View Single Post
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 20-12-2005, 20:08
DonRotolo's Avatar
DonRotolo DonRotolo is offline
Back to humble
FRC #0832
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 7,011
DonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Circuit design help - power supply - Non FIRST

Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh Siegel
I'm not going for "over-unity" since I don't really believe that it's possible with current technologies,
...or according to modern theories of how the world works.

Josh, it appears that you want to generate a relatively large signal (tens of amps) in the frequency range of 5 to 150 Hz, with a lower limit of say 5 volts and an upper limit of say 12 or more volts. This is not AC, but pulsating DC, there is a difference.

If I have that right, then it's easy to do for fairly cheap.

First, use a low-power variable frequency source (555 timer, signal generator, Beastie Boys tape, etc) and feed that into a few-hundred-watt single-channel audio amplifier (like used for a car). Not terribly efficient, but not too bad either. Then, just connect a (5?) volt power supply between one of the amp outputs and "ground", and you have your 5 volt bias. Fiddle with the numbers (you'll probably want a 10 to 12 volt bias, really) and drop the electrodes into the water.

Note that you cannot power the bias supply from the same source as the amplifier, or you'll have a short to ground and other issues. (=smoke).

Good luck with that, let us know how it turns out, and yes, ventilate well, like outdoors.

Don
__________________

I am N2IRZ - What's your callsign?