Introduction: Variable DC Power Module for Your Remote Control "RC" Hobby - DP50V5A

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About: I am a builder and maker of things. I enjoy the command line, electronics, learning robotics, quad copters, and cooking food. I'd rather not cut grass or live in extreme hot weather.

Hello friends! Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read my instructable. Today's instructable was made for the purpose of educating people who are interested in finding a programmable, compact and portable variable power source for a remote control "RC" hobby. In this instructable I will share what I found for this topic - all of which I have tested and verified myself.

A huge shout out and thank you goes out to the team from gearbest.com for sending me this nifty electronic device for review. A nice manual is included with the DP50V5A along with a RB085T-60 Diode Array to be used in-line if you are going to be using with batteries.

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

I began by sourcing some items to power the module. These are the items I used to make this truly portable.


• HP AC/DC Laptop Power Adapter, Input: 100-240V, Output: 19V 3.95A
• DIY power bar, electric wire, connectors
• 7mm brushed electric motor and propeller
• 3V bulb
• 12V pc computer fan


This is my latest instructable - 09/13/2016. Below is the DP50V5A CV, CC Programmable Control Supply Power Module from gearbest.com. It's the smallest variable DC power supply I've ever worked with and it has a tremendous capacity to do many things. My estimates put this device on the top on my 'micro-to-go' list category. It's very compact with a full color LCD display.

Here are a list of features:



• Adjustable output voltage
• Adjustable output current
• S-OVP - Over voltage protection
• S-OCP Over current protection
• Light weight, portable


Applications: This can be used with DC powered products, such as:



• LED lights for a work bench
• USB charger (cell phones, batteries)
• External fan (cooling effect, fume extractor.)
• USB-gadgets (iPhone, iPad, Android tablets & phones, Blue Tooth speakers)


Technical Spec's:



• Input voltage range: 6-55V
• Output voltage range: 0V-50.00V
• Output current: 0-5.000A
• Output power range: 0-250W
• Product Weight: 113g
• Output voltage resolution: 0.01V
• Output current resolution: 0.001A
• Product Dimension: 79mmX43mmX48mm
• Open size: 71mmX39mm
• Output Voltage accuracy: +/- (0.5% + 1 digit)
• Output Current accuracy: +/- (0.5% + 2 digit)


Note: Recommended that your input voltage is 1.1 times higher than the output voltage. Under large current instances an addition device might be needed to dissipate heat.

Step 1: Harvesting Random Items From the Workshop

This is a photo build log of the DP50V5A. Typically I include text that walks through each step, but for this review I'll refer you to a VIDEO - coming soon, featuring a review of the testing I did with these same pictures and a narration of the test. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message via the contact page.

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

Photos:



1. 19V laptop adapter to power module (used)
2. Discovered the connector is detachable - NICE!
3. Connecting laptop adapter power leads
4. Stand-alone module (from gearbest.com)
5. Boot-up screen
6. Stand-alone colored LCD module powered up
7. Input Voltage: U-IN: 19.69V
8. SET button - use selector knob to adjust voltage
9. Voltage SET ready to be fully power up


Step 2: Setting Up a 7mm Brushed DC Motor


If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

1. Using SET button to set output voltage
2. DC output +/- connections (taken from an old washing machine)
3. DIY board with connectors and fuses (found in dumspter)
4. In-lin ON-OFF switch (taken from an old washing machine)
5. Connecting alligator clips and multimeter for the DC motor test
6. Connecting alligator clips to DC motor
7. DC motor powered by DC module (taken from RC parts bin)
8. Multimeter voltage output #1 (Fluke 77/BN - oldie but goodie)
9. LCD readings from brushed DC motor
10. Increasing voltage (variable)
11. Motor spinning 1,2,3
12. Multimeter voltage output #2


Step 3: Work Bench Views


If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

1. Side view of work bench #1
2. Side view of work bench #2
3. Smart phone connect to OTG cable (home made)
4. WebCam connected to OTG cable
5. Side view of work bench #3
6. Work bench #1
7. Work bench #2
8. Overhead view #1
9. Work bench fully powered up with remote


Step 4: Setting Up OVP - Over Voltage Protection

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

Panel Button and Descriptions: more detailed information in the supplied manual


• M1 Data group 1/ Page up to choose
• SET Data setting/ Extract value of the specified data group/ Store values into the specified data group
• M2 Data group 2/ Page down to choose
• 1.44 inch color LCD screen
• Selector knob/Data adjustments/Lock all buttons
• ON/OFF - closes or opens output


Photos:



1. SET button to adjust OVP - over voltage protection
2. OVP #1
3. OVP #2 SET
4. OVP SET to power 12V DC pc fan
5. 12V DC PC Fan #1
6. 12V DC PC Fan #2
7. Verify 12V


Step 5: Setting Up OCP - Over Current Prevention

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

1. SET button to adjust OCP
2. OCP - over current protection
3. OCP SET to .950ADC fan running after applying power
4. OVP set to: 12V and OCP set to: .950A
5. Beginning to increase voltage/amps #1
6. Increasing voltage/amps #2
7. Increasing voltage/amps #3
8. Increasing voltage/amps #4
9. Voltage set to 13V OVP shuts down power to prevent damage
10. All functions disabled until powered on/off again
11. 12V DC pc fan - fully shutdown by OVP


Step 6: Setting Up for Bulb Testing

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

1. Setting up for 3V bulb #1
2. Setting up for 3V bulb #2
3. Selecting voltage powering bulb
4. Selecting voltage powering bulb #1
5. Selecting voltage powering bulb#2
6. Up close bulb


Step 7: Video Goes Wonkie on Android Phone S5

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.

Possible #alienwii activity happening here.

1. Up close Video goes wonkie #1
2. Video goes wonkie #2
3. Video goes wonkie #3
4. Video goes wonkie #4
5. Video goes wonkie #5
6. Video goes wonkie #6
7. Video goes wonkie #7
8. Video goes wonkie #8
9. Video goes wonkie #9


Step 8: Diode RB085T-60

This Diode Array is supplied with the module from gearbest.com. You should add this diode in-line if you are going to be charging batteries.

I will edit here when I have the video posted.

Thank you again for reading this instructable. Please let me know if you have any questions, I will be happy to help.

If you would like to pick one of these up for yourself or as a gift, please use the word "Voltage" as the coupon when checking out.