OPEN SOURCE: "CC-Boost" - 2.4 Amp boost driver - RC1

djQUAN said:

Build a dedicated ammeter using a DPM or analog meter. I never use the built in amps function in a multimeter since I usually forget to put back the probes to the voltage jacks then when I measure the wall outlet voltage, Bang.

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Newer high end DMM's will protest very loudly if you have the leads in the ammeter socket and are on volts mode.

PITA to replace the fuse in a fluke meter. Almost every fluke meter I've encountered (8010 is the exception) has stupidly expensive fuses.

djQUAN said:

Build a dedicated ammeter using a DPM or analog meter. I never use the built in amps function in a multimeter since I usually forget to put back the probes to the voltage jacks then when I measure the wall outlet voltage, Bang.

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Really?

ARG said:

Newer high end DMM's will protest very loudly if you have the leads in the ammeter socket and are on volts mode.

PITA to replace the fuse in a fluke meter. Almost every fluke meter I've encountered (8010 is the exception) has stupidly expensive fuses.

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Yeah, the Fine Instruments are the same. I
took a pair of pliers and bent the socket
contacts closer together so they would grab
a standard AGC fuse. No problems after
that.

Yeah. Happened to me a few times. Measured the mains on the amps jack in a radioshack DMM and blew the tip of the probe. I now use an older cheap-ish Crapsman DMM since I don't have cash for a fluke and also managed to blow its internal fuse when I measured a large battery with the probes in the amps jack.

Another plus on having a dedicated ammeter: You can simultaneously measure both voltage (using the now unused DMM) and current (via the ammeter) to calculate efficiency or other stuff during testing.

alright. FINALLY ordering the stuff to make a run of these. But of course, since its me, it couldn't just all work out fine- oshstencils was being a massive bitch, oshpark was giving me crap about my account...and then digikey didn't have the inductor in stock.
But its all good now so whatever. I had to get the inductor from Mouser, which ended up being a bit cheaper.

Anyone have a preferred solder paste?

Everybody talking about letting the smoke out of stuff and melting stuff down makes me feel a lot better. :beer: I thought I was the only one that did stuff like that so I wasn't going to admit to it.

Hello Guys,

I was writing with rhd last days about his project. I came up with an idea to produce this driver in larger quantity for LPF members mostly. I counted the cost and since we are the company our costs are a bit higher than just elements costs.

I counted everything up and ready board with soldered elements should cost 13-15 USD plus 5,5USD shipping worldwide.

What do you think? Is this worth to produce for example 25-50 pieces?

Not really, since I I am making a batch that I will sell for ~8-9$. $13 is a little ridiculous for a driver that costs 7$ to make.

Yes rhd also mentioned this can be a problem. I don't think it is ridiculous it is just a matter how the companies are working. For 1000pieces and good market the price can be even 7USD. But for small series it is quite a problem. The reason of the price is that I'm not working alone and it is hard to put small projects into production. If I was working alone then it would be worth for sure.

For example we don't have person who is responsible for shippings. So actually one of the engineers is going to the post. Maybe it is silly but I can't send him after job, he must do it during working hours. Then if he earns normally around 25USD/hour. Let it be I need to send him 30 minutes before normal time.
Of course if I sell 10psc at once, then the driver cost can be 8-9USD. But if I sell lets say 1 pcs every day - I'm actually loosing money. This is the problem of a company. Buck orders are good. Anyway I just wanted to do something for LPF members, good that you are able to offer them so good price Just don't think I'm the greedy one.

Got my inductors today, now just waiting on the boards from Oshpark. I was kinda scratching my head as to how the driver would be so big ("big"), but i can see why now that I have the inductors. A fair bit bigger than I thought they would be.

Blows a fuse every time, been there done that.

Laser Project said:

Blows a fuse every time, been there done that.

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Methinks you have the wrong thread, bud

crazyspaz said:

Methinks you have the wrong thread, bud

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Is it my imagination, or are massively red users not getting banned anymore?

It seems like there are an abundance of irritants with big long neg rep trails messing up the board and not getting the boot.

rhd said:

Is it my imagination, or are massively red users not getting banned anymore?

It seems like there are an abundance of irritants with big long neg rep trails messing up the board and not getting the boot.

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I haven't seen any of them breaking rules. :shrug:

rhd said:

Is it my imagination, or are massively red users not getting banned anymore?

It seems like there are an abundance of irritants with big long neg rep trails messing up the board and not getting the boot.

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Not just you. I can think of 3 people that, had this been ~year ago, would have been banned by now.

obviously all ARG's fault >.>

crazyspaz said:

Not just you. I can think of 3 people that, had this been ~year ago, would have been banned by now.

obviously all ARG's fault >.>

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Of course it is. He's Canadian. He probably apologizes to rule breakers, for judging them. Canadians.... sheesh.

In all seriousness though, isn't there a neg rep ban threshold? They never seemed to stick around so long in the past.