[time-nuts] Timenoob - Cheap and simple 10MHz reference

[Bob Camp]

Hi

The simple answer on the supply is that there are a couple of answers.

Very little current is pulled from the -12 supply.  I can not imagine a supply that would not keep up with the -12 requirement.

The +12 supply mainly runs the OCXO in the unit. Since it's running an oven, the power will drop off after warmup. It will also be lower at higher temperatures. Depending on exactly which OCXO you get in your unit, the power may be a little higher or a little lower.

A 5V supply that can furnish 300 ma should be adequate. 

All of the supplies needed *could* be pulled off of a typical desk top PC power supply. If you do go that way, be sure to put some simple RF filtering in the supply leads. 

The unit it's self has a fairly basic case. Enclosing even in a simple pine box should improve it's performance. It would also protect the leads from getting damaged in use. The enclosure does not need to be elaborate. You should be able to make it for free from scrap materials. 

I have bought Thunderbolts from several dealers on eBay over the last month. All of them seem to be supplying the same product (same date codes, and firmware). They all seem to be from 2003 or 2004. Some dealers ship faster than others, some include a HF power splitter, some include a power connector. I have not had any of the units on power long enough to know if some are actually better than others. 

Good Luck!

Bob


On Dec 27, 2009, at 7:56 PM, Giuseppe Marullo wrote:

> Thanks a lot to all for your quick answer.
> 
> Rubinium should be good for my needs, but buying it surplus makes me think I could get something very used (and abused) and it does not have the self correcting thing thunderbolt has.
> GPSDO gives me also the time, maybe with a supercool LCD display.
> 
>> A Thunderbolt needs a triple supply (+12, -12, and +5) to operate. It also needs a GPS antenna of some sort.
> Do you know exactly the power requirement? On Ebay I read 15W then few mA on each branch (board only). Something is not clear to me.
> 
> 
> The dark side of the noon already embraced I have....
> 
> Giuseppe
> 
> PS: I am experiencing mail problems for the first time in many years, please anyone willing to contact me directly do cc copy also this other email address: giuseppe.marullo at iname.com while my ISP gathers back all the bits they lost (2 days of emails vanished from my IMAP account under my eyes, literally)
> 
> 
> 
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