Powering MOTM from .com modules

ach_gott · Post by **ach_gott** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:28 am

I'm adding a third 48U (std U) cabinet to my modular. I've been using jerry rigged PowerOne supplies, but I'm looking to implement a more elegant solution (one switch, PS outside of the cabinet). I like the .com modules and I want to hook them up to MOTM-960s and 990s.

The Q103 hooks up to a QDH40. Can someone post some pictures so that I can figure out how to wire an MOTM-960 (or 990) to the Q103?

I'd prefer to buy some modules out-of-the box than trying to DIY an entire power supply distribution. I've seen heaps of fabulous solutions (Hi, Pugix!) but I don't trust my skills far enough to "design" something similar. Thanks!

majesticbear · Post by **majesticbear** » Sat May 14, 2011 5:30 am

i know this isn't what you were asking for, but i made a cable adapter for the dual phaser i got from decaying.sine. the dual phaser required two power headers.

it works well for a few modules, but it would be painful to make enough for 20.

bwhittington · Post by **bwhittington** » Sat May 14, 2011 5:34 am

I'm having a little trouble visualizing exactly what you are trying to do, but I don't think you would need a Q103. If you are trying to have a dedicated Dotcom cabinet connected to a MOTM-990 in another cabinet via a Q103, I suppose you would need to make a custom cable with an MOTM connector on one end and a DIN connection on the other (DIN pin out available on the Dotcom power connectors datasheet).

If you want to use a QDH40 in a cabinet with a MOTM-990, you could just remove the nylon connector and wire the harness directly to the terminals on the 990 (Dotcom wiring scheme is also at the above link).

The STG adapter board might be a simple solution, if a somewhat pricey one once you include all the needed cables.

Cheers,
Brian

Bryan B · Post by **Bryan B** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:45 am

The most important question: Do you have a +5vDC out on your power supply? If you do, you can make the adapter cables. The Dotcom power connector pin out info is in the datasheets section of the Dotcom site under Power Modules (etc). Bottom of page 4 in the PDF.

I use the STG Distro boards and have gone from Dotcom connectors to MOTM connectors when I ran out of connectors. With 48U, you will probably need 2-4 distro boards.

sduck · Post by **sduck** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:41 am

I also can't completely visualize what you mean, but consider the QMPSA - http://synthesizers.com/q101.html#qmpsa - if you only have a few modules of one manufacturer running off the psu of the other manufacturer, these will work. They have a regulator to generate the 5v, and the needed adaptors. They also work both ways - there's a jumper to configure it.

ach_gott · Post by **ach_gott** » Sat May 14, 2011 1:53 pm

Sorry I wasn't clear... long day.

I would like to run three stacked cabinets off of a single 3A power supply. It's a large system, totaling 144U, all but three of which are MOTM standard .156-MTA power inputs . Right now I have a power supply per cabinet, one of the cabinets has two squeezed in. There are four on/off switches (all of which are hard to get to), four power cables running down the back, etc.

So I was thinking of running a 3A PS (with a +5V supply) out of a box on the floor and screwing a Q103 onto the back of each cabinet and bringing the power up to the cabinets. Would I just run a .1-MTA-to-.156 MTA cable from the Q103 to the distro board in the cabinet? (Not using the screw terminals?)

Thanks, guys, I appreciate it immensely.

bwhittington · Post by **bwhittington** » Sat May 14, 2011 5:59 pm

ach_gott wrote: So I was thinking of running a 3A PS (with a +5V supply) out of a box on the floor and screwing a Q103 onto the back of each cabinet and bringing the power up to the cabinets.

Funny, that was one of my initial suggestions, but I deleted it thinking it was unlikely to be your choice.

I don't have a Q103 anymore, but I'm pretty sure that it has either the male or female end of this:

Which connects directly to the Dotcom wiring harness. To use your existing MOTM distro, stripping the cable and connecting it to the distro board terminals would seem to be a tidy fix, aside for hacking up the Q103's. If that bugs you, you could buy a few of those .093 connectors for a custom solution.

Cheers,
Brian

paults · Post by **paults** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:52 pm

Check out the MOTM-995 .com <> MOTM adapter board. It's under Accessories on my order page, www.synthtech.com

ach_gott · Post by **ach_gott** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:07 am

Mr. Whittington FTW! (No offense, Mr. Schreiber, but powering three cabinets off an array of 995s would be vastly greater than

. I'm well-equipped with MOTM distro boards, though (for now).

Quick question for you guys who have been so helpful, including Paul S (thanks for the Encore FS

check out the garage sale, all!):
The QIC-xx cables have a maximum amperage rating of 1A. The .com power example shows these carrying the current for a 3A PS. So can I use these to pump 3A (less a 25% haircut) through the instrument?

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Sun May 15, 2011 7:38 am

ach_gott wrote:Sorry I wasn't clear... long day.

I would like to run three stacked cabinets off of a single 3A power supply. It's a large system, totaling 144U, all but three of which are MOTM standard .156-MTA power inputs . Right now I have a power supply per cabinet, one of the cabinets has two squeezed in. There are four on/off switches (all of which are hard to get to), four power cables running down the back, etc.

So I was thinking of running a 3A PS (with a +5V supply) out of a box on the floor and screwing a Q103 onto the back of each cabinet and bringing the power up to the cabinets. Would I just run a .1-MTA-to-.156 MTA cable from the Q103 to the distro board in the cabinet? (Not using the screw terminals?)

Thanks, guys, I appreciate it immensely.

You already have power distributed within each cabinet, correct?
Why buy 3 Q103's then?
How about this. Get a decent quality 3 wire extension cord (like the orange kind they sell). Cut 3 lengths to get from PSU to cabinets and one short pigtail to get to PSU itself. At the power supply end, strip the ends and connect one end of the short pigtail to PSU, the other end use standard wire nuts to connect to the other 3 lengths to make a fanout. Then run the 3 wires into the back of your 3 cabinets and screw down to the terminals on your distro boards. Then use a few QMPSA's just where you need them.

I may have misunderstood the whole situation making all the above useless info...

When I did this I put the PSU inside a fused box with a switch.
How will you handle that part of it?

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:07 am

I forgot in the above scenario there are some MOTM modules that need 5V, so the 3-wire extension cord idea probably wouldn't work. If you could put the modules that require 5V in one cab though, it would only take one extra wire to get 5V to just that one cab.

doctoranalog · Post by **doctoranalog** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:33 am

bwhittington wrote: I don't have a Q103 anymore, but I'm pretty sure that it has either the male or female end of this:

Actually, the Q103 just has a regular keyed six-pin connector on the back. It connects like this:

Synthesizers.com has a whole page of power distribution suggestions on this page.

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:38 am

I'm confused on why going with a dotcom distro system in a modular that's almost entirely MOTM.

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Powering MOTM from .com modules

Powering MOTM from .com modules