Eurorack Isolated Power Supply

I am working on a revision to be made and tested to adress these issues. In the meantime, if you decide to build this, be aware of these issues and adjust accordingly.

I am still testing the boards I currently have, and will update this post as I progress.

Summary

This is a 4HP, 36W output, fully isolated Eurorack power supply. It includes a front interface, power supply board, and distribution board.

About the Project

I decided to get into modular synth for a multitude of reasons. One of them is being able to perform on stage with it. However, a common issue that arises when performing on stage is ground loops.

They can be avoided using things like isolated DIs, but if you plan on using them alongside digital effects on a soundcard, that's not an option. Power isolation transformers are also an option, but they're heavy, bulky, and not that cheap.

I want to be able to travel light when I go to perform, so I had the idea to have the isolation directly inside of the Eurorack power supply. There are inexpensive modules that can already do it for you, so that's what I chose to use. The power output is in part dictated by what modules are available; however, I believe that 36W is plenty for the kind of installation this module is best for (i.e. smaller, more compact, or mobile setups).

I also don't really like the circular jacks on conventionnal power modules, due to how easy they are to unplug. As such, I chose to use one of my favourite power connectors for the input, which is an XT30.

Finally, I chose to have the power supply board separate from the front interface. This allows more flexibility for the front panel design (such as using large, satisfying rocker switches) while being able to fit into more shallow/compact cases.