Tiptop Powered Bus - Manual (Page 5)

TM
Chapter 2
Understanding power consumption of analog
and digital modules.
The power consumption requirements for today’s crop of new and exciting
modules varies from the prior needs of modules in the past. Before, the
current draw was almost always even on both the positive and negative side
of the rails. For instance, a 30mA module usually drew 15mA from the +12V
rail and another 15mA from the -12V rail making for an even distribution of
power consumption over the chain of power flow. This allowed the user to
quickly calculate the necessary power supply specifications they would need
to provide sufficient power to their systems.
Today this is not always the case. In modern modules there are far more
digital technologies that require greater amounts of current drawn from the
+12V power rail than what is drawn from the -12V power rail. With this in
mind, the user can no longer take the summed mA total for granted and base
their system's power on the status quo.
For Example: A Z3000 MKII Smart VCO requires 50mA from the +12V rail
and 25mA from the -12V rail. A hypothetical system comprising of three
Z3000 MKIIs would need to source 150mA from the +12V rail and 75mA
from the -12v rail to function properly.
Once you know the amount of current you will need on your +12V and-12V,
you can decide how many Zeus Powered Bus Boards you will need. Powered
Bus Boards can supply up to 1200mA on the +12V regulator and 1200mA
on the -12V regulator.
For Example: if you need 1150mA on the +12V and 730mA on the -12V,
then you will need one Zeus Powered Bus Board. If you need 1450mA on your
+12V and 1100mA on your -12V then you will need 2 Powered Bus Boards
due to the 1200mA cap on both regulators.
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards