safety concern with power supply and breadboard

[jlintz]

I recently finished putting together a Elenco Precision Deluxe
Regulated Power Supply (model xp-620). I also just purchased a 50 in
1 electronics kit as I would liek to create some circuits to learn
more. I noticed that the output of the power supply is 1 amp. When I
was working with the breadboard I had been using a 9volt battery to
power it. I am concerned that it is not safe to be working with 1 amp
on an open breadboard. Is there a way I can modify my power supply to
output a safer amperage where I wont be putting myself in any danger?

 

[Fritz Schlunder]

"jlintz" <jlintz@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:9e03ca22.0401060030.401e56ee@posting.google.com...

I recently finished putting together a Elenco Precision Deluxe
Regulated Power Supply (model xp-620). I also just purchased a 50 in
1 electronics kit as I would liek to create some circuits to learn
more. I noticed that the output of the power supply is 1 amp. When I
was working with the breadboard I had been using a 9volt battery to
power it. I am concerned that it is not safe to be working with 1 amp
on an open breadboard. Is there a way I can modify my power supply to
output a safer amperage where I wont be putting myself in any danger?

You are not in any danger. At least, no danger that you need to worry
about.

The supply you have claims something like +/-15V which taken together is
30V. That is still quite safe to play with. You would have a very
difficult time dieing from that.

The "1 amp" claim isn't something to be afraid of. A fresh 9V battery can
crank out several amps if you short circuit it.

If you do something wrong with your circuit it is possible to melt your
breadboard (and maybe sustain minor finger burns if you touch it) with this
kind of output power capability, but don't be worried about electrocuting
yourself with it.

 

[jlintz]

Ok another quick question. I was measuring the voltage output using
my multimeter that is safe for up to 400 mA. When I first did it , it
worked fine but then I was getting weird results on everything so I
figured I blew a fuse. I replaced the fuse on the multimeter and
tested it out on a 9 volt battery and everything was working good.
Went to test the output voltage again and again weird results or 0.
Any idea what could be going wrong?



"Fritz Schlunder" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message news:<btec1v$62lme$1@ID-203926.news.uni-berlin.de>...

"jlintz" <jlintz@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:9e03ca22.0401060030.401e56ee@posting.google.com...
I recently finished putting together a Elenco Precision Deluxe
Regulated Power Supply (model xp-620). I also just purchased a 50 in
1 electronics kit as I would liek to create some circuits to learn
more. I noticed that the output of the power supply is 1 amp. When I
was working with the breadboard I had been using a 9volt battery to
power it. I am concerned that it is not safe to be working with 1 amp
on an open breadboard. Is there a way I can modify my power supply to
output a safer amperage where I wont be putting myself in any danger?


You are not in any danger. At least, no danger that you need to worry
about.

The supply you have claims something like +/-15V which taken together is
30V. That is still quite safe to play with. You would have a very
difficult time dieing from that.

The "1 amp" claim isn't something to be afraid of. A fresh 9V battery can
crank out several amps if you short circuit it.

If you do something wrong with your circuit it is possible to melt your
breadboard (and maybe sustain minor finger burns if you touch it) with this
kind of output power capability, but don't be worried about electrocuting
yourself with it.

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

"jlintz" <jlintz@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:9e03ca22.0401061055.5c13a0ac@posting.google.com...

Ok another quick question. I was measuring the voltage output using
my multimeter that is safe for up to 400 mA. When I first did it , it
worked fine but then I was getting weird results on everything so I
figured I blew a fuse. I replaced the fuse on the multimeter and
tested it out on a 9 volt battery and everything was working good.
Went to test the output voltage again and again weird results or 0.
Any idea what could be going wrong?



"Fritz Schlunder" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:<btec1v$62lme$1@ID-203926.news.uni-berlin.de>...
"jlintz" <jlintz@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:9e03ca22.0401060030.401e56ee@posting.google.com...
I recently finished putting together a Elenco Precision Deluxe
Regulated Power Supply (model xp-620). I also just purchased a 50 in
1 electronics kit as I would liek to create some circuits to learn
more. I noticed that the output of the power supply is 1 amp. When I
was working with the breadboard I had been using a 9volt battery to
power it. I am concerned that it is not safe to be working with 1 amp
on an open breadboard. Is there a way I can modify my power supply to
output a safer amperage where I wont be putting myself in any danger?


You are not in any danger. At least, no danger that you need to worry
about.

The supply you have claims something like +/-15V which taken together is
30V. That is still quite safe to play with. You would have a very
difficult time dieing from that.

The "1 amp" claim isn't something to be afraid of. A fresh 9V battery
can
crank out several amps if you short circuit it.

If you do something wrong with your circuit it is possible to melt your
breadboard (and maybe sustain minor finger burns if you touch it) with
this
kind of output power capability, but don't be worried about
electrocuting
yourself with it.

This sounds like the classic "measuring volts set on current" trick. Since
you mention 400mA current rating and volts in the same sentence I'd gues you
may well be confused??
Apologies if not but in measuring volts there is very little current fowing
by design. Check your settings when measuring the voltage ie make sure that
the probes are in the "volt" sockets and an appropriate range selected.

--
Regards ........ Rheilly Phoull