn power on & off. The socket labeled as 'FOOT' no doubt was designed to have some sort of switch attached to it.
I solved the issue by simply removing the audio socket and hard wiring a jumper across the polls.
You can see on the inside shot above where the blue jumper bridges the pins.
Not content at this point I then modified the 'lead' that they provided as standard. The stock system had a rather odd adapter on the end that I can only assume is known in the Tatoo World!
I simply took that off and wired in two rather more useful leads. (JST & Servo)
Tests with the supply using a meter have shown the onboard display to be accurate to within 0.1 of a volt.
All up.. I am happy with the unit. It is cheap - simple - and saved me spending more than $100 on an 'electronic stores' one!
Rob
Something that would give a power output in the range of 1.5 - 12volts would be ideal.
While searching around I spotted on ebay a number of potential candidates. Surprisingly they are being sold as 'Tatoo Power Supplies'. Some very economical ones can be found for as little as $15 - $20.
I quickly purchased a suitable looking candidate.
On receiving the supply I was initially struggling to get anything out of it.
LEFT | RIGHT | FOOT
Having no documentation to hand I whipped open the case and started to trace the circuit on the board.
In the end the fix was really easy. In the 'Tatoo' world they no doubt use a foot pedal to turn power on & off. The socket labeled as 'FOOT' no doubt was designed to have some sort of switch attached to it.
I solved the issue by simply removing the audio socket and hard wiring a jumper across the polls.
You can see on the inside shot above where the blue jumper bridges the pins.
Not content at this point I then modified the 'lead' that they provided as standard. The stock system had a rather odd adapter on the end that I can only assume is known in the Tatoo World!
I simply took that off and wired in two rather more useful leads. (JST & Servo)
All up.. I am happy with the unit. It is cheap - simple - and saved me spending more than $100 on an 'electronic stores' one!
Rob