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INA121: Amplifiers forum

Part Number: INA121

Hello:

I have a +15V/-15V power supply. I have read several threads indicating that an OpAmp would only see the supply voltage as delta 30V across the Supply+ and Supply-.  It would not be aware of a negative supply per se. However my signal voltage will indeed go negative.

Do I have to connect the Power Supply's (third) common wire in someway to the OpAmp in my circuit? I guessed maybe to the Ref pin of the OpAmp but I need to put a bias voltage on the Ref pin to get the Voutput of the Amp to be positive for the ADC I plan to use.

I am clearly confused on how to wire this all up.

  • Hi Joseph,

    there's no need to connect signal ground to the INA121, as with any other standard OPAmp. But the REF pin of INA121 must be connected to a suited potential. This can be 0V, if you want to reference the output signal to 0V, or (almost) any other potential you like.

    An example: If REF is connected to 1.5V and your differential input signal is 0V, then the output of INA121 is emitting 0V + 1.5V = 1.5V. All output signals are shifted by this 1.5V REF potential then. That's how a differential amplifier (A3 of INA121) is behaving.

    Kai

  • Kai is correct.

    Hi Joseph, Glad you got this resolved. We do have training collateral to help you understand IA theory & application. You can find the first video here. There are currently 5 videos and I'm working on releasing the 6th video in about a week. 

  • Great I will check these out!