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PowerBRICK Reference Manual
Revised February 26, 2015
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Overview
PowerBRICKs are split-rail power supply modules that are intended to be used with a breadboard. These generate
both a negative and positive voltage out of a single 5V USB voltage. There are four output voltage options:
1. PowerBRICK 3.3: Outputs +/-3.3V
2. PowerBRICK 5: Outputs +/-5V
3. PowerBRICK 9: Outputs +/-9V
4. PowerBRICK 12: Outputs +/-12V
Input Voltage
Input voltage can be provided either through the USB connector or the +Vin pin header. The USB connector is used
only as a voltage input source, while the pin header is used either as an input or output.
When a USB power source is attached, the pin header becomes an output and gives access to the USB voltage. This
way the user can chain more PowerBRICKs by connecting together the +Vin pins. Note that the first PowerBRICK in
the chain limits the input current. The entire chain can deliver a total output power of 2.2W, with each individual
PowerBrick limited to the values specified in the tables below.
For maximum output capabilities (current and capacitive load) each PowerBrick should be powered individually
either through the USB connector or +Vin pin. The following tables specify output capabilities when supplied
individually.
Output voltage on pin
+Vin
