A question for the electrics experts here

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

I know there are at least a couple of really knowledgeable dudes in here when it comes to electrics (TheWinterSnow and Wolfe come to mind), so I thought I'd ask this here.

Say, if I took this: http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=80 to get me 48 volts DC, would it be at all possible to get +/-16VDC out of it to power a single 500-series unit, which requires 16VDC bipolar voltage as well as the 48VDC for the phantom? I've read it has something to with zener diodes, but either I'm not searching with the right terms or then I'm completely lost here, because I can't find a schematic.

Thanks!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

I guess I could get a FiveFish audio PSU kit, but I really don't feel comfortable building AC transformers, and if I manage to burn something up using the resulting equipment, my insurance sure as hell won't cover it.

 

[Wolfeman]

You'd be better off getting the Five Fish power supply.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Yeah, I guess so. Then again, I'm not sure it's worth the risk of fucking up the build of the transformer, so I might as well start saving up for an original lunchbox.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Would this work? http://www.schneidersladen.de/en/curetronic-schaltnetzteil-15v-5v-2

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Ah, fuck it, with all the hassle, I could just as well try and build the FiveFish PSU kit. I think I'll go for that.

 

[Wolfeman]

Here is another good read for you- http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=36874.0

 

[TheWinterSnow]

EDIT: Looking at the products a bit, I would say for convenience it would be a lot easier to build a FishFive PSU and get an empty lunchbox, that way everything is wired correctly and all held together in the same enclosure, ensuring less of a chance of something going wrong.

To ease building the supply, Transformers at least for the PSU is just a matter of soldering. You don't have to build anything in that sense, The transformer is just connecting the mains to the PSU where it can be rectified and filtered. Then you have the 4 pin cabling that connects the PSU to the device. So you're not building anything, just connecting soldering a couple of wires and installing eh modules into the lunchbox.

EDIT EDIT: I also saw that the API lunchbox has a built in supply. I am confused as to why they would make PSUs unless there where other makers of a "lunchbox" that did't come with a built in PSU. Either way there is not way to get around needing an enclosure, and regardless if its a 1U rack or a 6 slot lunchbox, its not going to be cheap.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Here is another good read for you- http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=36874.0

Thanks! The forum seems to be down at the moment, but I'll check it out as soon as it's back up

EDIT: Looking at the products a bit, I would say for convenience it would be a lot easier to build a FishFive PSU and get an empty lunchbox, that way everything is wired correctly and all held together in the same enclosure, ensuring less of a chance of something going wrong.

To ease building the supply, Transformers at least for the PSU is just a matter of soldering. You don't have to build anything in that sense, The transformer is just connecting the mains to the PSU where it can be rectified and filtered. Then you have the 4 pin cabling that connects the PSU to the device. So you're not building anything, just connecting soldering a couple of wires and installing eh modules into the lunchbox.

EDIT EDIT: I also saw that the API lunchbox has a built in supply. I am confused as to why they would make PSUs unless there where other makers of a "lunchbox" that did't come with a built in PSU. Either way there is not way to get around needing an enclosure, and regardless if its a 1U rack or a 6 slot lunchbox, its not going to be cheap.

Thanks for the input! Yeah, I'm sure it's not as big deal as I initially thought. And after all, I could pay the local guru a little to check if my wiring is safe and correct before plugging it into the mains.

Regarding the price, I figured if I got a 3u rack enclosure to house 8 units, the needed connectors, the transformer and PSU and two channels of FiveFish Studio's SC1 preamps for a grand total of less than 400€, whereas the cheapest 6 unit API lunchbox I can find is 425€ plus postage. I could even cheap out and only start with a single SC1, making the total price about 280€.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Just found this: http://www.paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FR-7&cat=44

That, some empty panels and the FF PSU kit would make a pretty cool and affordable solution to house lots of different preamps and 500-series units.

 

[DigitalMetal]

Get one of these it will do exactly what you want, very simple to put together if you can solder or get one ready made, you will need to mount it in your 500 enclosure and wire up a mains socket and fuse to it but its all very simple to do.
You can set the +-16V using the trimmer pots and a multimeter

http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=11