Switching wall-wart noise

B

Bill Bowden

Guest
How much noise should I expect from a 5 volt 800mA, switching,
regulated wall-wart?

The wall-wart is powering a PIC processor and some other
logic and works well when plugged into a surge protected
power strip, but causes erratic operation when plugged
into a regular unprotected AC socket.

The processor inputs are driven with schmitt trigger
inverters (74HC14) so I would expect the noise rejection
to be about 2.5 volts. I can see about 150mV of noise
on a 15mHZ scope, but apparently the noise level exceeds
2.5 volts that I can't see.

I added a 1 ohm resistor in series with the +5 and a 0.1uF
cap from other side of resistor to ground which seems to
cure the problem but I don't see much change in noise level
on the scope.

The load is 300mA, so what would be an optimum RC filter
to use? Or should I replace the wall-wart?

-Bill
 
On 28 Oct 2004 22:53:42 -0700, wrongaddress@att.net (Bill Bowden)
wrote:

How much noise should I expect from a 5 volt 800mA, switching,
regulated wall-wart?

The wall-wart is powering a PIC processor and some other
logic and works well when plugged into a surge protected
power strip, but causes erratic operation when plugged
into a regular unprotected AC socket.

The processor inputs are driven with schmitt trigger
inverters (74HC14) so I would expect the noise rejection
to be about 2.5 volts. I can see about 150mV of noise
on a 15mHZ scope, but apparently the noise level exceeds
2.5 volts that I can't see.

I added a 1 ohm resistor in series with the +5 and a 0.1uF
cap from other side of resistor to ground which seems to
cure the problem but I don't see much change in noise level
on the scope.

The load is 300mA, so what would be an optimum RC filter
to use? Or should I replace the wall-wart?

-Bill
I would replace it. I use the Elpac WM series of linear regulated
wallmounts. I use them to power custom test equipment used to measure
noise, so you know they have to be quiet. Digi-Key & Mouser carry
them.

Steve J. Noll | Ventura California |
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