Salvaged SMPS to bench supply

[RubiconJoe]

I salvaged what seems to be a pretty high end switch mode power supply. It is rated for 12V DC, 5A. Aside from trying to reverse engineer it to see how it works, I would also like to convert it into a variable bench supply for my lab. It is a relatively small unit and think it would be perfect for my bench.

What would be some things to consider for re-designed/modifying this supply?

[Alex Eisenhut]

What's pretty high end about it? Looks like a bog standard supply to me. And what's to reverse engineer? It's not the warp core from the Enterprise. There are so many resources out there on how these things work.

Here's what you need to consider:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-DC-Lab-Bench-CV-CC-Power-Supply-0-18-VDC-0-3-Amps-NEW-/161442719954?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2596bc68d2

and move on. You won't be able to even get just an enclosure with two posts going for that price.

There's no point anymore in building stuff like this yourself.

And let's not even get started about a newbie tooling around mains voltages. That sticker and silkscreen were there to warn *experienced* people!

IMO, YMMV, etc.

[RubiconJoe]

Thanks for your input Alex.  It was just an idea I had when I came across it. Maybe not such a good one...

[Alex Eisenhut]

Thanks for your input Alex.  It was just an idea I had when I came across it. Maybe not such a good one...

Here's some consolation though: those Chinese supplies will probably require some incoming inspection, ie, "take it apart!".

Keep your supply in your bin though.

[Richard Head]

What is a little different though is those thick film solder-in modules. I suspect those are the control circuits and there's no SMD stuff under the board.