Can I use the 6.3V to drive a USB board

monteiro.sheldon · 1457

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Offline monteiro.sheldon

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on: August 28, 2022, 06:01:37 AM
Hello,

Can I use the 6.3V DC output in the Mainline to drive a Raspberry Pi Pico (3.3v and use a regulator) or will I risk damaging the transformer or recitifier circuit?

Thanks,
Sheldon
« Last Edit: August 28, 2022, 06:07:38 AM by monteiro.sheldon »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #1 on: August 28, 2022, 06:09:53 AM
The Mainline 6.3V rails are biased up from ground/earth by about 50V, so that could very easily damage your RP or if you had a USB cable plugged into the RP and you touched the metal shell on the other end, you'll get a zap. 

There's also not a ton of extra current available in the heater circuit, so without knowing the current draw it's tough to say if the Mainline would be damaged.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline monteiro.sheldon

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Reply #2 on: August 28, 2022, 06:25:26 AM
Thanks Paul for the quick response.