Adding a power socket to the Master Module's front panel
Oct 1, 2018 16:57:36 GMT
admin and thetechnobear like this
Post by NightMachines on Oct 1, 2018 16:57:36 GMT
I've had this on my mind for a while and now that I'm building a travel case for my AE Modular system (stay tuned for that project 
), I needed to finally do it. The power plug of the AE Modular's Master Module sticks out of the left side of the case, yet all of the connections and cables are on the front panel. So why not put the plug there too? Luckily, there is enough space under the module's front panel to easily accommodate a typical 9V power socket.
Drilling a hole into the front panel is easy:
To run the cables from the new socket to the old one, I needed to cut out a little bit of the original PCB. I'm sorry!
... this does not show the final soldering job by the way! I did it properly when I saw that everything fit ... well "properly" for me.
And all done!
The socket I used is not 100% ideal though, as the sleeve's metal connection wraps around the top part, making it exposed even when a power plug is inserted. So there is a slight risk of a loose patch cable touching it, shorting something to ground. Although that could also happen with the 3.5mm jack sockets, right? So is it really an issue? I might replace the socket with a better one in the future and just wrap some tape around it for now.
EDIT: I just checked with a continuity tester and the 3.5mm jack socket sleeves are connected to the power plug's ground too ... so no safety hazard after all?
), I needed to finally do it. The power plug of the AE Modular's Master Module sticks out of the left side of the case, yet all of the connections and cables are on the front panel. So why not put the plug there too? Luckily, there is enough space under the module's front panel to easily accommodate a typical 9V power socket.Drilling a hole into the front panel is easy:
To run the cables from the new socket to the old one, I needed to cut out a little bit of the original PCB. I'm sorry!
... this does not show the final soldering job by the way! I did it properly when I saw that everything fit ... well "properly" for me.
And all done!
The socket I used is not 100% ideal though, as the sleeve's metal connection wraps around the top part, making it exposed even when a power plug is inserted. So there is a slight risk of a loose patch cable touching it, shorting something to ground. Although that could also happen with the 3.5mm jack sockets, right? So is it really an issue? I might replace the socket with a better one in the future and just wrap some tape around it for now.
EDIT: I just checked with a continuity tester and the 3.5mm jack socket sleeves are connected to the power plug's ground too ... so no safety hazard after all?
I think Robert is a robot. It’s mind boggling how he seems to be able to constantly improve existing modules while still bringing out new ones.
