Powering SkyeTek M1

Ahh... I see I mention some figures in there, but the figure images were cut out during a later edit. See in Figure 6-10 at the top-right hand corner there are V5 and GND and VIN input pins?

If you have a regulated 5 volt power supply, you can connect the positive wire to the V5 pin and the negative wire to the GND pin. A regulated power supply is one that will put out nice clean regulated power that will never go above or below the specified voltage.

If your M1 module supports it (most do), then you can find yourself a 2 volt to 5 volt unregulated power supply and connect the positive wire to the VIN pin and the negative wire to the GND pin. Most AC adaptors you will find that you can plug into the wall and get some kind of DC power out of are considered to be unregulated. Even though they do contain voltage regulators, the output can range wildly during power spikes and brown-outs.

In either case, you cannot use a power source that outputs more than 5 volts. If you do, you will most likely burn out the M1 module no matter which pin you connect your positive wire to.

It would be a fairly safe bet to go to your local electronics parts store (Radio Shack, The Source, etc.) and get an AC wall socket power adaptor that outputs between 2 and 5 volts and at least 250ma of current, then connect to GND and VIN on the M1 module.

You can see the SkyeTek M1 reader in Figure 7-8 on page 169 powered by a Radio Shack 7805 voltage regulator. The regulator can take voltages from 6 volts to 20 volts and regulate them down to a safe 5 volt steady output. I got the one shown in the Figure from Radio Shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=206259 9&cp=2032058.2032230.2032279&pg=2&parentPage=fam ily

You could use a 9 volt AC adaptor with the 5v regulator to provide safe power for your M1 module on the V5 pin. You can order one from Radio Shack online here: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=204971 0&cp=2032056&pg=3&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032056& ; ;categoryId=2032056&kwCatId=2032056&kw=ac+power& parentPage=search

Or you could use a 4.5 volt AC adaptor with the VIN pin on the M1: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=204970 7&cp=2032056&pg=3&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032056& ; ;categoryId=2032056&kwCatId=2032056&kw=ac+power& parentPage=search

As for battery life... check the Battery Life section on page 269. It shows you how to do a basic calculation on battery life.


Edited by amal - 04 March 2006 at 2:40pm