416 replies to this topic

[zebulon]

zeb,

 

can you tell us the difference between your board and that dmd piggy board?

 

 

The Piggy is built around a Texas Instruments linear regulator. It's a decent design but will run extremely hot as there is a lot of excess energy that will be dumped off through heat and the regulators are mounted directly using pads on the board for heat sinking.

 

My board isn't so much my design as it is an improvement on the original William's design. It uses zener diodes, switching transistors and load resistors to accomplish the same thing. The transistors are heat sinked, the load resistors have been upped from 5w to 10w  and from 1/2w to 1w to minimize the heat (all of these high voltage boards run hot and if you look at many, the circuit board usually doesn't take it very well) and the bridge rectifiers have been switched to 600v from the original 4-diode configuration. The filter caps are now 1000v and the stiffening caps are upped to 250v.

 

Once i get my transformer, my intention is to fine tune the voltages (if necessary) and increase the size of the board to allow mounting of the transformer, a fuse for the transformer input and a socket for a standard computer power supply cable. The output connector is already a keyed plug that is a direct match for the dmd so it should literally be a plug and play unit. 

[RoccoC]

Edit: I have a bummed out led dmd and it seems if I am going to replace it, might as well do so with the real thing. Sounds wise, no? . Anyway tentative here, will make up my mind in the next couple of days. How many of those transformers are left?

At this point it's looking like I will have 5 or 6 transformers available from the first batch.

[mllkat]

This is going to be awesome! It sounds perfect Zeb. Plug and play is the only way to go for the electronically challenged person like myself. I am so on board (so to speak) when this becomes available.

[clutester]

Looks like due to the July 4th holiday that I won't be receiving the transformers until early next week. I'll keep everyone posted!

Should give me enough time to finish up my cab. Actually got to play it the other night with the buttons all hooked up and monitors in place, just need that DMD in place. I have everything now except the transformer.

Edited by clutester, 03 July 2013 - 08:50 PM.

[Hos_Nos]

zeb,

 

can you tell us the difference between your board and that dmd piggy board?

 

 

The Piggy is built around a Texas Instruments linear regulator. It's a decent design but will run extremely hot as there is a lot of excess energy that will be dumped off through heat and the regulators are mounted directly using pads on the board for heat sinking.

 

My board isn't so much my design as it is an improvement on the original William's design. It uses zener diodes, switching transistors and load resistors to accomplish the same thing. The transistors are heat sinked, the load resistors have been upped from 5w to 10w  and from 1/2w to 1w to minimize the heat (all of these high voltage boards run hot and if you look at many, the circuit board usually doesn't take it very well) and the bridge rectifiers have been switched to 600v from the original 4-diode configuration. The filter caps are now 1000v and the stiffening caps are upped to 250v.

 

Once i get my transformer, my intention is to fine tune the voltages (if necessary) and increase the size of the board to allow mounting of the transformer, a fuse for the transformer input and a socket for a standard computer power supply cable. The output connector is already a keyed plug that is a direct match for the dmd so it should literally be a plug and play unit. 

 

Hey Zeb, 

 

I too am interested in your board and I am willing to wait until you have finalized the spec.  Anything to simplify the hookup and manage heat more effectively is worth the wait.

 

Will you be making this board available for purchase?  Sorry if  you already stated this in an earlier post.

Jamie

[duffbeerman]

zeb,

 

can you tell us the difference between your board and that dmd piggy board?

 

 

The Piggy is built around a Texas Instruments linear regulator. It's a decent design but will run extremely hot as there is a lot of excess energy that will be dumped off through heat and the regulators are mounted directly using pads on the board for heat sinking.

 

My board isn't so much my design as it is an improvement on the original William's design. It uses zener diodes, switching transistors and load resistors to accomplish the same thing. The transistors are heat sinked, the load resistors have been upped from 5w to 10w  and from 1/2w to 1w to minimize the heat (all of these high voltage boards run hot and if you look at many, the circuit board usually doesn't take it very well) and the bridge rectifiers have been switched to 600v from the original 4-diode configuration. The filter caps are now 1000v and the stiffening caps are upped to 250v.

 

Once i get my transformer, my intention is to fine tune the voltages (if necessary) and increase the size of the board to allow mounting of the transformer, a fuse for the transformer input and a socket for a standard computer power supply cable. The output connector is already a keyed plug that is a direct match for the dmd so it should literally be a plug and play unit. 

 

Hey Zeb, 

 

I too am interested in your board and I am willing to wait until you have finalized the spec.  Anything to simplify the hookup and manage heat more effectively is worth the wait.

 

Will you be making this board available for purchase?  Sorry if  you already stated this in an earlier post.

Jamie

 

 

He said he they will be up for sale on his website as soon as he has everything nailed down and they are in production.

[RoccoC]

Hi Everyone,

A quick update to let you know that I received the shipment of transformers today. I'm going to test a few to make sure they are within spec and if all is good will be sending out PayPal invoices soon. If for some reason I don't have your email address, I've sent you a PM requesting it. Otherwise, expect an invoice in the next day or two.

Also, it looks like the cheapest way to ship these to those of you in the USA is going to be with a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, so you can expect that the invoice will be for $35 + $11.30 = $46.30. If you are interested in more than one, shipping costs will be the same for up to four transformers since I should be able to fit them all into a single flat rate box.

For the rest of you, I'll invoice for actual shipping costs.

Thanks!

Edited by RoccoC, 11 July 2013 - 07:50 AM.

[clutester]

Amazing news! I really appreciate everything you and the others have done to make this possible.

[randr]

Great! Can't wait! Like Christmas in july

[duffbeerman]

Hi Everyone,

A quick update to let you know that I received the shipment of transformers today. I'm going to test a few to make sure they are within spec and if all is good will be sending out PayPal invoices soon. If for some reason I don't have your email address, I've sent you a PM requesting it. Otherwise, expect an invoice in the next day or two.

Also, it looks like the cheapest way to ship these to those of you in the USA is going to be with a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, so you can expect that the invoice will be for $35 + $11.30 = $46.30. If you are interested in more than one, shipping costs will be the same for up to four transformers since I should be able to fit them all into a single flat rate box.

For the rest of you, I'll invoice for actual shipping costs.

Thanks!

 

This is great news, now that those are in, zeb how are those convert boards looking?

[mllkat]

Hi Everyone,

A quick update to let you know that I received the shipment of transformers today. I'm going to test a few to make sure they are within spec and if all is good will be sending out PayPal invoices soon. If for some reason I don't have your email address, I've sent you a PM requesting it. Otherwise, expect an invoice in the next day or two.

Also, it looks like the cheapest way to ship these to those of you in the USA is going to be with a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, so you can expect that the invoice will be for $35 + $11.30 = $46.30. If you are interested in more than one, shipping costs will be the same for up to four transformers since I should be able to fit them all into a single flat rate box.

For the rest of you, I'll invoice for actual shipping costs.

Thanks!

Fantastic...PM sent...Thanks!!

[zebulon]

Hi Everyone,

A quick update to let you know that I received the shipment of transformers today. I'm going to test a few to make sure they are within spec and if all is good will be sending out PayPal invoices soon. If for some reason I don't have your email address, I've sent you a PM requesting it. Otherwise, expect an invoice in the next day or two.

Also, it looks like the cheapest way to ship these to those of you in the USA is going to be with a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, so you can expect that the invoice will be for $35 + $11.30 = $46.30. If you are interested in more than one, shipping costs will be the same for up to four transformers since I should be able to fit them all into a single flat rate box.

For the rest of you, I'll invoice for actual shipping costs.

Thanks!

 

This is great news, now that those are in, zeb how are those convert boards looking?

 

Like the rest, I'm waiting for my transformer. Once I have that, I can add the necessary space to the board design and make the order for the boards.

 

I'll need some idea of the number that are interested as it will determine how many boards I order for the production run.

[mllkat]

Hi Everyone,

A quick update to let you know that I received the shipment of transformers today. I'm going to test a few to make sure they are within spec and if all is good will be sending out PayPal invoices soon. If for some reason I don't have your email address, I've sent you a PM requesting it. Otherwise, expect an invoice in the next day or two.

Also, it looks like the cheapest way to ship these to those of you in the USA is going to be with a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, so you can expect that the invoice will be for $35 + $11.30 = $46.30. If you are interested in more than one, shipping costs will be the same for up to four transformers since I should be able to fit them all into a single flat rate box.

For the rest of you, I'll invoice for actual shipping costs.

Thanks!

 

This is great news, now that those are in, zeb how are those convert boards looking?

 

Like the rest, I'm waiting for my transformer. Once I have that, I can add the necessary space to the board design and make the order for the boards.

 

I'll need some idea of the number that are interested as it will determine how many boards I order for the production run.

Put me down for one...It will complete the Plasma Puzzle, along with Rocco's Transformer.

[russdx]

Put me down as well zebulon

[Carny_Priest]

Yep, one for me as well.

[The Loafer]

Feck it, one for me as well Zeb. ... And a transformer for me too Rocco. I guess I am "all in"

[Slydog43]

Zeb I would like one please

[randr]

Just got home and my transformers arrived! Will hook it up tonight and report back! Thank you so much!

[randr]

Well it works! Cannot thank you enough! Now time to play with it.

[duffbeerman]

I also received my transformer tonight. Thanks for everything Rocco!