How to Connect Plus DC Power Supplies to Dual Polarity Loads

Place the two resistors in a line so two of their leads touch and overlap in the center. Twist these leads together for a length of half to one inch. Solder the leads together. The resistors should each have one unsoldered lead at the ends and a common soldered lead.

Insert one of the unsoldered resistor leads into the power supply's positive voltage terminal binding post by unscrewing the plastic part a few turns, exposing the small hole in the post. In a similar fashion. Connect the other unsoldered lead to the supply's ground terminal binding post.

Insert a banana cable into the positive voltage binding post. Insert another banana cable into the ground binding post. Slip an alligator clip adapter on a third banana cable. Attach the alligator clip onto the common soldered leads between the resistors. This cable now carries the supply's virtual ground.

Turn the multimeter on and set it to read DC volts. Connect the banana cable at the power supply's positive terminal to the positive jack on the multimeter. Connect virtual ground banana cable to the multimeter's negative jack. Turn the power supply on and adjust it to the positive voltage your dual polarity load needs. For example, if your equipment needs plus and minus 10 volts, adjust the power supply's voltage until the multimeter indicates 10 volts.

Turn the DC power supply off. Disconnect the banana cables from the multimeter. Connect the banana cables to the positive, ground and negative power inputs of your dual-polarity equipment. The banana cable at the positive post provides the positive voltage for your circuit, the banana cable with the alligator clip delivers ground and the banana cable connected at the power supply's ground terminal delivers negative voltage to your circuit. Turn the DC power supply on.