Tiptop Powered Bus - Manual (Page 8)

TM
Chapter 4
Choosing The Right External Power Supply
For Your Case.
The cornerstone of the case you are about to build will be its source of
power. It is the lifeblood of your system and in most cases, it will define the
sound quality and overall performance of your modular. Choosing the proper
power supply will ensure that your system runs smoothly and quietly;
taking into consideration that all modules are functioning properly, seated
correctly, and all the steps covered in this manual have been followed
accurately.
So now that you know the amount of current your modules consume on
both the +12V and -12V, all you need to do in order to calculate the power
rating of the external power supply is to sum the two rails together.
For Example: Your current consumption is 1150mA from the +12V and
730mA from the -12V, then your external power supply should be:
1150 + 730 = 1880mA. You might want to give the power supply some
headroom, so a 2Amp (2000mA) brick will do just fine.
As the example above mentions, you must sum both the positive and
negative sides of the rails for you to be absolutely certain of the correct
current needed from your case’s power supply. You might be able to save
cost by doing those numbers and finding the appropriate power supply.
Keep in mind, that you might want your system to grow over time (modular
is a hard drug) so it might be worth it to invest in a powerful power supply
from the beginning.
The purpose of the DC1200 regulators on your Powered Bus Board is to ensure
your modules receive stable, low noise, audio-grade power regardless of the
quality of power supplied to them from the external power supply. As a
result, the Powered Bus Boards can also be powered from any type of low cost
Wall Adapter capable of supplying the sufficient current at a voltage
ranging from 9-16VDC.
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
(Continued...)