Eurorack parts: Difference between revisions

[[File:Eurorack panels on Gie-Tec rails.jpg|thumb|200px|Eurorack panels mounted on Gie-Tec rails, with sliding nuts. Note the lip along one edge of the rail.]][[File:Eurorack panels on Vector rails.jpg|thumb|200px|Eurorack panels mounted on Vector rails, with sliding nuts.]]Unless attaching the panels directly into the wood of an enclosure; Doepfer aluminium mounting rails from Schroff or Gie-Tech usually have a 1.2mm lip and are fitted with a number of square nuts or a threaded strip with M3 tapped holes, spaced with 5.08mm between centres.<ref>TipTop [http://www.tiptopaudio.com/manuals/z-rails.pdf Z-Rails dimensions]</ref> Be careful not to get Schroff rails that take M2.5 screws.<ref>[https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=249254&sid=159dd8651e429dd3d944d75988436079 Schroff Rails for a Eurorack Rast?]</ref> Vector T-Strut rails do not have a lip and take a M2.5 threaded strip or 4-40 square nuts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vectorelect.com/Catpdf/New%20Page%2049.pdf |title=VectorPak T-Struts |accessdate=2015-05-22 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501030431/http://www.vectorelect.com/Catpdf/New%20Page%2049.pdf |archivedate=2015-05-01 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |df= }}</ref> Nuts are more fiddly than threaded strip, but the modules can then be butted flush against each other, for example when Analogue Sytem and Doepfer-style modules share the same rack rails.<ref>[https://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/814685-why-no-talk-analoge-systems-modules.html Why no talk of Analoge Systems modules?], Gearslutz.com forums, February 2013</ref>

[[Power supply (switching)|Switch-mode power supplies]] (SMPS) are smaller, lighter, and much more efficient (give off less heat) than linear power supplies but produce noise, (above the audio range) on their output.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-3242EN.pdf |title=Understanding the Importance of Low-Noise Linear Power Supplies |accessdate=2016-03-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219163349/http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-3242EN.pdf |archivedate=2012-12-19 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |df= }}</ref> About 1% of the output voltage of a switching power is a sawtooth ripple at the switcher frequency. Due to the fast output switching and the parasitic inductance of the output filter capacitor there may also be short voltage spikes at the peaks of the sawtooth. Use low inductance capacitors with short leads to minimize these voltage spikes. Adding a small LC filter to the output can further reduce the ripple and transients to a tenth of their level.<ref>[http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm2574.pdf Output voltage ripple and transients], LM2574 data sheet</ref>