12 VOLT OPTION

[kfxi]

What is the purpose of the kit #4, 12 volt option in the current coop.  Should I have one of these for every 16 channel active and passive hub?

Ken

[rrowan]

The 12 volt option was added to the hub for some folks who had 12 power supplies (read: Ham operators, etc) and didn't want to use a pc power supply. Later it was suggested that the connector could be use to provide power for a 4 port hub but you still have to watch the amps powering up the 16 port hub plus the 4 port hub.

Rick R.

[kfxi]

Thanks,  how about one more question  how much current does a fully loaded active hub need.

Ken

[galgon]

Define fully loaded.  Depends on what you are powering with the hub. For
Example 16 strings of 128 smart nodes at .029 amps a piece puts you just under 60 amps.  The wiki has power consumption info for all of the smart string gear.

Be sure to add a little extra (20% good rule of thumb) to the power supply you choose.

[kfxi]

Thanks your example was the load I am going to use.  Does smart strings and dumb strings draw the same amount of current?  I will be using dumb strings

Ken

[rdebolt]

Thanks your example was the load I am going to use.  Does smart strings and dumb strings draw the same amount of current?  I will be using dumb strings

Ken

You will need to look at the current consumption of the nodes that you will be using. To answer your question, no probably not.

[galgon]

As stated it really depends on your dumb strings and the number of nodes on them.  The max for the dumb string controller is 4 amps.  So if you manage to max out all 16 ports you are at 64 amps. 

[Rogelio]

To add a little more to Rick explanation of the 12 volt option, if i understand it correctly, A computer power supply also provides 5 volt and 3.3 volt for the on board circuitry to operate.  A 12 volt supply does not, so a 5 volt and 3.3 volt regulator are added to the board.

[rm357]

Correct. The 5v powers the 485 chips and the 3.3 is for the pic that generates the DMX output on the active hub.