The Molex headers PWR1 and PWR2 mate with Molex connector plugs (manufacturer part no. 0050841020) with 0.84" female pins.

Instructions

1. Connect the higher voltage source to the PWR1 Molex header. This can be a solar panel or a new 12V battery bank, for example. The square on the diagrams indicate the location of the Molex pin for the positive connection. The ground pin in the Molex connector is nearer to the rear end of the board and is indicated by a black filled circle on the diagram. The voltage at the PWR1 input must be capable of reaching 13.5 V in order to cause this power channel to switch on to the output again after it has been switched off from it.
2. Connect the lower voltage source to the PWR2 Molex header. This is the backup battery or other power source. Use the polarity marked on the diagram. As before, the square on the diagram indicates the location of the positive Molex pin.
3. Connect the load to the terminal J1 at the front of the board and secure its leads with the screws on top of the terminal block. You can also solder leads from the load to the set of pads labeled D2. The side marked A in either output port is the positive connection and the side marked K is the negative connection. In the case of Light Emitting Devices (LEDs) the A connection is the Anode and the K connection is the Cathode. Depending upon which port you use for connecting the load, the other port can be used to connect something parallel to the load. For example, a parallel limiting diode can be connected to the circuit with the J1 terminal if a laser is soldered to the D2 pads; or another complete circuit can be connected at either the J1 port or D2 port if so desired.
4. There are pads at the rear (where the Molex connectors are) near the sides of the board. These provide an auxiliary output from the power integrator and can be used to daisy-chain several of these boards, or to power additional circuits. The output pad on the same side as the PWR1 Molex connector is the auxiliary output power positive connection. The output pad on the same side as to the PWR2 Molex connector is the auxiliary output ground connection.

PRODUCT OPERATION

When a voltage above the switch off voltage is present at PWR1, it is gated to the output of the power integrator. PWR1 stays on the output until it falls to 12V at which point PWR1 is switched off and, if present, PWR2 is gated to the output. PWR1 has now been automatically disconnected and PWR2 drives the load. PWR2 stays on the output until PWR1 recharges or returns to 13.5V, at which point PWR1 now returns to the output and begins to drive the load again. PWR2 has now been placed in a disconnected state and stays disconnected until PWR1 falls to 12V again. This cycle goes on as long as PWR1 has a source connected that can and does fall to 12V and can return to 13.5V. It is best to recharge PWR2 and PWR1 during the times that they are disconnected from the output if they are renewable batteries.

The load connects, at J1 or at D2, to a pulsed driver that provides a periodic waveform. The pulse has a 0.01% duty cycle and nearly the same voltage magnitude as the voltage that is output from the power integrator. If the load is not connected, at J1 nor at D2, the DC voltage output of the power integrator will be floating at the A terminal and a very low voltage pulse will be occurring at the K terminal. The pulsed driver is then in open circuit operation.

A RENEWABLE ENERGY APPLICATION

It is recommended to connect PWR1 to a new bank of 12 V batteries or directly to solar panels that operate at a nominal voltage of 15V. Both of these types of sources charge to the needed 13.5V but the batteries might quit doing so after a while.

The best source for the PWR2 connection is an older set of batteries if PWR1 has new batteries connected. Connect PWR2 to the output of an AC to DC converter connected to the grid power if the source on PWR1 is not something that can reach 13.5V consistently enough to allow the source on PWR2 to recharge. In any scenario, a very reliable source should be connected to at least one of the inputs. Note that the voltage on PWR1 always controls the switching.

Single-Ended Operation

The POWIM-PD can operate with a single ended supply by connecting a source to PWR2 and leaving PWR1 open. PWR1 then remains always disconnected from the output. A voltage with a magnitude falling in the range spanning from 20V down to 3.6V, when connected to PWR2, will appear at the output of the Power Integrating Module (POWIM-), but the Pulsed Driver (PD) stops pulsing when PWR2 is down to around 5V. The output of the PD is temperature dependent, and thus, is uncertain below this critical voltage level. The absolute maximum input to the POWIM- is 20V and 15A.

The POWIM-PD was designed in 2009 by Benjamin Bacon at Plane Space Design.

Plane Space Design

139 McIntyre St.

Savannah, GA 31415.

Web-Site www.planespacedesign.com