Elektor Formant Modular

..as I suspected, my other and more pressing post is left cold and 
quite..

Im gonna stick it here again... vey bad form I know... but this list 
is a bit quiet, time to chat a bit guys...

Re: PSU's suggestions? (OLD THREAD)
As for having a voltmeter... well I DO have one, but to be honest, I
really don't know how to use it ha ha!!! (Yes... and I'm overhauling
a dusty old 70's synth!)Infact, due to the fact that it is now in
bits, I was wondering how I can test...
A) DId I fry the ADSR?
B) IN future how do I know if the ADSR (or any module) is working,
when I hook it up to the PSU.

The ADSR was a silly module to first hook up, cos it needs
connections to other modules to know if its working... (Idont have a
keyboard.. so I need to modify it so it will accept a gate signal,
not just the Formant Internal Keyboard trigger, from the Interface
board...)but from a sequencer (mobius for example).

But I DO want to know...specifically.. IS someone here powering their
formant from a 3rd party PSU, and is ANYONE useing the Blacet? (Or
know for DEFINATE that its OK) SOrry if Im being particularly obtuse,
but Im trying not to blow another module... (If indeed that is what I
have done)

Thanks

You Guys Rock my lame ass!!

Mark... ..... ... (oh.. ok... too much.. ? ok .. I'll shut up now...))

I have a homemade PSU but CAN state that the Formant WILL work with ANY
good, stable power supply that generates +15V and -15V at up to around 500mA
(depends upon how many modules you have). If I recall correctly, the VCOs
are the only modules that ALSO need a 5V supply. It would be fairly trivial
to add a 5V regulator to each VCO and run everything from +/-15V.

The Formant used a popular 723 regulator design as it is stable and can be
adjusted easily.

Best Regards

(Mr) Laurie Biddulph

Elby Designs
ABN: 70 022 727 605
http://www.elby-designs.com

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ensure that all copies of this
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "markfrancombe" <mark@...>
To: <ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 7:40 PM
Subject: [ElektorFormant] ...but dont forget my PSU post.. (now Help with
Voltmeter...?)

> ..as I suspected, my other and more pressing post is left cold and
> quite..
>
> Im gonna stick it here again... vey bad form I know... but this list
> is a bit quiet, time to chat a bit guys...
>
> Re: PSU's suggestions? (OLD THREAD)
> As for having a voltmeter... well I DO have one, but to be honest, I
> really don't know how to use it ha ha!!! (Yes... and I'm overhauling
> a dusty old 70's synth!)Infact, due to the fact that it is now in
> bits, I was wondering how I can test...
> A) DId I fry the ADSR?
> B) IN future how do I know if the ADSR (or any module) is working,
> when I hook it up to the PSU.
>
> The ADSR was a silly module to first hook up, cos it needs
> connections to other modules to know if its working... (Idont have a
> keyboard.. so I need to modify it so it will accept a gate signal,
> not just the Formant Internal Keyboard trigger, from the Interface
> board...)but from a sequencer (mobius for example).
>
> But I DO want to know...specifically.. IS someone here powering their
> formant from a 3rd party PSU, and is ANYONE useing the Blacet? (Or
> know for DEFINATE that its OK) SOrry if Im being particularly obtuse,
> but Im trying not to blow another module... (If indeed that is what I
> have done)
>
> Thanks
>
> You Guys Rock my lame ass!!
>
> Mark... ..... ... (oh.. ok... too much.. ? ok .. I'll shut up now...))
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

"Laurie Biddulph" <elby_designs@o...> wrote:
If I recall correctly, the VCOs
> are the only modules that ALSO need a 5V supply. It would be fairly 
trivial
> to add a 5V regulator to each VCO and run everything from +/-15V.
> 
> The Formant used a popular 723 regulator design as it is stable and 
can be
> adjusted easily.
>

ahhGh! tHIS WAS EXACTLy what I didnt wanna hear...I certainly did NOT 
know that the VCO needed 5v... It maybe a trivial thing (to make a 5v 
regulator) for you clever electronix wizards.. but I have no idea 
what you sayin! 

I think that has pretty much decided it for me, I HAVE to tidy up the 
current formant PSU that I have, put it in a box, sort out a wire 
distro network (currently its nailed to the side of the box, like a 
Norwegian Blue, and power is distributed to the modules via great big 
blobs of solder!!

Thanks for saving me a headache later...

Hi,

The 5V regulator can be as simple as using a 7805 (3-legged device) and a
couple of capacitors. The purists out there will shirk at this approach but
for 99% of us it will work absolutely fine. It will put a bit of a load on
the +15V rail because that is where the regulator will run from and you will
need a small heatsink on the 5V regulator to handle the 7V or so voltage
drop across it. Don't be put off, it is pretty straight forward and will
only cost a $1 or so per VCO. So if you want to run with an external +/-15V
supply then go ahead. I can give you a schematic if you need one.

If the Formant power supply you already have is the original then looking at
the pcb you will see 3 ic's, all 723. One each for +/15V and one for the 5V.
This is a straight forward design and as long as the pcb and components are
clean then it should work fine. You should check all the electrolytics for
bulging or leakage and replace them if they look suspect. Also double check
all the wiring to the external power transistors and make sure that is all
clean and good. If on a common heatsink, then double check that they have
insulation components on them (usually black or white plastic looking
washers and either a mica (clear material) or silicon (grey material) sheet
between the transistor and the heatsink.

If all checks out then the supply should work fine.

Best Regards

(Mr) Laurie Biddulph

Elby Designs
ABN: 70 022 727 605
http://www.elby-designs.com

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
for the addressee only.
If you are not the addressee you may not copy, forward, disclose or
otherwise use it, or any part
of it, in any form whatsoever.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender and
ensure that all copies of this
e-mail and any files transmitted with it are deleted.
Any views or opinions represented in this e-mail are solely those of the
author and do not necessarily
represent those of Elby Designs.
Although this e-mail and its attachments have been scanned for the presence
of computer viruses,
Elby Designs will not be liable for any losses as a result of any viruses
being passed on.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "markfrancombe" <mark@...>
To: <ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 9:36 PM
Subject: [ElektorFormant] Re: ...but dont forget my PSU post.. (now Help
with Voltmeter...?)

> "Laurie Biddulph" <elby_designs@o...> wrote:
> If I recall correctly, the VCOs
> > are the only modules that ALSO need a 5V supply. It would be fairly
> trivial
> > to add a 5V regulator to each VCO and run everything from +/-15V.
> >
> > The Formant used a popular 723 regulator design as it is stable and
> can be
> > adjusted easily.
> >
>
> ahhGh! tHIS WAS EXACTLy what I didnt wanna hear...I certainly did NOT
> know that the VCO needed 5v... It maybe a trivial thing (to make a 5v
> regulator) for you clever electronix wizards.. but I have no idea
> what you sayin!
>
> I think that has pretty much decided it for me, I HAVE to tidy up the
> current formant PSU that I have, put it in a box, sort out a wire
> distro network (currently its nailed to the side of the box, like a
> Norwegian Blue, and power is distributed to the modules via great big
> blobs of solder!!
>
> Thanks for saving me a headache later...
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

Thanks Laurie,

Lots of good advice, I Think the PSU is basically OK, it IS powering 
the synth right now... but it is a mess!!! Take a look at the photos I 
uploaded (taken with VERY bad phone camera... sorry) 

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/elektorformant/lst?.dir=/Marks+Form
ant&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/

and you will see what I mean. My intention is to use MOST of it, but 
not all, have new panels made, and fit it into a 19", along with my 
other modular stuff, (Blacet Wiard etc)HURRAH! Hence why I originally 
didnt want a new PSU, but now Im OK iwth that.. tis the simplest 
solution!


Cheers MArk

Hmmm,
MESS!!! I think my bowl of spaghetti at the weekend was tidier than that!!!
Looks like a nice little project!!!!

Best Regards

(Mr) Laurie Biddulph

Elby Designs
ABN: 70 022 727 605
http://www.elby-designs.com

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
for the addressee only.
If you are not the addressee you may not copy, forward, disclose or
otherwise use it, or any part
of it, in any form whatsoever.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender and
ensure that all copies of this
e-mail and any files transmitted with it are deleted.
Any views or opinions represented in this e-mail are solely those of the
author and do not necessarily
represent those of Elby Designs.
Although this e-mail and its attachments have been scanned for the presence
of computer viruses,
Elby Designs will not be liable for any losses as a result of any viruses
being passed on.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "markfrancombe" <mark@...>
To: <ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 11:16 PM
Subject: [ElektorFormant] Re: ...but dont forget my PSU post.. (now Help
with Voltmeter...?)

> Thanks Laurie,
>
> Lots of good advice, I Think the PSU is basically OK, it IS powering
> the synth right now... but it is a mess!!! Take a look at the photos I
> uploaded (taken with VERY bad phone camera... sorry)
>
> http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/elektorformant/lst?.dir=/Marks+Form
> ant&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/
>
> and you will see what I mean. My intention is to use MOST of it, but
> not all, have new panels made, and fit it into a 19", along with my
> other modular stuff, (Blacet Wiard etc)HURRAH! Hence why I originally
> didnt want a new PSU, but now Im OK iwth that.. tis the simplest
> solution!
>
>
> Cheers MArk
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>