DIY powersupply for eurorack or other things -> IPS2

[seismic]

i made a successor of my infamous IPS (interruptible power supply) module. -> IPS2 obviously..

infamous because it's got the shutdown pins of the SMPS chip wired to jacks, like that you can operate stuff in a "near death state"

it's all SMD and pretty packed, also has some parts for the advanced builders on it, such as the SMPS chip is a QFN-24 (with a 2mm hole in the footprint to solder it's GND plane from the backside), and the USB-C receptable has 0.5mm pitch.

it can output +-12V 0.7Amps from, 2.7-5.5V input(approx.)
2HP panel width, or mountable barebone inside the case without jacks and panel. The design has a second typeC connector location on it to make it more versatile to mount somewhere.

i need to alter/finish the panel design, prototypes had a USB micro on them.
but wanted to check if there are hardcore builders who would like one?

[joem]

Neat. I don't want to try building one (I'm not so great with those fine pitches), but I'm interested in the way the two PCBs connect to one another. It looks like one board slots into another, between the rear pcb and the front panel? Pretty sure this is the first time I've seen that in a eurorack module!

[seismic]

they are sandwiched 90degrees. and there are solderpads (strenghtened with vias) to interconnect the signals between the boards.
these signals are not so important anyway, they are only for the shutdown jacks, which you don't have to use when operated as a normal PSU.

i like it a lot, it turned out quite powerfull for such a small thingy

here's a pic, it's the module in the back, it had a micro usb on it, i changed that in the meantime to a type C connector (more powa). and i also strenghtened the board which holds the jacks on the new version a bit:

[joem]

Does that mean you can do without the jack PCB entirely? I might need to get with my soldering, since I'm really into this tiny power supply.

[seismic]

yes - you can use it without frontpanel. there are two solderbridges on the "mainboard" which have to be closed, but thats it, then it runs without panel.

and you have two locations to put the usb-C connector depending on where you mount it that could be handy (i tought..), and there are vias where you can attach wires to bring in the required 2.5-5.5V.
and 3pcs of M3 mounting holes are also on the board to secure it.

[attacca]

This PSU is exactly what I'm looking for! I have been wanting to build a USB-C PSU for awhile. I've heard USB supplies can be pretty noisy, any issues with this one? It is a beautiful design.

I have a Hakko with a 0.5mm conical tip (T18-B) and a 3.0mm slant for drag soldering (T18-C3). Do you think I could hand solder it with those? If I have to buy new tips or a hot air gun I might just order it assembled.. but I really want to try and build it for a portable DSP dev skiff.

Any word on when the assembled 1hp and 2hp versions will be available if I'm too scared to build my own

Thanks for releasing the IPS2 as open source!

[seismic]

yes - you can always pickup noise in environments with multiple cheap wallwarts in the game, this of course especially includes cheap usb-power charges..

i have a 0.5mm tip as well and i can solder it, but let's say i have certain (20yrs+) experience. the type-C connector is small.

this version got overhauled by psuII. a 1hp version of it. currently available as DIY kit or prebuilt trough my website.
psuII webpage:
http://seismic.industries/psu2/

muffs threads:
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... c#p3374586
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... u2+seismic

best
r

[MikeDB]

and there are solderpads (strenghtened with vias) to interconnect the signals between the boards.

Well done !! So often even professional gear often misses this simple almost zero-cost trick.

[attacca]

yes - you can always pickup noise in environments with multiple cheap wallwarts in the game, this of course especially includes cheap usb-power charges..

i have a 0.5mm tip as well and i can solder it, but let's say i have certain (20yrs+) experience. the type-C connector is small.

this version got overhauled by psuII. a 1hp version of it. currently available as DIY kit or prebuilt trough my website.
psuII webpage:
http://seismic.industries/psu2/

muffs threads:
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... c#p3374586
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... u2+seismic

best
r

Thanks for the info seismic, I will pick up a kit or two after the holidays!

Do you have any recommendations for USB-C chargers or any tips on how to pick less noisy ones, do you just have to buy a few and check them with a scope?

One more thing... when you hand solder QFN packages, do you do it from the top, or tin the pads and the center and heat from under the board with your iron? I have seen both methods but I've only done QFP stuff myself.

Thanks, have a happy new year!

[MikeDB]

Do you have any recommendations for USB-C chargers or any tips on how to pick less noisy ones, do you just have to buy a few and check them with a scope?

I can vouch for the one that the Raspberry Pi lot sell for the Pi4. Definitely far better than the eBay stuff and delivers the full 3Amps without complaint.

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/rasp ... 7000085587

[seismic]

yes - you can always pickup noise in environments with multiple cheap wallwarts in the game, this of course especially includes cheap usb-power charges..

i have a 0.5mm tip as well and i can solder it, but let's say i have certain (20yrs+) experience. the type-C connector is small.

this version got overhauled by psuII. a 1hp version of it. currently available as DIY kit or prebuilt trough my website.
psuII webpage:
http://seismic.industries/psu2/

muffs threads:
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... c#p3374586
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... u2+seismic

best
r

Thanks for the info seismic, I will pick up a kit or two after the holidays!

Do you have any recommendations for USB-C chargers or any tips on how to pick less noisy ones, do you just have to buy a few and check them with a scope?

One more thing... when you hand solder QFN packages, do you do it from the top, or tin the pads and the center and heat from under the board with your iron? I have seen both methods but I've only done QFP stuff myself.

Thanks, have a happy new year!

I solder two opposite pads of the qfn, then the gnd pad trough a via. Then the reat of the pads.

In the ps2 kits the pcb are preassembled, so the qfn is already soldered.

For the chargers: i got stuck with try and error, but generally the ones that teally bring their power ratings are usually a bit quieter (just my subjective opinion)

[cackland]

Can I ask why you’ve opted for 4 x 4.7uf output caps (even those the Datasheet shows this) over a single output cap of 22uf( which the Datasheet also shows)

[cackland]

If you choose those values at all

[KSS]

Do you have any recommendations for USB-C chargers or any tips on how to pick less noisy ones, do you just have to buy a few and check them with a scope?

I can vouch for the one that the Raspberry Pi lot sell for the Pi4. Definitely far better than the eBay stuff and delivers the full 3Amps without complaint.

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/rasp ... 7000085587

Can you share any internals or details for those of us in the half UK voltage part of the world seeking something equivalent?

[attacca]

You can buy those Pi supplies anywhere, they come in both plugs. Here is the spec sheet I found for it:

I wonder what the Ripple/Noise would be like after going through the PSU2/IPS2.

[attacca]

yes - you can always pickup noise in environments with multiple cheap wallwarts in the game, this of course especially includes cheap usb-power charges..

i have a 0.5mm tip as well and i can solder it, but let's say i have certain (20yrs+) experience. the type-C connector is small.

this version got overhauled by psuII. a 1hp version of it. currently available as DIY kit or prebuilt trough my website.
psuII webpage:
http://seismic.industries/psu2/

muffs threads:
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... c#p3374586
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... u2+seismic

best
r

Thanks for the info seismic, I will pick up a kit or two after the holidays!

Do you have any recommendations for USB-C chargers or any tips on how to pick less noisy ones, do you just have to buy a few and check them with a scope?

One more thing... when you hand solder QFN packages, do you do it from the top, or tin the pads and the center and heat from under the board with your iron? I have seen both methods but I've only done QFP stuff myself.

Thanks, have a happy new year!

I solder two opposite pads of the qfn, then the gnd pad trough a via. Then the reat of the pads.

In the ps2 kits the pcb are preassembled, so the qfn is already soldered.

For the chargers: i got stuck with try and error, but generally the ones that teally bring their power ratings are usually a bit quieter (just my subjective opinion)

Thanks for the tips seismic.

I will order one of the PSU2 kits which I understand are soldered. I was also wanting to order an IPS2 PCB if you are still selling them, I have sourced all the components already.

[seismic]

Can I ask why you’ve opted for 4 x 4.7uf output caps (even those the Datasheet shows this) over a single output cap of 22uf( which the Datasheet also shows)

if you read the datasheet a little further you can see that also there are 4x4u7 used for the testings, 22uF is just the approx. needed value of capacitance.
4x4u7 is the physical implementation of what gets closest to allow maximum charge/load current and have a low ESR. combined with some smaller caps.

it's a constellation often seen in SMPS and power electronics.

[seismic]

If you choose those values at all

what do you imply by that?

[seismic]

yes - you can always pickup noise in environments with multiple cheap wallwarts in the game, this of course especially includes cheap usb-power charges..

i have a 0.5mm tip as well and i can solder it, but let's say i have certain (20yrs+) experience. the type-C connector is small.

this version got overhauled by psuII. a 1hp version of it. currently available as DIY kit or prebuilt trough my website.
psuII webpage:
http://seismic.industries/psu2/

muffs threads:
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... c#p3374586
https://muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic ... u2+seismic

best
r

Thanks for the info seismic, I will pick up a kit or two after the holidays!

Do you have any recommendations for USB-C chargers or any tips on how to pick less noisy ones, do you just have to buy a few and check them with a scope?

One more thing... when you hand solder QFN packages, do you do it from the top, or tin the pads and the center and heat from under the board with your iron? I have seen both methods but I've only done QFP stuff myself.

Thanks, have a happy new year!

I solder two opposite pads of the qfn, then the gnd pad trough a via. Then the reat of the pads.

In the ps2 kits the pcb are preassembled, so the qfn is already soldered.

For the chargers: i got stuck with try and error, but generally the ones that teally bring their power ratings are usually a bit quieter (just my subjective opinion)

Thanks for the tips seismic.

I will order one of the PSU2 kits which I understand are soldered. I was also wanting to order an IPS2 PCB if you are still selling them, I have sourced all the components already.

boards and panels for the IPS2 are still available (apart from being opensource)

[attacca]

Thank you seismic, I appreciate you and other open source contributors. I may get some PCBs made in the future but I think purchasing two from you should keep me covered for awhile and hopefully you make a little from the kits.

[jsu]

Thank you for designing this and offering it to the community as DIY! Just discovered it and look forward to building one since you no longer offer them directly. Big Thanks!

https://github.com/seismicindustries/IPS2

[seismic]

Thank you for designing this and offering it to the community as DIY! Just discovered it and look forward to building one since you no longer offer them directly. Big Thanks!

https://github.com/seismicindustries/IPS2

Most wecome.
I just removed the shop and the menu structure.
I still have some ips2 boards in my drawer, incase of urgency..
Here is the direct link: (has a paypal button)
http://seismic.industries/ips2/

[EATyourGUITAR]

I am starting to hate SMD now. I have all the tools but I have had zero problems with through hole. I only do 0805. SOIC. I'm all done with qfp unless I have some reason to destroy something 4 times to get 1 working board. All my 0603 resistors look the same. I don't trust the cups because some of them went flying into the other cups. I just throw the 0603 in the trash at that point.