power requirements!

[GoatBoy]

Hello John! I have a grip on the SysEx now which has in fact helped to understand and optimise a little the solenoids I'm using! I will post my simple project in a day or two. One thing I still need to get my head around is powering the MSA-R and the solenoids. I want to put the MSA-R in a box and add connections and switches to tidy the whole thing up and was wondering if I can power everything from the same supply! For example- The powersupply is connected to the power terminals so can all the A's be connected to the same supply ( straight from the same terminal?) In this case 12 volts! and the ground's back to ground on the board for example? Do you have recommendations for this kind of wiring up? Also is it OK to switch that main supply from 12 to 9 volts if I need to for different solenoids without it affecting the MSA-R? Thanks!!:)

[John]

Hello John! I have a grip on the SysEx now which has in fact helped to understand and optimise a little the solenoids I'm using! I will post my simple project in a day or two.

Awesome...please do. :)

One thing I still need to get my head around is powering the MSA-R and the solenoids. I want to put the MSA-R in a box and add connections and switches to tidy the whole thing up and was wondering if I can power everything from the same supply!
The short answer is: yes, you can use the same supply to power both the MSA-R board and the solenoids. The MSA-R A/B outputs are electrically isolated from the rest of the MSA board, so you can treat them as if they were terminals of "plain old toggle switches". A couple of caveats:


Review the electrical specs in the MSA-R hardware user manual. Make sure that your power supply can supply enough current (mA) for both the MSA-R and the other parts of your project. If not, the firing of the solenoids may cause the supply voltage to temporarily drop, causing the MSA to reset (disturbing the MIDI response).
Make sure the current draw of the solenoids does not exceed the contact spec for the MSA-R outputs (also in the hardware user manual).


For example- The powersupply is connected to the power terminals so can all the A's be connected to the same supply ( straight from the same terminal?) In this case 12 volts! and the ground's back to ground on the board for example? Do you have recommendations for this kind of wiring up?

It's probably best to wire the solenoid power circuits directly from the power supply, rather than via the MSA power terminals...this way you can be sure there's no current flowing through the MSA power terminals, other than the MSA supply current itself.

Hope this makes sense...you can always post a schematic or photo of what you're doing... ;)

Also is it OK to switch that main supply from 12 to 9 volts if I need to for different solenoids without it affecting the MSA-R? Thanks!!:)

Sure...the MSA will operate just fine on either 9V or 12V DC.

[GoatBoy]

Thanks John! How do I upload photos and video to show my project?:confused:

[John]

Thanks John! How do I upload photos and video to show my project?:confused:

When you create a post, you should be able to use the "manage attachments" button (below the edit window, in the "addtional options" area) to upload images. Video files are too large--so you'll have to use Youtube or another video service and just provide a link. ;)

Let me know if you have any trouble with this--I'm a rookie forum administrator.

[GoatBoy]

Here's a couple of pics showing my wiring of the MSA-R and the box I stuffed it into......Literally! More space for the next one! The second pic shows the use of solenoids for playing these wonderful bells set on a platform that was designed by a friend of mine. All in all the MSA-R was fantastically simple to put together and does exactly what it says on the tin......and probably a lot more as well. Couldn't recommend it enough.......Tons of value! Link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHQLVAgWtAQ

[John]

Great video! :) I included it in today's blog entry:

http://highlyliquid.com/blog/?p=130

Please let me know if I can add a link to your site or if I should change the attribution in any way.