6.9 ±15 V analog power (PWR-A15)

PWR-A15 is the power domain of ±15 V for analog circuits that run at the full rail, and an optional feature for the products in it: a module with a PWR-A15 entry, a power supply that makes ±15 V for a row, a power converter that makes it for one product from PWR-DC12 or from the bus, and the cables between them. Where PWR-A6 feeds a module that finishes its own regulation to ±5 V, PWR-A15 feeds op-amp circuits directly: the ±10 V signal swing of an analog computing or display amplifier, the headroom a video output stage needs, and the ±15 V parts of the broadcast trade. The connector and pin map are those of the LZX Deflect series, whose every powered module takes ±15 V this way. The tables are in data/analog_15.json.

EIS · PWR-A15: the A15-MF4 entry and the voltage window latch 1 0 V 2 0 V 3 −15 V 4 +15 V A15-MF4 from the mating side, 4.20 mm pitch 9 A per circuit; 2 A per rail at an entry 13 V 14 V 15 V 16 V 17 V outlet 14.4–15.6 module entry 14.0–15.6 cable ≤ 0.4 V withstood 16.5 V One connector for PWR-A15 only (A15-001); the Deflect series' entry. An outlet holds its window to its rating (A15-002); a module works across the entry window (A15-003), survives 16.5 V (A15-004), and draws at most 2 A per rail (A15-005).

Connector and pins

A PWR-A15 entry or outlet shall be an A15-MF4 connector, a Molex Mini-Fit Jr 4-circuit header, two rows of two on a 4.20 mm pitch, with its latched polarized housing, with the pin functions tabulated below (A15-001). No other EIS domain uses a 4-circuit Mini-Fit Jr; the case DC entries DC-MF6 and DC-MF8 are the same family with six and eight circuits and do not mate it, which is why the ±15 V mark beside the connector matters (A15-007) and why an entry withstands 16.5 V and no more (A15-004). Pins 1 and 2 are both 0 V so that the return carries the same current as either rail; pin 3 is −15 V and pin 4 is +15 V.

Variant Header (reference) Mating housing (reference) Rated per circuit (A)
A15-MF4 Molex 39-30-1040 (vertical) or 39-30-1041 (right angle) 4-circuit header, 5569 series Molex 39-01-2040 receptacle housing with 5556 crimp terminals 9

A15-MF4 pins

Pin Function
1 0 V
2 0 V
3 −15 V
4 +15 V

Voltage window

A PWR-A15 outlet shall hold each rail between 14.4 V and 15.6 V in magnitude, from no load to its published rating (A15-002). A module shall meet its published behavior with each rail anywhere from 14.0 V to 15.6 V in magnitude at its entry (A15-003); the 0.4 V between the two windows is the allowance for the cable and the connectors at the entry limit. A PWR-A15 entry shall withstand 16.5 V in magnitude on either rail without damage (A15-004): a source that overshoots on start-up, or a supply set a volt high, does not take a module with it.

Figure Value
Nominal ±15 V
At an outlet, no load to rating 14.40 V to 15.60 V
At an entry, where the module meets its behavior 14.00 V to 15.60 V
Withstood at an entry 16.5 V
Ripple and noise at an outlet below 20 mV p-p
Per rail through one entry 2 A
Cable at most 500 mm, at least 20 AWG

EIS recommends that a source clamp its outlet so that a failed pass element cannot put its input voltage on a module, and that a module's entry carry a resettable fuse and a reverse-polarity element per rail.

Modules

A module shall not draw more than 2 A on either rail through one PWR-A15 entry (A15-005). It publishes its current on each rail as every power entry does (PWR-001). A module on PWR-A15 alone has no bus header and claims no PWR-BUS; one that also takes the bus for its logic needs both connected, and its claim file says so.

Cables

A PWR-A15 cable shall connect each pin to the same pin at both ends, be no longer than 500 mm, and use conductors of at least 20 AWG (A15-006). The Mini-Fit Jr housing latches; a cable is pulled by its latch, never by the wire.

Sources

A power supply that makes PWR-A15 for a row publishes the current of each outlet and its total (PWR-002), and meets the rules of 6.2 at every outlet. A power converter makes PWR-A15 for one product from PWR-DC12 by an isolated or boost converter, or from the bus by stepping each rail up; a linear source needs an input above the window, so a converter from the bus is a switching stage followed by a linear post-regulator.

EIS recommends a linear or post-regulated source for PWR-A15, typically under 5 mV of ripple and noise.