DIY Adaptor/Multiple Panel for scope and DMM connections

This is an adaptor panel I put together in an hour or two to help with testing and setting up the CV Tools Modules. 

I used one of my 8HP DIY panels and  DIY kit 3 for the 3.5mm jacks. 

It is essentially an adaptor and multiple to allow easy connection to the scope via BNC connectors and to a DMM (digital multimeter) via the 4mm sockets. 

The top 3.5mm jack and BNC socket are connected together, the next jack down and BNC are similarly connected; i.e. a pair of 3.5mm jack to BNC adaptors. The lower pair of 3.5mm jacks. 1/4" jack, BNC and red 4mm socket are all connected together and the black 4mm socket is connected to 0V.

This is really useful for DIY applications too and very easy to make. I think an adaptor or multiple panel would make a great first DIY project.


I can also make these to order if anyone wants one (or something similar) but it is unlikely to become a standard product as all you really need is a pre-drilled front-panel and a few connectors.

Here it is (bottom right) in use in my CV Tools test rig routing the scope, DMM and sig gen to the module under test

CV Tools UK distributor announcement

Updated 20/04/2011: The Synovatron CV Tools Module is now available from Post Modular in the UK - see their website now!.

Check out Post Modular's huge range of cool and unusual modules while you're there!

US distribution is currently being arranged and details will be posted as soon as possible.

In addition to the ready-to-use modules from Post Modular CV Tools DIY kits are available now directly from Synovatron for £85 GBP plus delivery. Please e-mail for details. The kits are complete with all components, pre-built & tested ribbon cable assemblies, circuit board assembly instructions and setting up procedure. You only need to provide the solder, tools and time. 

Note: This is a medium complexity kit and is not recommended for a first time constructor - you will need to be able to solder well and use a digital multimeter for setting up. It is recommended that you take anti-static precautions to protect the ICs.

CV Tools DIY Kit contents

CV Tools User Manual available

Hi and thanks for all the interest and well wishes.

The User Manual is now complete - Click here to download the latest manual (23 Oct 2011). There will also be a set of construction steps (basically just my assembly data sheets) for anyone interested in buying the module as a DIY kit.  As per my last post I'm still working on pricing of modules and kits and distribution details - all will be revealed in due course.

CV Tools Modules are now in production

It's been a while in coming but CV Tools Modules are now coming off the production line and going through a burn-in and test process to weed out any faults. The launch date is just over a week away - 9th April. The user manual is nearly done too. Details of distributors and price will be available very shortly.

So what's taken all this time? Well I just wanted to get the design right and pack all the features I could into it that make sense - I had several good suggestions from Muffs and other places and have built the best ideas into the design - the main one being the signal polarity LEDs to replace the channel routing LEDs (they really didn't add a great deal). There are jumper selectable coarse and fine normalled offsets for each channel and Channel 4 can be jumper configured to pass an accurate normalled bus CV into the mix for mixing VCO CVs. Check out the preliminary spec below.

Someone asked about these being available in kit form - if you would prefer to do this then please contact me.

Here is a preliminary spec:-

CV Tools Specification (updated 08.04.2011)

4-channel Polarizing Cascade Mixer

Channel 1

Input: 3.5mm jack IN1

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, 0.5V-2.5V or none

Bandwidth: DC-15kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable 0 to ±2 (±3%)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT1 - Normalled to Channel 2 output mixer

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Channel 2

Input: 3.5mm jack IN2

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, 0.5V-2.5V or none

Bandwidth: DC-16kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable 0 to ±2 (±3%)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT2 - Normalled to Channel 3 output mixer

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Channel 3

Input: 3.5mm jack IN3

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, 0.5V-2.5V or none

Bandwidth: DC-15kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable 0 to ±2 (±3%)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT3 - Normalled to Channel 4 output mixer

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Channel 4

Input: 3.5mm jack IN4

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, A-100 Bus CV or none

Bandwidth: DC-15kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable - jumper selectable to ±2 (±3%) or 1 (set by RV7)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT4 and Slew Limiter input

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Slew Limiter

Input: 3.5mm jack IN

Input impedance: 1MΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: Channel 4 output OUT4

Slew range: 0.5ms-1s

Gain: 1

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT

Output impedance: 100Ω (±1%)

General

Dimensions

3U x 12HP (128.5mm x 60.6mm).

Power consumption

+12V @ 20mA max, -12V @ 20mA max, +5V is not used.

Reference voltage (VREF)

Jumper selectable at each mixer input. Channels 1-3: 5.00V (set by RV6), 0.5V-2.5V (set by RV8), Channel 4: 5.00V (set by RV6), CV from A-100 bus.

A-100 Bus utilisation

±12V, 0V, CV used; +5V and Gate are not used.

Contents

CV Tools Module, 200mm long 16-way ribbon cable, 4 sets of M3 cap head socket screws, nylon washers and a 2.5mm hex key.