routercnc_MK3

[routercnc]

Hi Jonathan,

Thank you for taking time to write that comprehensive reply. I'd done a bit of thinking on the series connections and quickly realised that one way would be ~0V and the other way ~50V AC ! So thank you for confirming that. I'll try connecting as you suggest - its either one way or the other and at least being series it won't matter if I get it wrong.

Had another look at the regulator board and I can now see some tracks but am not confident I could make a safe job of modifying it.




So I've also decided to de-mount the capacitors and build a more conventional system. I've ordered:
Solder sucker (had one years ago but can't find it ~£4)
35mm diameter capacitor clamps (6off ~£1.50 for a pair)
400V 35A rectifier centre bolt mounted (~£3)

Thank you for the kind offer to swap / supply dwgs for the capacitor circuit but I'm going to go for the traditional route of mounting each capacitor in the plastic mounts (inverted) and solder cables between the pins. It looks like there will be about 3mm of pin remaining from the top of the caps which should be enough to a cable get onto. The rectifier will be the traditional 4 spade pin type. All bits will be mounted to a ~4mm aluminium plate for heat dissipation and general sturdiness.

That's good background info on the ripple voltage. I had started to wonder about what an acceptable level would be. More capacitors will be better with lower ripple but I guess gives more in-rush current so more chance of tripping the MCB on start up. At least I can play around with the number of capacitors if I have that problem. But if it just works then I'll leave it and get on with using the machine.

For info this is my 3rd generation of cnc machine, with many minor iterations of development along the way, but it remains my only cnc machine and is currently out of action until the PSU if fixed.