www.classdaudio.tk

16bit DAC, Maxim MAX5217

With my electronic load, I started with MCP4921, which is nice IC, 12bit DAC, but wasn't good enough.
So I went with 16bit DAC from Maxim, the better option of two, MAX5217GUA+ . I found basic Arduino sketch from EC-Projects, the same one he used in his, which made my work really easy.

Connecting IC:

REF: Here is where you connect your reference voltage, I will go with 4.096v that I get from ARD4540BRZ (BRZ being better grade then ARZ, also more expensive).
ADDR: This is up to you, since this is I2C device, you have two fixed addresses to choose from, depends if you drive that pin LOW or HIGH.
Third option is leave it floating, that is another option.
SCL: is your clock line
SDA: is your data line
AUX: with this, you can clear internal registers or if driven LOW, load the CODE register (code that you would like to output next) to DAC register (code that is on output now). I have it low, loads code to output right away.
And you have your OUT and Vdd amd Gnd.

Setting registers:

The CODE_LOAD(0x01), which writes and loads data to the CODE and DAC registers. Output changes right away.
Other two are, if you want to have seperated command from above:
CODE(0x02): Write data to the CODE register
LOAD(0x03): Load current CODE register content to the DAC register

And there is also one command used in setup stage of your program:
USER_CONFIG(0x08): This will setup the DAC.

What is default state of output (zero, mid of full output) with bits 4 and 5.
You also tell it, what AUX function will be with bits 3 and 2, I have it disabled.
And last one, in what state is goes in power down mode with bits 1 and 0:

Arduino IDE sketch for max5217

MAX5217 visits:

How to make it loud - real loud. (230 watts rms into 8 ohms without clipping from 4 ICs. How to match LM3886s for parallel operation, then bridge the matched parallel banks. If you are not familiar with bridging amplifiers (BTL configuration), read the Application Note on bridging listed left in article Application Note on bridging audio amplifiers.