High Voltage – Low Noise Module

A low-noise medium-high voltage generator is always of great use in the laboratory : it is used for the powering of photomultiplier tubes, geiger counters, ionization chambers, solid state sensors for radiation, etc …. However the construction of a component of this type is not simple. An example of a DIY project is that of the PMT Adapter Theremino: PMT Adapter, an excellent project that we have used many times for gamma spectrometry, but this equipment is not able to supply “high” currents and has limitations in the range of supply voltages.

For this reason we have acquired (finding it on eBay of course) a Matsusada module capable of delivering an adjustable voltage from 0 to 1500 V with low noise (<5 mVpp).

With this module, adding some accessories, we have developed an adjustable, stabilized and low noise laboratory HV power supply. Following are the technical data of the Matsusada module:

Datasheet of Matsusada J6-1.5P-LX module

• Output Voltage : 0 to 1.5 KV (positive)
• Output Current : 4 mA
• Ripple : 5 mVpp
• Input Voltage : +24 Vdc / 600 mA
• Output Voltage Control : 5KΩ Potentiometer / 0 – 9 V

The module is equipped with a connector with 12 tracks, there are also pads for welding connecting wires. The diagram below describes the function of the contacts on the connector. In particular, we highlight the connections for the 5KΩ potentiometer for the regulation of the HV voltage and the output for HV monitoring (1mV = 1V).

In the image below you can see the inside of the equipment. The main components are:

• 24V power supply
• 5V step-down regulator for display power supply
• Matsusada HV PSU module
• Display for voltage settings (range 0 – 2000 mV)
• 5KΩ multiturn potentiometer for HV setting
• HV Enable switch
• MHV connector

In the image below you can see the detail of the Matsusada module connector.

The image below shows the equipment finished and adjusted to provide a voltage of 175 V. The advantage of this equipment is the possibility to deliver even relatively low voltages (100 – 500 V) suitable for driving solid state sensors such as SiPM, APD, CZT detectors.

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