Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Clarifications needed -

On Friday 12 September 2003 09:34 pm, Tim Goldstein spake:

> > My concern is over the 80 VDC limit for the
> > Geckos. (G210s marked with "90IFX" on the covers.)
>
> What happens when your power company lets the voltage float high?
> According to Mariss (and he should know) the number 1 cause of blown
> Geckos by a large margin is over voltage.

mmmHmmmm... I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.
But wouldn't the UPS (if used here) help there, as well?
(Assuming that I used the right one, that had
over-voltage protection as well as under-voltage)
<...like a SmartUPS...>

> The length of the motor cables is not something that cause you to need
> the caps at the input to the Geckos. My test is pretty straight forward.
> Hook it up and run it. If the large internal cap on the Gecko gets hot
> then you need the caps at the drive. Suggested caps are listed on the
> instruction sheet.

What causes them to get hot? (just curious)
Okay, just saw the 470uf callout...

> > Third - the +5V.
> > Assuming that I want to work with what I have right now and
> > not need to
> > spend more money, do I get that +5V from the computer power supply
> > or does it come from somewhere in the parallel port?
>
> There is no +5 on the parallel port. Get it from the computer power
> supply or from a game port or from a USB.

I always get confused here, so I'll ask what the majority common practice is -

Use the ground of the parallel port, or +5V
off of one of the computer power supply leads?
I've built the controller enclosure to house everything, so picking off of one
of the power wires isn't a problem; I just need to get the right direction to
head in. I'd like to understand *why* as well...

> > And Fourth, I'm planning on using a UPS for the controller,
> > and wanted
> > to know people's thoughts on using it for the motor's power
> > supply as well.
>
> The startup surge could be enough to fry the UPS depending upon the size
> of your power supply. I put my controller computer on a UPS, but run the
> motor power straight from the mains.

Another good point. I'll hafta look into what the UPS's rating are.

Thanks, Tim.

Weyland