Voltcraft power supplies any good?

[markus-k]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking for an okay-ish but not too expensive power supply, as I'm tired of powering projects from batteries or fixed-voltage wallbricks.  Does anyone have experience with one of this series: http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/513911/VOLTCRAFT-PPS-11360-180W-2-Output-Programmable-DC-Power-Supply-Switched-Mode-Bench ? I really like the small formfactor as I don't have a lot of space on my desk. I tried searching the forum for some opinions, but some say they are very nice, others say they are crap, probably really depends on the model. Voltcraft power supplies are probably just rebranded China-supplies I'd guess, but haven't seen this one with another name on it yet.

Maybe any other recommendations for a decent supply? Ideally < 150€, used is okay if it's a good one.

Thank you

[hexreader]

Is "2 output" a deliberate attempt to deceive?

As far as I can see, it is one output with two sets of terminals.

Do you need remote control option?

[tooki]

This one (like many of the Voltcrafts) is a Manson rebadge: http://www.manson.com.hk/products/detail/149

Supposedly Manson is a good brand, so it's probably fine!


As for the "2 outputs" thing: Conrad is a German company, and their English is often... to put it charitably, "wonky". Don't read any malice into it. (Nearly every electronics vendor I've seen in the German-speaking world has seemingly assigned their English translation to an intern. I've even seen them translate specs back from German to lousy English instead of just copying the American manufacturer's original English )

[markus-k]

Is "2 output" a deliberate attempt to deceive?

As far as I can see, it is one output with two sets of terminals.

Do you need remote control option?

As tooki said, it seems a bit of a bad translation, it's one output with two terminals.

Both features are rather nice to have than actually required.

[tooki]

Upon closer inspection, the German product description is wrong, too, with this unit showing up under a parametric search for "Ausgänge: 2". I'm thinking this was more likely an unknowledgeable person doing the data entry.

[klunkerbus]

The 2 output confusion likely comes from the fact that there is a set of outputs on both the front and the rear.

EDIT: My apologies to hexreader. I missed the "sets" word in his description of the terminals in my early-morning scan of the thread.  I didn't realize someone had already mentioned the redundant output connections. 

[tooki]

The 2 output confusion likely comes from the fact that there is a set of outputs on both the front and the rear.

Well yes, we all understood this from the start. The issue is that whoever entered this unit into the database didn't understand that in power supplies, "output" doesn't mean the number of connectors, but rather has the specific meaning of independent, electrically separate outputs.

[alm]

I would call a power supply with two independent sets of outputs a dual channel supply. I do not think I have seen the term dual output before. Plenty of power supplies have the outputs together with sense terminals on a barrier strip on the back.

Voltcraft is usually rebadged from China (or Taiwan back when that was the home for cheap electronics). Hence the somewhat variable quality ranging from barely adequate to mediocre. I have no experience with this particular power supply. One advantage is that they sometimes provide more documentation (including schematics and communication protocols) than easily available from the OEM.

I personally would not buy a cheap switch mode bench supply. I trust these companies to (barely) get a linear bench supply right, but a switch mode bench supply is much easier to screw up. Feed it some RF and the regulation goes completely wonky, that kind of fun. But again, no experience with this particular one.

Going only down to 1 V, and not the 0 V as is standard for bench supplies, can be limiting for some applications (e.g. using it as current source to find a short in a PCB). If you only need 30 V / 5 A, then there are various linear supplies (like the Korad KA3005 that seems fairly robust after the upgrade) that are just as small and cheap.

[128er]

Hi,

I can't give you an advise for this specific model that you want to buy, but . . . .

A few years ago I bought a Voltcraft VLP-2403, linear, two channel 0-40V/3A + 3-6V/2A. From todays perspective I would not buy it again. From the outside it looks good. Internaly it is somewhat slapped together. One LCD failed realy quick, because the tiny screws on the LCD module got loose and so the pressure on the zebra strips disappeared. Was not fixable by tightening the screws, because the screw holes were worn out from the beginning.
Then in the last few weeks the current limit of one channel got unpredictable. No matter what you adjust, it does its own thing. The cause is some lose connection due to the superb internal construction quality.

For that money I could have get a nice used HP/Agilent unit, or other name brands.

Also funny is, when you turn it on in the right point of your mains half wave, then the whole metal chassis is vibrating. And my old Tektronix scope starts triggering on something 

But that is only true for my specific unit. But I would spend the 215€ on a used name brand unit.

[b_force]

Voltcraft is ok, but re-branded Chinese equipment.
If you search well, you can find cheaper equipment with exactly the same specs.
Great for buying at the second hand market.

what I normally do is tweak them/replace the crappy parts.

[madires]

The Voltcraft is rebadged and expensive. You can get the Manson with 10A for less: https://www.reichelt.de/Labornetzgeraete/HCS-3202/3/index.html?ACTION=3&LA=2&ARTICLE=106617&GROUPID=4952&artnr=HCS+3202&SEARCH=%252A

Or take the Korad KA3005P (linear lab PSU): https://www.reichelt.de/Labornetzgeraete/KA3005P/3/index.html?ACTION=3&LA=2&ARTICLE=135689&GROUPID=4952&artnr=KA3005P&SEARCH=%252A

[HighVoltage]

I had a few Voltcraft power supplies in the past but they all had problems, so I never bought one again. Internally they are cheap china stuff.

For that money you are willing to spend, get a used Agilent PSU that will last forever.

[madires]

Not all Voltcaft PSUs are China cheapies. I got an old one made in East Germany, still running fine.

[128er]

Not all Voltcaft PSUs are China cheapies. I got an old one made in East Germany, still running fine.

I bet it is made by Statron in the GDR. They are quite good!

[markus-k]

Thank you for your advice guys. Haven't seen the Manson one on Reichelt before, but yeah.. After putting a bit more thought into it I decided to put an offer on an HP E3611A on eBay. Quality of these is probably not even comparable to most China supplies. Bit less bang for the buck, but at least you know what you're getting. Did almost the same when I was thinking about buying a Uni-T multimeter a while ago and ended up with a proper Fluke, and didn't regret it