DIY Modular Power Source Question

[American Gladiator]

Hello friends, I have a question for you... My current DIY project is building some Music From Outer Space modules. These modules run on 12V power, and I don't see any way to hook them into my doepfer busboard, so I was wondering if I can take a 12V DC 'wall wart' and cut the adaptor off, find out which wire is positive and which is negative, and then solder the wire directly into the PCB where the +12 and -12 connections are. I was planning on powering two more modules by just hooking cables between the respective +12 and -12 spots after hooking the first up to the wall wart thing. So could someone tell me, is this a safe thing to do? Also, will this work? Is this an electrical hazard? If someone has an answer to this, that would be great.

[RF]

The MFOS modules need a bi-polar supply - they need +12, -12 and Ground to work - so your plan won't do it.

There is a simple power supply listed on the MFOS DIY pages at http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/powersupply.html

Or you should be able to find a "Power One" 15 v bi-polar supply for sale on-line.

[fonik]

a dc wallwart has just one output and ground. so positive output is +12V and the "negative" output is 0V. you have 12V from rail to rail.
for most of modules you will need a dual output PSU (as stated above). this could be +12V, GND, -12V. this would cover 24V from positive to negative rail, divided by the common ground. hope that makes sense?
BTW modulars are often run from +/-15V or even 18+/- sometimes and power one PSU are capable of both 15V or 12V.

concerning connecting MFOS PCBs to the doepfer bus: i just rove the 10pole ribbon cable, strip the insulation off the ends and solder the ribbon cable directly onto the PCB! you may want to use a cable tie to fiz the ribbon cable to a mounting hole of the PCB in order to release it from traction.

just in case: if you never worked with main power and you don't know exactly how to handle it, be aware: current kills. you may want to ask for help.

[American Gladiator]

Thanks for the help. I think I'm going to connect them to the bus board.

[synthmonger]

If you're using a walwart instead of a transformer like I did with the CGS PSU then I suggest using a walwart that is 3 volts above the power output i.e, 18VAC for ±15V PSU or 15VAC for ±12V PSU, etc etc.