Elektor Formant Modular

greetings - - 

im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.

i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves.  is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.

also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board.  

is there a better way to do this? other things to try?

dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. .  theres a good chance thats the case!!   im learning!

thanks,
brendan

The VCO needs only one +and -15 v supply. There are more pins because of the complicated board lay out.  These can be connected if necessary .
But the +5 v  should be just +5 v and not +15. Unless some components have been exchanged.
Good chance that the original components were blown up by those 10 extra volts.

In the files section you may find the original schematics as well as some modernisations.

If you know how it is constructed, you can test different parts of the vco to see what is and isn't working.

good luck
Gerard


>greetings - -
>
>im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.
>
>i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves.  is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.
>
>also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board. 
>
>is there a better way to do this? other things to try?
>
>dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. .  theres a good chance thats the case!!   im learning!
>
>thanks,
>brendan
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

-- 
______________________ _
Gerard Bik grafische vormgeving
Van Aerssenstraat 263
2582 JM  Den Haag
070 3554081

terry - thanks for the reply. . i havent been here in a while either.  funny how life gets in the way.. 

im wondering if the psu + distributor i have will even allow me to power these oscillators now - as its not wired for +5v..  

or is there an easy schematic for converting a +15v to +5 that anyone could help me out with?

thanks


--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, Terry Garrett <terry.garrett76@...> wrote:

>
> Sorry for the delay only just looked on the forum as busy in the summer/autumn due to lots of things, so Format put on hold for ??? months. 
>             Re the power supplies, you definitely need TWO supplies one for the CCO (current controlled osc) and one for the outout stages. This helps to a certain extent with bleed but more importantly the accuracy of the CCO. The VCO must be considered as 2 circuits treated separately with +5 +15 -15 and ground for CCO and +15 -15 and ground for Output stages. I think this is mentioned in the original notes.
>                regards
>                                    Terry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: zombie_tron <zombie_tron@...>
> To: ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:59:04 PM
> Subject: [ElektorFormant] powering a VCO
> 
>   
> greetings - - 
> 
> im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.
> 
> i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves. is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.
> 
> also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board. 
> 
> is there a better way to do this? other things to try?
> 
> dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. . theres a good chance thats the case!! im learning!
> 
> thanks,
> brendan
>

It shouldn't be hard or expensive to get a 5V power supply at some computer dump. Every day digital stuff with working power supplies is thrown away.

gerards regards


>terry - thanks for the reply. . i havent been here in a while either.  funny how life gets in the way..
>
>im wondering if the psu + distributor i have will even allow me to power these oscillators now - as its not wired for +5v.. 
>
>or is there an easy schematic for converting a +15v to +5 that anyone could help me out with?
>
>thanks
>
>
>--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, Terry Garrett <terry.garrett76@...> wrote:
>>
>> Sorry for the delay only just looked on the forum as busy in the summer/autumn due to lots of things, so Format put on hold for ??? months.
>>             Re the power supplies, you definitely need TWO supplies one for the CCO (current controlled osc) and one for the outout stages. This helps to a certain extent with bleed but more importantly the accuracy of the CCO. The VCO must be considered as 2 circuits treated separately with +5 +15 -15 and ground for CCO and +15 -15 and ground for Output stages. I think this is mentioned in the original notes.
>>                regards
>>                                    Terry
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: zombie_tron <zombie_tron@...>
>> To: ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:59:04 PM
>> Subject: [ElektorFormant] powering a VCO
>>
>>  
>> greetings - -
>>
>> im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.
>>
>> i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves. is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.
>>
>> also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board.
>>
>> is there a better way to do this? other things to try?
>>
>> dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. . theres a good chance thats the case!! im learning!
>>
>> thanks,
>> brendan
>>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

-- 
______________________ _
Gerard Bik grafische vormgeving
Van Aerssenstraat 263
2582 JM  Den Haag
070 3554081

Website: http://www.biknewz.nl
IEDP gecertificeerd

true - good idea.  i actually found an old +5V 1.2A supply lying around the house.  .  im thinking i could set up a distributor to send the +5v to a few modules...  see any problem with that?

--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, Gerard Bik <gbik@...> wrote:

>
> It shouldn't be hard or expensive to get a 5V power supply at some computer dump. Every day digital stuff with working power supplies is thrown away.
> 
> gerards regards
> 
> 
> >terry - thanks for the reply. . i havent been here in a while either.  funny how life gets in the way..
> >
> >im wondering if the psu + distributor i have will even allow me to power these oscillators now - as its not wired for +5v.. 
> >
> >or is there an easy schematic for converting a +15v to +5 that anyone could help me out with?
> >
> >thanks
> >
> >
> >--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, Terry Garrett <terry.garrett76@> wrote:
> >>
> >> Sorry for the delay only just looked on the forum as busy in the summer/autumn due to lots of things, so Format put on hold for ??? months.
> >>             Re the power supplies, you definitely need TWO supplies one for the CCO (current controlled osc) and one for the outout stages. This helps to a certain extent with bleed but more importantly the accuracy of the CCO. The VCO must be considered as 2 circuits treated separately with +5 +15 -15 and ground for CCO and +15 -15 and ground for Output stages. I think this is mentioned in the original notes.
> >>                regards
> >>                                    Terry
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: zombie_tron <zombie_tron@>
> >> To: ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com
> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:59:04 PM
> >> Subject: [ElektorFormant] powering a VCO
> >>
> >>  
> >> greetings - -
> >>
> >> im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.
> >>
> >> i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves. is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.
> >>
> >> also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board.
> >>
> >> is there a better way to do this? other things to try?
> >>
> >> dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. . theres a good chance thats the case!! im learning!
> >>
> >> thanks,
> >> brendan
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> 
> -- 
> ______________________ _
> Gerard Bik grafische vormgeving
> Van Aerssenstraat 263
> 2582 JM  Den Haag
> 070 3554081
> 
> Website: http://www.biknewz.nl
> IEDP gecertificeerd
>

You could also adjust your pcb a bit and add a 7805 voltageregulator to get +5V from the +15 V.
Check the 7805 datasheet for the exact schematic.
regards,

K.

--- On Tue, 27/4/10, PostRock <postrockost@...> wrote:

From: PostRock <postrockost@...>
Subject: [ElektorFormant] Re: powering a VCO
To: ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, 27 April, 2010, 13:16







 



  


    
      
      
      terry - thanks for the reply. . i havent been here in a while either.  funny how life gets in the way.. 



im wondering if the psu + distributor i have will even allow me to power these oscillators now - as its not wired for +5v..  



or is there an easy schematic for converting a +15v to +5 that anyone could help me out with?



thanks



--- In ElektorFormant@ yahoogroups. com, Terry Garrett <terry.garrett76@ ...> wrote:

>

> Sorry for the delay only just looked on the forum as busy in the summer/autumn due to lots of things, so Format put on hold for ??? months. 

>             Re the power supplies, you definitely need TWO supplies one for the CCO (current controlled osc) and one for the outout stages. This helps to a certain extent with bleed but more importantly the accuracy of the CCO. The VCO must be considered as 2 circuits treated  separately with +5 +15 -15 and ground for CCO and +15 -15 and ground for Output stages. I think this is mentioned in the original notes.

>                regards

>                                    Terry

> 

> 

> 

> 

> ____________ _________ _________ __

> From: zombie_tron <zombie_tron@ ...>

> To: ElektorFormant@ yahoogroups. com

> Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:59:04 PM

> Subject: [ElektorFormant] powering a VCO

> 

>   

> greetings - - 

> 

> im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.

> 

> i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves. is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.

> 

> also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board. 

> 

> is there a better way to do this? other things to try?

> 

> dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. . theres a good chance thats the case!! im learning!

> 

> thanks,

> brendan

>

From where I sit i can see no problem at all.  :-D



>true - good idea.  i actually found an old +5V 1.2A supply lying around the house.  .  im thinking i could set up a distributor to send the +5v to a few modules...  see any problem with that?
>
>--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, Gerard Bik <gbik@...> wrote:
>>
>> It shouldn't be hard or expensive to get a 5V power supply at some computer dump. Every day digital stuff with working power supplies is thrown away.
>>
>> gerards regards
>>
>>
>> >terry - thanks for the reply. . i havent been here in a while either.  funny how life gets in the way..
>> >
>> >im wondering if the psu + distributor i have will even allow me to power these oscillators now - as its not wired for +5v..
>> >
>> >or is there an easy schematic for converting a +15v to +5 that anyone could help me out with?
>> >
>> >thanks
>> >
>> >
>> >--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, Terry Garrett <terry.garrett76@> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Sorry for the delay only just looked on the forum as busy in the summer/autumn due to lots of things, so Format put on hold for ??? months.
>> >>             Re the power supplies, you definitely need TWO supplies one for the CCO (current controlled osc) and one for the outout stages. This helps to a certain extent with bleed but more importantly the accuracy of the CCO. The VCO must be considered as 2 circuits treated separately with +5 +15 -15 and ground for CCO and +15 -15 and ground for Output stages. I think this is mentioned in the original notes.
>> >>                regards
>> >>                                    Terry
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ________________________________
>> >> From: zombie_tron <zombie_tron@>
>> >> To: ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:59:04 PM
>> >> Subject: [ElektorFormant] powering a VCO
>> >>
>> >> 
>> >> greetings - -
>> >>
>> >> im having trouble getting the old VCO to make any sound.
>> >>
>> >> i noticed that there are 2 sets of power supply inputs on the back of the boards. on some of the modules i have these two have been linked together with cables on the boards them selves. is this kosher, or does it really need a doubled up supply.
>> >>
>> >> also the +5v had been soldered to the +15v bus board.
>> >>
>> >> is there a better way to do this? other things to try?
>> >>
>> >> dont feel bad about suggesting any obvious things i might be missing. . theres a good chance thats the case!! im learning!
>> >>
>> >> thanks,
>> >> brendan
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >------------------------------------
>> >
>> >Yahoo! Groups Links
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>> --
>> ______________________ _
>> Gerard Bik grafische vormgeving
>> Van Aerssenstraat 263
>> 2582 JM  Den Haag
>> 070 3554081
>>
>> Website: http://www.biknewz.nl
>> IEDP gecertificeerd
>>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

-- 
______________________ _
Gerard Bik grafische vormgeving
Van Aerssenstraat 263
2582 JM  Den Haag
070 3554081

Website: http://www.biknewz.nl
IEDP gecertificeerd