207
Backers
$8,567
pledged of $14,000 goal
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Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on June 24, 2012.
Funding period
May 10, 2012 -
Jun 24, 2012
(45 days)
- 2 created · 5 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: etonnet.com
Pledge $10 or more
0 backers
We will list your name on our website thank you page and send you a "Thank You" post card with the label from the device.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $20 or more
1 backer
We will send you a custom T-Shirt with the heading "I Kickstart Stuff" and an enlargement of the circuit board brain from the VariPower device on the front. This shirt is a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys working with electronics - including yourself. ;) Help us get this product into the market and get a great shirt out of the deal!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $30 or more
92 backers
Get a special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A device. This unit will be identified as a Kickstarter edition only available here.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $45 or more
55 backers Limited (145 of 200 left)
Get a Limited Edition Kickstarter only custom version of the power supply. This special case will set your power supply apart as a mission critical device, letting everyone know you are serious about your work and or projects. We will also give you a T-Shirt just like the one at the $20 pledge level.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $47 or more
25 backers
International Shipping - Get a special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A device. This unit will be identified as a Kickstarter edition only available here.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $60 or more
11 backers
Get two special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A device. This unit will be identified as a Kickstarter edition only available here.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $63 or more
3 backers
International Shipping - Get one Kickstarter only version of the VariPower unit and one T-Shirt.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $83 or more
5 backers
International Shipping - Get two special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A device. This unit will be identified as a Kickstarter edition only available here.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $110 or more
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Get four special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A device. This unit will be identified as a Kickstarter edition only available here.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $139 or more
2 backers
International Shipping - Get four special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A device. This unit will be identified as a Kickstarter edition only available here.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $500 or more
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Get 20 special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A devices and one T-Shirt.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $1,100 or more
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Get 50 special Kickstarter only version of the VariPower-USB-500A devices and one T-Shirt.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
Creator Jay Silver on June 17, 2012
I'm more than happy to back this product. Here's why: the manufacturer, which is also the project originator is Etonnet. I am working with them to manufacture some MaKey MaKey kits. They are really knowledgeable about how to make a quality product. So I know this power supply will really work really well and be high quality.
Creator Jake Galea on June 6, 2012
Your more then welcome :)
I just wish I knew how to create anything :(
I don't know a thing about electronics :(
Wish I was a smart as you :)
Creator ETONNET LLC on June 6, 2012
Hi, Jake
Thanks for the support.
Creator ETONNET LLC on June 6, 2012
Hi, Mark S
Thanks for the suggestion below. Actually, MP1401 has one "EN" pin. we wired this pin with one control pin on MCU. This helps us turn on/off the voltage regulator. Under the "off" mode, the USB power supply can be turned to the voltage meter. We have implemented this feature on our battery charger station. 2 channels Battery charger station (input is 12V. output is from 1.2v to 11.4V) for li-ion batteries is one of our project. It has been designed for cornfield electronics.
Creator Jake Galea on June 6, 2012
just backed $50!
my first projects i've backed on KickStarter :D
Creator MarkS on May 28, 2012
I love your willingness to include current monitoring and voltage setting through USB. Cheap useful addition. Congratulations.
If pot/rotary-encoder had a push/pull button, perhaps you could switch betrween showing voltage and current by pushing down.
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 27, 2012
Thanks Sal! Any time we can get the word out to another user group, forum, hacker space etc... is greatly appreciated!
Creator Sal "Lasareath" Cameli on May 26, 2012
Just backed your Project. I am a novice when it comes to electronics but I always say it's good to be prepared. Can't wait to include your device in my toolbox!
I created a post on a forum that I belong to that has lots of members who dabble with electronics with a link to your page and I also clicked like for my Facebook account. I hope you make your Goal!
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 23, 2012
Hi, Andrew
You suggestion is great. I thinking the digital potentiometer (such as AD5220) can be used to control the output voltage. Through USB, the commands can be sent to the micro controller to control the digital potentiometer. The output voltage can be feedback to the USB host. The output current can be feedback to the USB host as well. I think this is a great idea and it should not be hard to implement.
Thanks
Mike and Brad
Creator Andrew Plumb on May 23, 2012
Just had another thought. If you get the digital voltage control and control via USB then add some current sensing (for constant-current applications), this little box could be used for driving laser diodes and/or recharging small batteries across a broad range of chemistries.
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 22, 2012
Hi Gordon, I just mentioned your comment in my latest update. This is so simple and clearly can add some value to the device. Thank you for the suggestion! :)
Brad and Mike
Creator Gordon DeWitte on May 22, 2012
How about spacing the banana jack outputs at 3/4" so one could then use existing adapters (e.g., banana jack to BNC)?
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 22, 2012
We have talked to Renesas regarding their USB enabled MCU. Their USB enabled MCU is not optimal solution. If we really need USB function, as their distributor suggested, we should consider to use NEC's MCU. Renesas already merged with NEC-semiconduct branch. So, they are same company now.
It should be easy to make the current unit communicate with PC. Actually, we have one UAR port internally for the different purpose. We connect the USB-to-Serial adapter with the UART on the unit to make it communicate with PC.
Thanks
Mike and Brad
Creator Andrew Plumb on May 21, 2012
Ah, I see. You're using the R8C/2K2L variant, not the R8C/3xK or R8C/3xU that have USB support.
The limit of my MCP4018-specific knowledge is that it's used to set the stepper driver reference levels of the MakerBot MightyBoard electronics (used in the latest Replicator machine) - see http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:16058
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 21, 2012
Hi, Andrew
Thanks for the support to our project.
Here is the answer to your questions.
1. Our firmware doesn't have control to the USB connection. How much current got from USB port really depends on the capability of the USB host (Could be USB hub). Some of them can provide higher current (up to 500mA), while other only provide the lower current.
If you need higher current power output, we suggest to use the external AC/DC adapter with USB connector. We have such kind of adapter (UL certified). If you need, we can provide one to you, but it should be easy to find on the market.
2. For the second question, no, we haven't thought about yet, but your suggestion is very interesting and useful. We will take deep look. I might ask you few questions on this.
3. Regarding the 5.0V, since we current use MP1401 as the regulator, it has very low voltage drop (around 0.17V), so, the max output voltage will be close 5.0V, If you need higher output voltage (even more than 5.0), you probably need use the external AC/DC adapter (or 9V battery) to power the unit. For example, we use the same PCB board to build 2 channels battery charge station for one of our clients. It works perfectly. The input of the battery charge station is 12V (using computer power). The charge voltage can be adjusted up to 11V under this situation. So, it can charge single cell and double cell li-ion battery. we build in "stop-charge" feature in the unit as well. If you need more info, you can send email to mike@etonnet.com.
Please let me know if you have more questions or comments
Thanks again.
Mike and Brad
Creator Andrew Plumb on May 21, 2012
(...and by 5.5V I really meant 5.0V)
Creator Andrew Plumb on May 21, 2012
Just to confirm - I see in the current schematic that you have the USB D+/- hooked up to the R8C - does the firmware go through a proper enumeration process to pull 500mA instead of the 100mA default?
Second Q/long-shot request: Have you considered replacing RV1 with a digital pot (e.g. Microchip MCP4018 - http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx…) and using a quad-encoded "mouse wheel" or capacitive swipe zone for manual intervention?
That would open up some options for Really Useful Features like built-in supply ramping and USB-settable/controllable interface.
Great project! I've put myself down for an international 4-pack (aka Canada) so I can have 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V and 5.5V going all at once. ;-)
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 21, 2012
Yes, self-powered variable power supply is a good idea. We have thought about that. Using li-ion battery and one voltage boost chip, we can reach this requirement.
Regarding the high voltage output, yes, we will include this feature in our next version. Actually, we do have one prototype. The output voltage supports up to 25V.
Mike and Brad
Creator James Bailey on May 18, 2012
Haha, thanks for your feedback feedback, I love the interactive nature of kickstarter! Well if you're after extra points, what if you made another reward that was a barebones battery box for an AA + booster circuit that could plug into the USB and make it completely self sufficient while mechanically engaging with your box? Double points for using a LiIon battery that recharges off the USB with some kind of low-batt warning! ;)
Creator Benjamin Vernoux on May 18, 2012
A really good feature will be current limiting feature and voltage up to 9V, but anyway the hardware is already very good like that.
Best Regards
Benjamin
Creator David Johnston on May 17, 2012
I used to spend a lot of time in the lab when I was a board design engineer. Now I'm a cryptographic chip design engineer, so I only occasionally go into a lab to try on my designs when the silicon comes back. One of the problems I always encounter is getting hold of useful power supplies. (1) They tend to 'walk away' if left unattended. (2) Modern silicon runs on low voltages (E.G. 0.6 - 1.3v ) and the PSU control ranges tend to very coarse relative to that range.
The idea of having my own USB powered/controlled, voltage and current limit controllable PSU that I can take with me in my laptop back would is very exciting because it would solve all my PSU problems. I don't personally have a need for higher current or voltages, but other people might. I'd pay more for a device with independent current control since it takes an extra knob and display. Being able to control it through USB and script a bringup sequence that ramps the current until the right voltage is reached (or abort if it takes too much) would be awesome since it would be more accurate that turning the knob with my fingers.
Creator ETONNET LLC on May 15, 2012
Hi James and David!
We have discussed your suggestions and have to agree. As this is the first iteration we clearly have room to improve. At the same time, portability and cost effectiveness are key ingredients. We have started working out how to incorporate current control without adding significant costs to the build. We have also been looking at alternative housings in order to increase the portability. So James, we're going after those extra points you mentioned.
Thanks for the feedback,
Brad and Mike
Creator David Johnston on May 14, 2012
I agree with the other guy. Think about independent control and display of current and voltage. This is what distinguishes a useful lab bench power supply from a useless lab bench power supply.
Creator James Bailey on May 14, 2012
Looks great guys! Killer features I'd like:
- As thin as possible (pocketable)?
- If not thin, tiny alligator clips and leads stored within device?
- Press a button to change to Current Control (extra points for independent selection of current and voltage display and current and voltage control)
But if it was just as it is, you have my money! ;)