Power on a different board vs same board

[someone_sandwich]

Is it a bad idea to have a separate circuit board that provides regulated supply voltages such as +3.3V, -3.3V, and 0V/GND to a circuit board that just manipulates a signal?

Is it preferable to have power regulation and signal manipulation circuit on the same circuit board?

Attached is a drawing of what I am asking about. One circuit board provides regulated voltage, the other circuit board is acting as the load receiving these regulated voltages.

 

[kellys_eye]

On a design basis, no, it's a good idea. Power supplies are the #1 source of problems in any equipment and the ability to separate them from the rest of the circuitry can make servicing a lot easier. In some cases it can remove 'noise' from delicate electronics i.e. where physical separation makes a difference.

When the bean-counters get a hold of it though....... cram as much as you can in the smallest available space at the least cost using the cheapest parts. And screw the reliability.

 

[Delta Prime]

I concur. they call it or one of the names is housekeeping power supply. Very convenient you can just swap out power supply boards. You'll find out soon enough as you revise the PCB design and you're on revision "K" the bean counters will salute you and give you a pat on the back and a 5 cent raise

 

[danadak]

Tradeoffs, always tradeoffs :

https://www.analog.com/media/en/training-seminars/design-handbooks/Practical-Power-Solutions/Section1.pdf

Regards, Dana.

 

[someone_sandwich]

Thank you for the responses! I appreciate it. I have a better idea now of what to do.

I have done some more research.

It seems that it would be beneficial to have a circuit board for regulated power supply and a circuit board for performing functions that has clean voltage rails. Signal manipulation circuit board with voltage rails from voltage regulators would provide benefits of taking power from a easy-to-service power supply board and low-impedance path of regulated power to the signal manipulation circuit. The drawback of this design would be that power to voltage rails has a higher impedance in its path compared to doing it all on one board, but this is not much of an issue if voltage is being stepped down.

 

[Delta Prime]

I have done some more research

Research never hurts but you see there's nothing in your original post that says anything about stepping up or stepping down it was vague ambiguous open to interpretation and now all of a sudden you have become an expert,not asking questions but telling us what is beneficial in circuit design step up or step down. You are just regurgitating what you've just read. If that makes you feel better, more power to you.Until you build it. I would continue researching.
And by the way...
I'm eating that sandwich!

 

[someone_sandwich]

That is a fair point about the question being vague and lacking information. I will try being more specific next time.

Anyway, my question has been answered. Thank you for the responses. I will ask more specific questions in the future if I am lost or need help.

 

[Delta Prime]

I wasn't trying to beat you up. If need help on component selection or on the PCB layout for a specific application I'll be more than happy to help.Without the criticism this time,sorry about that.
But I feel much better when I have a full stomach.