USB power voltage regulator

[luket]

Hello All - I need to power a pressure transducer with 5V and I have a computer nearby. USB provides 5V, but it is not regulated enough for the pressure transducer. Does anybody make a device that you plug into a standard USB hub, but regulates/filters the power out to a better level, say +/-.05% on the voltage? I'm not an electrical guy, so if I've committed some kind of crime in my description, please be kind. Thanks for the help.

Luke

 

[IRstuff]

see:

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/AnyVoltMicro.htm

and

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/appnotes/USBMini/USBMini.htm

as one possible answer.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[MacGyverS2000]

luket,

That's 250uV of ripple, and you're going to need more than a $20 off the shelf item to get that kind of accuracy out of a USB socket, particularly when you're trying to run a regulator with the input/output voltages at the same point.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[luket]

Thanks IRstuff and Dan. I honestly don't know exactly what my voltage tolerance requirements are and perhaps +/- .05% is too tight - I pulled that from the specs of a strain gauge instrumentation box we have. Dan - do you have another option for a device that would have less ripple? It doesn't have to be small - a 'bench' device would work well.

Luke

 

[IRstuff]

I blew off that requirement, since it seemed absurdly tight.

If you're willing to go benchtop, then you should just get a new power supply altogether. Anything that's benchtop probably can't run off of 500 mA anyway.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[MacGyverS2000]

You're going to have issues with tight regulation anytime your input voltage is so close to your output voltage (in this case, they're supposedly identical). I cannot suggest a specific company/item, but like IR, I would suggest a dedicated supply (i.e., non-USB based), though not for IR's reasons of current. I would want a supply that runs off of 12V (or at least something higher than 5) and work down from there.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com