Power Distribution Block - Green Light

[Mike]

We're trying to assemble the green light, but can't find the power splitter (the thing that the transformers connect to, not sure if I'm using the right name.) What is it listed as in the KOP? Was it even provided in the KOP? If not, what are we supposed to make?

Thanks,
-Mike

[DarMagi]

It seems that the paper implies you need to supply your own 12 volt souce and a 2 amp recommended fuse that is as close to the power source as possible. That is the paper that was included with the cathodes. If you need I'll type the entire message and give it to you through email, just let me =]

Originally Posted by Mike

We're trying to assemble the green light, but can't find the power splitter (the thing that the transformers connect to, not sure if I'm using the right name.) What is it listed as in the KOP? Was it even provided in the KOP? If not, what are we supposed to make?

Thanks,
-Mike

[Mike]

Originally Posted by DarMagi

It seems that the paper implies you need to supply your own 12 volt souce and a 2 amp recommended fuse that is as close to the power source as possible. That is the paper that was included with the cathodes. If you need I'll type the entire message and give it to you through email, just let me =]

Yeah, we read that paper. However, the lights plug into a transformer that needs to be plugged into twelve volts. As I understand it, there should be an AC adapter which takes 120vac from the wall and splits it into 4 seperate female connectors (one for each transformer) each at 12vdc.

Thanks for the help anyways
-Mike

[BrianBSL]

Originally Posted by Mike

Yeah, we read that paper. However, the lights plug into a transformer that needs to be plugged into twelve volts. As I understand it, there should be an AC adapter which takes 120vac from the wall and splits it into 4 seperate female connectors (one for each transformer) each at 12vdc.

Thanks for the help anyways
-Mike

I think you are on your own as far as the 12V source. Just run them off the robot battery if you don't have a supply capable of running the lights.

[Mike AA]

Originally Posted by Mike

Yeah, we read that paper. However, the lights plug into a transformer that needs to be plugged into twelve volts. As I understand it, there should be an AC adapter which takes 120vac from the wall and splits it into 4 seperate female connectors (one for each transformer) each at 12vdc.

Thanks for the help anyways
-Mike

The connectors are connected to a few inches, close to a foot of red and black wire, there are 4 of these. You will need to supply your own 12 volt supply and fuse and connect to the little connector cables.

-Mike

[MustangRobotics]

The supplied robot battery works nicely with the cathodes.

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by MustangRobotics

The supplied robot battery works nicely with the cathodes.

Or a hacked computer power supply. Seriously, well worth doing.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Mike

As I understand it, there should be an AC adapter which takes 120vac from the wall and splits it into 4 seperate female connectors (one for each transformer) each at 12vdc.

I don't see it that way.

We just connected all four red wires, and another red wire (that goes to the battery) together and soldered them, same for the black wires, we will put a 2A fuse in there tomorrow, and just hooked it up to a battery from last year.

I don't see anything that implies a power supply was provided.

Originally Posted by mechanicalbrain

Or a hacked computer power supply.

Be careful, a switched power supply (as used by a computer) needsa decent load on the main voltage output (which is the +5 V supply) in order to regulate properly. Just putting a few hundred milliamps on the +12 output is inviting catastrophe*.

Don

* An award featuring the hindquarters of a feline.

[Mike]

Alright, well I ended up getting it to work. I used some wire nuts to connect all the positive and negative wires and then connected it to a Radioshack Adapt-A-Plug AC adapter.

Thanks for the help