Hi Guys,
I have a Gophert NPS-1601 variable bench DC power supply and a number of single voltage supplies. They all work well but lack split-rail capability. I have a project coming up that will require plus and minus supply rails so would like to add a minus output post to the Gophert supply. Or maybe make an external circuit with plus-ground-minus posts on it so I don't modify the supply's front panel needlessly. Some supplies on the net (Matrix Technology MPS 3206 for example) have split-rail outputs on their front panels but don't advertise that fact nor even list the capability in their spec sheets, which strikes me as odd.
Given the above I can't imagine that adding split outputs to a variable supply that didn't come with them would terribly difficult. If I added them to the Gophert, which is 0 to 32V, 0 to 5A, CV+CC capable, would it be as easy as placing a simple voltage divider between the plus and ground posts and using the junction between the resistors as the test circuit's virtual ground? What values would I use for resistance and wattage that could pass the supply's maximum power output without consuming it as heat? Is it that simple or am I missing something?
I could, of course, build a split-rail supply just for this project, but that's not a permanent solution. I have also put two 12V server supplies in series in the past (and isolated the DC ground from one of them to prevent sparks) with no problems, but those supplies are not variable nor CC capable.
Thanks!
I have a Gophert NPS-1601 variable bench DC power supply and a number of single voltage supplies. They all work well but lack split-rail capability. I have a project coming up that will require plus and minus supply rails so would like to add a minus output post to the Gophert supply. Or maybe make an external circuit with plus-ground-minus posts on it so I don't modify the supply's front panel needlessly. Some supplies on the net (Matrix Technology MPS 3206 for example) have split-rail outputs on their front panels but don't advertise that fact nor even list the capability in their spec sheets, which strikes me as odd.
Given the above I can't imagine that adding split outputs to a variable supply that didn't come with them would terribly difficult. If I added them to the Gophert, which is 0 to 32V, 0 to 5A, CV+CC capable, would it be as easy as placing a simple voltage divider between the plus and ground posts and using the junction between the resistors as the test circuit's virtual ground? What values would I use for resistance and wattage that could pass the supply's maximum power output without consuming it as heat? Is it that simple or am I missing something?
I could, of course, build a split-rail supply just for this project, but that's not a permanent solution. I have also put two 12V server supplies in series in the past (and isolated the DC ground from one of them to prevent sparks) with no problems, but those supplies are not variable nor CC capable.
Thanks!