§ 2 - Power Block Builds

§ 2.1 - Build Guides

• Single Positive Power Supply, Unregulated
• Single Positive Power Supply, Regulated
   
  
• Single Negative Power Supply, Unregulated
• Single Negative Power Supply, Regulated
   
  
• Positive & Negative Power Supply, Unregulated
• Positive & Negative Power Supply, Regulated
   
  
• Positive & Positive Power Supply, Unregulated
• Positive & Positive Power Supply, Regulated
   
  
• Negative & Negative Power Supply, Unregulated
• Negative & Negative Power Supply, Regulated

§ 2.2 - Overview

Ah, those "wall warts." Or as we like to call them here, "noise generators." Where would be be without them? Well, one thing that would be different is that we wouldn't have all that hash interfering with our wifi, radios and stereos. But it's become difficult to find noise-free linear power supplies for all our handy little devices, and when we can find them, they tend to be quite expensive — even then, they aren't always able to do exactly what we want.

Another problem is the heavy emphasis on disposability. Those wall warts tend to be very poorly designed and built, as well as difficult to repair. They fail unpredictably and sometimes quickly. They're usually tightly glued, or sonically welded, and even if you do manage to get into one to try to fix it, you're likely to find a "mystery" integrated circuit in there you have no chance of replacing... so into the garbage the thing goes.

Black Belt Systems offers a high-quality, inexpensive solution. One you can quickly build yourself from common parts; one that you can easily fix if it ever has problems; one that will be your power supply and can last you a lifetime. You can build one, or you can build many — Power Blocks tend to be quite useful, and they can be built in quite a few different ways.

Each Power Block implements a single or dual linear power supply with the following features and options — all you have to do is follow one of the build guides.

All builds utilize a center-tapped transformer, which provides energy to the Power Block's filter capacitors at double the AC line frequency.

Choose the configuration you want by clicking the link describing your build from the list above, and then build your Power Block according to the build and parts placement guides on the linked page.

§ 2.2.1 - Features

• Zero RFI — Ideal for HAMs and SWLs
• Single or dual power supplies
• Positive, negative, positive & negative, positive & positive, negative & negative
• Can provide a wide range of possible power supply voltages
• Possible regulator configurations:
  • One or two on-board fixed 78xx and/or 79xx series regulators
  • One on-board 78xx or 79xx regulator, and one off-board* 78xx or 79xx regulator
  • Two off-board* 78xx and/or 79xx regulators
  • None (unregulated outputs only
    * Two remote-mount regulator PCBs are included with the Power Block PCB
• Clearance for common on-regulator heat sinks for P_diss of up to about 1.5 watts
• Battery backup inputs
• LED power indicators for both supplies
• Test points provided for every circuit node
• M3 mounting hardware compatible, including standoffs, screws, nuts, t-nuts
• PC boards are stackable
• Pinned out for .200 inch (5.08mm) power headers
• Filter capacitor footprints are compatible with many different filter capacitors
• No circuit traces hidden under components
• No surface mount components
• Compact size: 2.5" by 2.5" (63.5mm by 63.5mm)
• Easy to build

Configuration diagrams, parts lists, tips, hints and part sources are all provided so you can build the Power Block just the way you want to.

 

Have a question? Ask us via email

 

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