Tiptop Powered Bus User Manual
TM
ZEUS Series
Audio Grade
Power Systems
For Version 2.1 Boards
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
Table Of Contents
1) Introduction: The Advantages of ZEUS.
2) Understanding power consumption of analog and digital modules.
3) Choosing the right combination of powered bus boards and passive
bus boards for your case.
4) Choosing the right external power supply for your case.
5) Choosing the right accessories. (power socket, switch, connections,
wiring)
6) Basic assembly instructions.
7) Wiring diagrams.
8) Technical specifications.
9) Mechanical specifications.
10) Change Log. (Updated March 2012)
TM
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
Introduction: The Advantages of ZEUS
Important:
Check for
Version 2.1!!
for more information
refer to Page 21 (Change Log)
Chapter 1
+12V
GND
+
-12V
VR
+12V
GND
-12V
VR
+
VR
+12V
GND
-12V
D C 1 2 0 0
D C 1 2 0 0
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+12V
+
Zeus V2.1
GATE
CV
+5V
+
POWER
+5V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
+12V
GND
-12V
OUTININ1
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GNDGND
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
GND+12VVR
-12V
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
OUT
GND -12V+12VVRININ1GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
+5V -12V+12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
CV
+5V
+12V
-12V
The ZEUS power system for modular synthesizers was developed to bring the
advantages of today’s modern power technology to the modular synthesizer.
The ZEUS power system, in the most basic setup, will be comprised of an
external wall or brick-style laptop power supply and a Zeus Powered Bus
Board.
The safe and easy installation of ZEUS systems is its first and most obvious
advantage. It is now possible to power a complete modular system from an
external brick style universal power supply, the same power supply used to
charge laptop computers. These external power supplies are extremely
powerful and paired with the right combination of Powered Bus Boards, even
very large systems can be run from a single laptop power supply at high
audio quality power.
Using an external power supply ensures your system stays light-weight and
clear of electromagnetic emissions produced by transformers. In essence your
case stays cool, safe, and most importantly, removes any
need to deal with hot AC main lines while installing the
TM
system.
(Continued...)
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
Chapter 1 (Continued)
Introduction: The Advantages of ZEUS
+12V
GND
+
-12V
VR
+12V
GND
-12V
VR
+
VR
+12V
GND
-12V
D C 1 2 0 0
D C 1 2 0 0
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+12V
+
Zeus V2.1
GATE
CV
+5V
+
POWER
+5V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
+12V
GND
-12V
OUTININ1
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GNDGND
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
GND+12VVR
-12V
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
OUT
GND -12V+12VVRININ1GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
+5V
+12V
-12V
+5V -12V+12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
The technology used to achieve these mentioned benefits is known as
switching power. In audio, the word "switching" means electrical noise,
and noise is not something you want to have powering your audio gear.
Therefore adopting this power technique for use in audio requires special care.
The special care is taken by the DC1200 components used on our Powered
Bus Board, this is a switching-type regulator that takes external power
either linear or switching and transforms it into audio-grade switching
power, strong and clean. These DC1200 regulators have a wide input range
from 9V-16V with a constant +12V and -12V output.
This manual will guide you through the steps necessary for you to design the
power system that meets your needs; taking into consideration the power
consumption used by today’s modern modules, mechanical assembly, cost,
and ZEUS systems built with the intent of power/size expansion over time.
TM
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
Chapter 2
Understanding power consumption of analog
and digital modules.
The power consumption requirements for today’s crop of new and exciting
modules varies from the prior needs of modules in the past. Before, the
current draw was almost always even on both the positive and negative side
of the rails. For instance, a 30mA module usually drew 15mA from the +12V
rail and another 15mA from the -12V rail making for an even distribution of
power consumption over the chain of power flow. This allowed the user to
quickly calculate the necessary power supply specifications they would need
to provide sufficient power to their systems.
Today this is not always the case. In modern modules there are far more
digital technologies that require greater amounts of current drawn from the
+12V power rail than what is drawn from the -12V power rail. With this in
mind, the user can no longer take the summed mA total for granted and base
their system's power on the status quo.
For Example:
and 25mA from the -12V rail. A hypothetical system comprising of three
Z3000 MKIIs would need to source 150mA from the +12V rail and 75mA
from the -12v rail to function properly.
Once you know the amount of current you will need on your +12V and-12V,
you can decide how many Zeus Powered Bus Boards you will need. Powered
Bus Boards can supply up to 1200mA on the +12V regulator and 1200mA
on the -12V regulator.
A Z3000 MKII Smart VCO requires 50mA from the +12V rail
For Example: if you need 1150mA on the +12V and 730mA on the -12V,
then you will need
+12V and 1100mA on your -12V then you will need 2 Powered Bus Boards
due to the 1200mA cap on both regulators.
one Zeus Powered Bus Board. If you need 1450mA on your
TM
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
Chapter 3
Choosing The Right Combination Of Powered Bus
Boards And Passive Bus Boards For Your Case.
The ZEUS Series Bus Boards come in two varieties: Powered and Passive.
Powered: This board is the heart of any system. It houses the power input
terminals, dual Tiptop Audio’s DC1200 switching regulators capable of
producing up to 1200mA for each of the +12V and -12V rails, 5V regulator
capable of producing up to 500mA, 13 Eurorack module connectors, 5
Analogue Systems-style module connectors, along with twin sets of both flat
terminal and screw terminal power distribution channels. It also has the ability
to pass the power along to more powered boards for larger systems which will
be covered later on in this manual.
+12V
GND
+
-12V
VR
+12V
GND
-12V
VR
D C 1 2 0 0
+
D C 1 2 0 0
POWER
+
+
Zeus V2.1
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
OUTININ1
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GNDGND
-12V
GND+12VVR
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
OUT
GND -12V+12VVRININ1GND
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
+5V
+12V
-12V
Passive: This board houses 14 Eurorack and 5 Analogue Systems-style
module connectors and a 5V regulator capable of providing 500mA. It has
one screw terminal connection point and two sets of flat terminal connection
points with the ability to pass power along to a second passive board if needed
using the second set of flat terminals.
-12V
+5V
VR
+12V
+12V
GND
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
-12V
+5V
+12V
GND
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
+5V -12V+12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
GATE
CV
+5V
+12V
GND
-12V
Next we have listed examples of how one can choose what boards their
system might possibly need. These are merely examples and we strongly
urge you to measure your system’s total current draw to ensure you
have the proper amount of power delivered to your case.
(Continued...)
TM
ZEUS Series Powered & Passive Bus Boards
Chapter 3 (Continued)
Choosing The Right Combination Of Powered Bus Boards
And Passive Bus Boards For Your Case.
There are multiple wiring examples at the end of this manual, but the basic
suggestions for 84HP systems are:
3U : (1) Powered Bus Board
6U : (1) Powered Bus Board (1) Passive Bus Board
9U : (1) Powered Bus Board (2) Passive Bus Boards
[or] : (2) Powered Bus Boards (1) Passive Bus Board
12U : (2) Powered Bus Boards (2) Passive Bus Boards
15U : (2) Powered Bus Boards (2) Passive Bus Boards
[or] : (3) Powered Bus Boards (2) Passive Bus Boards
18U : (2) Powered Bus Boards (4) Passive Bus Boards
[or] : (3) Powered Bus Boards (3) Passive Bus Boards
TM
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