Introduction: HomeMade Digital Source

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This Instructable was based on the vídeo from Youtube chanel - Muy Fácil de Hacer.


Tired of not having how to test your electronics projects without buying a battery? Do you want to have a source of energy that can be used for different projects? And still with a low cost?

Your problems are over !

This digital electric source is simple and inexpensive to do and every step to develop it you find in this instructable.

If you want to see this instructable in French, use the PDF file below.

Special thanks to La_Factorerie Fablab & Coworking for the translation.

Attachments

Step 1: Materials

To make the digital power source the following parts are needed:

  • 1 x 12V power supply (we used a 2A one)
  • 2 x Alligator clips
  • 1 x 10K potentiometer
  • 1 x 1K Ohm Resistor
  • 1 x LM317 Regulator
  • 1 x Switch button
  • 1 x Female P4 connector.
  • 1 x Heat sink
  • 1 x Mini digital voltmeter
  • 1 x Knob
  • MDF sheet or any other material (We used a 3mm MDF sheet for this one)
  • copper wires
  • PCB

Tools that you will need:

  • Thermal paste.
  • Tin.
  • A Cutting tool for make the design (We used a laser cutter).
  • Soldering Iron
  • drilling machine

Step 2: Electrical Schematic

In the electronic part we used a PCB to centralize the wires of all components. The design of the board can be found above.

If you don't want to put the circuit in a PCB, you can either weld it directly into components or use a mini protoboard, following the circuit in the first or fourth picture.

Here you can find all the files related to confection of the board through Proteus software and its execution with a CNC, including the gerber and G code files (used to mill te board).

Attachments

Step 3: External Design

The DXF models of the digital source box are on our page of thingiverse: DXF MODELS

The outer dimensions of the box are: 100X60X60 mm (L x H x W).

We developed that model using Solidworks and a Laser cutter to make the cuts in MDF. But you can make your own model for the external design. Always paying attention to the size of the components so that they fit right into the holes.

In our source the holes for the components have the following measures:

  • Potentiometer: 7mm circular hole.
  • Switch button: 21,4 x 12 mm (L x H)
  • Alligator clips: 2mm circular hole.
  • Female P4 connector: 7mm circular hole.
  • Digital Voltimeter: 45,2 x 29 mm (L x H)

Step 4: Gathering

When the box and circuit are ready, you need to put the two together.

Begin by placing the base of the carton and the front of the unit (with all components already attached). Then place the right and the back side of the source. Finally place the left side and top, always making sure that everything is tight.

Note: If the straps do not get too tightly attached you can pass some glue.

Step 5: Results

This is the final result of our digital source, with it you can connect all types of source with input P4 (12V 1A, 12 2A, 9V 1A etc ...) and have the desired output. All this with a cost that does not exceed $ 20.

We intend to develop a version 2 of this source with many improvements in functionalities and design.

Keep waiting...

Note: Soon we will put some videos and photos of the source operation.