Re: Wall Wart for a Gecko

There may be a misapprehension that the 5VDC powers something in the
drive. It does not.

The STEP and DIRECTION inputs are just an opto LED and a series
resistor; that's it. You drive one end from your parallel port. The
other end has to go somewhere. Ideally that somewhere should be your
PC +5VDC.

Mariss

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Tim Goldstein" <timg@k...> wrote:
> This just drives me crazy. Many people go through all types of
gyrations to
> use an external power supply for the Gecko +5v feed for reasons
that just
> baffle me. You have to connect the grounds to the computer anyway
so you
> have no gain in isolation and it is just another expense and
complication.
> What is the problem with following the advise of the manufacturer
of the
> drive and just connecting to the computer +5v source? If the
circuit was
> ground and parallel port step/direction pin you wouldn't think
twice about a
> direct connection. Just because it is set with the parallel port
sinking the
> current instead of sourcing it everyone warps out and turns it into
a
> problem.
>
> I would love to understand the true benefit of adding a separate
power
> supply for the +5v when connecting a Gecko.
>
> Tim
> [Denver, CO]