Circuit layout for a 12v - 5 volt power converter/stabilizer

[less]

I'm running a digital media player as my main source in my car and i get really high quality sound from it by using the digital output optically into the back of my DRZ 9255 h/u. Naturally, I get a nice qualilty output from the unit, but I am too fussy sometimes, and I worry a bit about the impact of any possible power surges or cutouts in its power supply - especially when I am running the heater, the system on high, etc.

The short story is that I would like to build a "power supply" or really more of a power conditioner for my media players use only. I'm thinking along the lines of the type of power supply used with the Clarion, McIntosh and other head units. I'm using a 2.5" hard drive so its less sensitive, but I just want the very best sound I can get within reason - and I just can't imagine one costing much to build from scratch.

If I remember correctly, the power input on the media player is 5 volts, so it needs conversion from 12v too.

Is there anyone here who could help me by either designing such a device or sending me to a site with good information enough to teach me what to do? I'm a fair hand with electronics but I am sure no engineer! I suspect that this is a fairly simple device...

Thanks in advance to anyone who can lend a hand!

Less

[Attack eagle]

noise wise there can be no problem since EMF doesn't impact light transmission.

Appreciate the OCD in terms of HD lifespan though.

[M1A1]

What power supply are you using now that you're "worried" enough about to want to build your own voltage regulator/power supply? Like Attack eagle mentioned, its a good 'OCD' thought, but I'm not sure its warranted.

[capnxtreme]

Seems like this an area of expertise for the carputer guys. I know there are 12v-5v DC-DC power supplies that those guys use for accessories. I don't think you'd have to build your own.

Something like this? http://www.powerstream.com/dc6.htm

[Andy Wehmeyer]

If the digital media player includes a battery and the power supply you plug in is merely a charger, then the battery will suffice as a conditioner.

[less]

Hey folks.

Thanks Cptn. I did get a general power converter as part of the car kit for the media player and have wanted to pick up a spare... as it happens, the sirius power converters use the same power and plug, so now I can pick one of those up easily. I really wasn't worried about emf. I was concerned with getting a stable voltage to the hard drive to avoid speed variations in the output. I was also concerned with preserving the life of the internal components by providing it with a stable source of power - even when I am hitting the volume pretty hard. It does not have a battery to serve as a conditioner and only has a cheap converter that came with the car kit.

Ok, I might have obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to my system, but I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to build an audiophile quality media player for myself - or modifying mine to make it as good as it can be... If a company released a media player with a seperate hq power supply, someone here would probably consider it a nice addition?

BTW, if you use a 2.5 notebook hard drive, i don't think you have to worry much at all about hard drive life. Mine is almost a year old already and serves as my primary source daily - no issues at all, although I still think a nice conditioner would assist in its preservation.

Less

[Infinity]

If you do have any worries about hard drive life, you could go Solid State on your drives and no amount of vibration/bumping will affect them. Even the slow, cheap, OCZ ones would work perfectly for audio/video.