Frogleg Synthesis 'Beetle' Power PCB

From Frogleg Synthesis:

The Beetle is a small PCB that generates bipolar +/- 12VDC from a wall-wart power brick. It is intended to be a small power supply for standalone projects (e.g. Music From Outer Space, single/small number of modules in a mini desktop enclosure, etc).  There are three versions available; each full kit includes the PCB, all parts, the required DC/DC Converter and matching wall-wart power brick. 

IMPORTANT; THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE BEETLE USES 1x220uF CAPACITOR, NOT THREE AS SHOWN IN THE PICTURES. 

We offer three full kits. Our base kit is the 'Larva' version and rated to deliver up to 420mA. The mid-power kit is the 'Pupa' version and rated for up to 833mA and the max-power kit is the 'Adult' version rated to 1250mA. Be sure you know the power requirements for your project so you can order and build the correct version. The kits INCLUDE the wall-wart power supply and DC/DC Converter to deliver the rated power. 

Your enclosure or case will require the proper diameter hole for the DC power jack and holes for the PCB-mounting standoff hardware. 

documentation and BOM: beetle mania

BUILD

The Beetle is a very straightforward build.  Solder the diode, then the DC-DC converter, then the cap, then the heade(s).  The 2 pin header is the input and you can output to either the 3 pin header or the 10 pin Euro header or both.  The Euro footprint expects a shrouded header, but of course if you choose to use the unshrouded type, be sure to align the red stripe with the line on the PCB.

Both MTA headers are marked with a small + on the positive side of the header.  For the 2 pin, the other side is ground, for the 3 pin the center is ground and the opposite side is -V.

Mount the Beetle on short standoffs or spacers, mount the DC jack to your enclosure, connect the tip from the DC jack to the switch (I usually plug the wart into the jack and use my meter to ensure I know which pin is tip and which is sleeve), and run wires from the other side of the switch and the sleeve of the DC jack to the Beetle using the 2 position MTA socket.  Connect the output of the Beetle to whatever your project might be and away you go….