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M3 firmware is released...

A project log for DIY programmable (SCPI) bench power supply

Bridging the gap between professional and DIY/hobbyist bench power supply

denisDenis 12/29/2016 at 12:450 Comments

The firmware M3 is released today. We had some interesting time when for the first time a more then one interrupt is used and spent almost a month trying everything to make operation stable and predictable. Finally we found that Arduino's SPI transactions doesn't masks interrupts properly and we have to see what Arduino team will say. Another interesting thing was related to coupling channels outputs in series and parallel. It's not so straightforward as one can think because this power supply has down-programmer circuit that can make some problem when channels are coupled in series and enters CC mode or when coupled in parallel and enters CV mode. I'll prepare a video to show what could be happen as we solved that successfully.
With this firmware we covered almost everything on hardware level (only digital input, and load/batter NTC are not addressed). Please find below the main features of this release. Shown screenshots are from software simulator. All yellow painted text represents enabled/"clickable" options (in a "follow the yellow brick road" manner).

Channel coupling
Allows doubling of max. output voltage (up to 80 V) or current (up to 10 A). Outputs are wired internally thanks to two MCU managed power relays. Presentation and programming of output values and protections are unified/centralized.

Tracking mode
Presentation and programming of output values and protections are centralized. When any protection tripped on one channel it will shut off both channel. Output enable/disable function is also unified.

Additional system protections

AUX temperature sensor settings
Lock local console (touch screen)
When locked only unlock icon is enabled. Lock can be protected with system password.
Sound control

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