The release of hvps-x means the end of development and support for the original SHVPS described on this page. The files and instructions remain accessible, but we won’t provide upgrades or support. The reason for stopping support is that we don’t have any SHVPS left to work on, nor any LabVIEW license to work on the user interface. If you want to assemble a high voltage power supply, we recommend our new hvps-x.

Summary

The Single Channel High Voltage Power Supply (SHVPS) consists of a programmable voltage source capable of producing a user-controllable HV DC voltage. A fast switch allows to quickly turn the voltage on and off to create a square voltage of a frequency up to 1 kHz.

Learn How to assemble a SHVPS

• Schematics and PCB files
• Assembly procedure for SHVPS v6bx
  • Test the low voltage components
  • Test the high voltage components
• Initial configuration and calibration of the SHVPS
  • Automatic calibration and characterisation of the SHVPS
• Standalone configuration

Learn How to use a SHVPS

• Installing the drivers
• Direct communication with the HVPS

LabView user interface

• Interface installation and prerequisites
• Connection and context help
• Examples of configurations
  • Limit the output voltage
  • DC voltage output
  • Continuous Switching mode
  • Finite number of switching cycles
  • Manual Control via the push button
  • User-defined waveforms
• Using the HVPS without a computer
• Make your own programs (Integrating the power supply with other instruments)
• Trigger/strobe pulse

Python user interface

• Current limitations of the Python interface
• Interface installation and prerequisites
• Description of the Python Interface
  • Python Interface, limit the output voltage
  • Python Interface, DC output
  • Python Interface, Continuous Switching mode
  • Python Interface, Switching mode with finite number of cycles
  • Python Interface, Keyboard input
  • Python Interface, Library of functions

Download

Download the components of SHVPS

The SHVPS philosophy

The HVPS has been developed primarily to drive and control Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs), which are electrostatic soft transducers that require a high driving voltage (up to 5 kV depending on thickness) at low current (typically <100 uA). Most commercial high voltage power supplies are ill-suited for DEAs: they are bulky, heavy, not to mention utterly expensive.

With Peta-pico-Voltron, we wanted to develop a do-it-yourself HVPS packing a lot of functionalities into a small footprint. We have dedicated a lot of effort to design an elegant hardware solution in conjunction with a firmware that contains a lot of functionalities. In addition, a comprehensive graphic user interface, and library of function make Peta-pico-Voltron very easy to use and to integrate with other instruments.

Main features

Components

The SHVPS consists of a programmable high voltage source coupled to a fast switch. The programmable source generates a precise voltage, and the fast switch allows to connect ground or the source voltage to the output connection, thus making it possible to generate either continuous or square waveforms.

Programmable voltage source

• Voltage rating: HVPS can be manufactured with different maximal voltages. We have built and tested units with the following ratings: 5kV, 3kV, 2kV, 1.2kV and 500V. The SHVPS uses an EMCO A-Series DC/DC converter, and any model can be used to build a HVPS.
• Voltage set point resolution: 0.1% of full scale.
• Voltage control modes: Internal (open loop or regulated), or external analog voltage.

Fast switch

• 3 different switching modes can be used: DC voltage, square signal, or 0V (off), as shown on the 2 figures below:
  
  
• Frequency range: 0.001 Hz to >1kHz.
• Switching slope for 5kV HVPS and full-scale switching: ~15V/us
• Source of switching signal: Internal timer, manual push-button, or external 5V TTL signal.

Interface

• User-friendly GUI providing access to all functions
  • Ability to control several SHVPS in parallel.
  • Safety feature to limit the output voltage below a user-defined level.
  • Memory function to store parameters in the unit.

• LabVIEW library with all the necessary functions required to program the SHVPS and to synchronize it with other instruments.
  

Datasheet

• 5kV SHVPS
• (Datasheets for other model will follow when available)