The E-drive (V3) + PDF

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

I will also add; there are certain tolerances on the fixed current output versions, mainly because for some reason manufacturers don't make an exact 6k ohm resistor cheaply...

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Just a quick update, got some new boards in today and threw together some pre-release versions of the adjustable Elasti-drives. Here are some pics, I will try to get them on a scope and DMM later this week...


Elasti-drive V1A by tsteele93, on Flickr


Elasti-drive V1A by tsteele93, on Flickr


Elasti-driveV1A by tsteele93, on Flickr


Elasti-drive V1A by tsteele93, on Flickr

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Those look great!

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Put me first in line for a few of these they look amazing. Nice work.

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Looking forward to the results!

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Looking good Tom. Now get them suckers together and sell me 2 units

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

The Baron said:

Those look great!

Click to expand...

Thanks, other than the main IC, these aren't too hard to assemble. But it is a royal PITA. Jared says he has it down to a science, but for me it is more of a gamble.

Tom

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

tsteele93 said:

Thanks, other than the main IC, these aren't too hard to assemble. But it is a royal PITA. Jared says he has it down to a science, but for me it is more of a gamble.

Tom

Click to expand...

Do you use oven or hot air?

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

gillza said:

Do you use oven or hot air?

Click to expand...

I've used both. I got a nice little oven at goodwill for $3 and it works well. But I prefer hot air. My biggest problem seems to be too much paste. I just can't seem to get them amount of solder paste right. :-(

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Just a quick note; these are NOT the final final release boards. We're trying to not just throw away the few revisions we've made along the way.

These are 12.68 mm by 9.73 mm boards, however they are fully adjustable. These do have thermal vias, but they lack the blank pad on the back still. They will be sold at a slightly reduced price, due to their size. As far as function goes there's absolutely nothing different!

As they are adjustable boards, you will NEED to heatsink them if you're using them over 800 mA.

Just some clarification. The mini's will be coming in VERY soon, and they should hopefully knock everyone's socks off!

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Very nicely looking :beer:

20 turn pot is very nice

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

I'll be down for 2 or 4 of the new mini's when they arrive.

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

foulmist said:

Very nicely looking :beer:

20 turn pot is very nice

Click to expand...

Hey Tom,

They are Bourns 20 turn pots, like this...

3303X-3-103E - BOURNS - TRIMMER, POTENTIOMETER 10KOHM | Newark

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Hey Tom, the pot on the pictures of your board is one turn, as is the pot in that link.

Here is an example of an smd multiturn pot:
3223W-1-103E Bourns Inc. | 3223W-1-103ECT-ND | DigiKey

They are soo much better than regular ones, but they are expensive and tall.

That pot is rated for 20 turns before it is worn out, and newark took that as meaning its a "20 turn pot".

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Ahh, and that is what happens when you delve into somehting you are not familiar with! Ok, so I will need to look into our options. As you mentioned here and in your benboost thread, they are EXPENSIVE for the true multi-turn pots and big!

I was planning on doing some testing tonight and I guess that I would have figured it out then. I suppose that I will find out whether it is going to be practical or not.

Thanks for the heads up! I hate to consider going back to a fixed only option, so I hope these will work well enough. Arghh... Thanks again man!

Re: The Elasti-drive Intro (V1 and V2)

Unfortunately if you want to have a wide current range single turn pots SUCK. Very hard to get a specific current with them. Your options are to spend the extra $3-4 on a multi turn pot, fool around with range resistors, or deal with it!

Almost all of my boards are one-offs for my personal use so I just spring for the multiturn pot, but for a driver you are selling that $3-4 pot really affects the final price. Though, having 11 turns of adjustment on a tiny driver is worth it IMO And they really don't add much thickness to the board if you put it on the same side as the inductor. Looks like you guys have found a tiny inductor though, probably shorter than the 4mm tall pot.

You guys should definitely go for the bare thermal pad! That thermal pad increased the capabilities of the benboost so much. When you solder on a heatsink to the board it has a nearly direct line to the pad of the IC. If you hold it in you fingers you can feel the heatsink warming up before the top of the IC which shows you how heatsinking the top plastic of the IC package really isn't very effective.