Electrical power using PCBs

[lesthegrngo]

Hi all, I am trying to as always reduce the amount of fly wiring on my rig. I have already made RS485 bus bars using PCB's mounted to the inside of the consoles, however some panels need either a 5v or 12v supply or sometimes both. 

Is it feasible to use PCB's to make the bus bars or would the power be limited by the thickness of the copper?

Cheers 

Les

[Vinc_Vega]

Hi Les,

I use 12V to power almost all my panel PCBs for the backlighting. The Arduino is able to regulate it down to 5V than or o separate regulator may be used. 12V traces of the PCB are layed out little bigger than the other lines. But this is driven by the higher current consumption of the LEDs not the higher power supply. The LEDs are commanded by a MOSFET 

Edit: see pictures of the multi purpose Nano PCB and that of the CMSC panel.

 

Regards, Vinc

Edited August 27, 2023 by Vinc_Vega

[lesthegrngo]

Thanks Vinc

what about long runs, and for feeding multiple panels?

cheers

 

Les

[Vinc_Vega]

Have a look at the lower picture. The left most two connectors of the top PCB (it's always a top and down picture of the same board) are for power and RS485 input. Connector pins are bridged so multiple panels may be daisy chained.

Edit: I may attach better graphics when I'm at my PC again.

Regards, Vinc.

Edited August 27, 2023 by Vinc_Vega

[Vinc_Vega]

Here are some graphics of the fritzing design of my multi purpose Nano PCB.

It is feeded by 12V from a PC power supply to the Nano's regulator by a 4-wire connector that also includes the A and B signals from the RS485 bus.

A second connector of the same type enables the daisy chaining of further boards. I haven't tried to connect more than 3 boards so far.

Further boards like the Max7219 driver chips may be connected to the regulated Nano's 5V output, motor drivers to the unregulated 12V output.

Backlighting is (always) commanded by D3 (PWM capable for dimming) to a MOSFET and then connected to a separated 12V output.

IC2 pullup resistors are optional to A4 and A5, jumpers are used to deconnect the RX/TX-Lines to programm a plugged Nano via USB.

D2 is reserved for RS485 control with an optional pulldown resistor.

D4 to D13 and A0 to A7 are not limited to use.

 

Edit: 12V and 5V share the same GND planes top and bottom.

 

Regards, Vinc

Edited August 27, 2023 by Vinc_Vega

[lesthegrngo]

Thanks - I notice the capacitor for the Max487 chip, what is the advantage there?

Cheers

 

Les

[Vinc_Vega]

Hi Les, good point!

Edit: found a notice at an older board layout, that the cap is optional for decoupling the MAX487. So I must have read that somewhere

 

Regards, Vinc

Edited August 28, 2023 by Vinc_Vega

[_Hoss]

I highly recommend you install the pull-up resistors to keep your VCC at either +5 vdc or +12 vdc. no matter the load placed on the board or controller.

Edited August 27, 2023 by _Hoss

[Rapti]

I also run all my backlight and illuminated buttons off a 12V source

Gesendet von meinem SM-G988B mit Tapatalk

[agrasyuk]

this looks good