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IndustryArena Forum > CNC Electronics > Gecko Drives > Gecko power supply 2/3" current rating?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    1365

    Gecko power supply 2/3" current rating?

    I am revamping my mills controller box, actually building a new one and I just saw that geckos only use 2/3 the rated power. Does this mean that I can take my 3 4.7A motors and run them off a 10a power supply? Do they always draw less or this much or will they go over? 4.7 * 3 = 14.1A, but 2/3 of that is: 9.4A

    Would I be risking it if I built a power supply with 2 10A transformers in series or should I use 4? I have 4 available but would rather not use them all if I don't have to.

    Jon

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    1365
    No one can help?
    I took a look through the manual and it seems pretty rock solid. I guess Ill just try it and monitor the temp of the transformers.

    Jon

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    2849
    Quote Originally Posted by JFettig
    I am revamping my mills controller box, actually building a new one and I just saw that geckos only use 2/3 the rated power. Does this mean that I can take my 3 4.7A motors and run them off a 10a power supply? Do they always draw less or this much or will they go over? 4.7 * 3 = 14.1A, but 2/3 of that is: 9.4A

    Would I be risking it if I built a power supply with 2 10A transformers in series or should I use 4? I have 4 available but would rather not use them all if I don't have to.

    Jon
    Okay, it's not that Geckos use less power it's that PWM is used therefore what most have observed is that with the duty cycle that is most often used / achieved only about 2/3 of the current rating for each phase is observed.

    Why would you want to put the power transformer outputs in series? You would actually want to parallel the outputs to gain the additional current rating....so 2 10amp outputs would suffice. Better to have some extra current reserve then not having enough.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    1365
    I am putting them in series to get a 67v 10a power supply, otherwize I have 4 power supplies to double the current, in a series-parallel configuration.

    Jon

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    The Gecko site says motors wired bipolar parallel will never exceed 2/3 the rated current. 1/3 for bipolar series.
    Gerry

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    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

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