Electronics > Beginners
Bench power supply
6PTsocket:
I apologize if thas has been already beat to death. I have an assortment of power supplies, most fixed output. I want a little single output: CV, CC around 30 volts 5A give or take. No super critical applications; charging, led testing, seing if stuff will power up, etc. A switching supply is probably clean and fast enough. I see tons of stuff in the $55-90 range. Where I need advice is on the fine points. Some are only 3 digit, some are 4, one switched the meter from A to ma. Some have course and fine tuning some with only one knob. Is it multi turn? What I am concerned with is easy adjustment and enough meter to go from single digit ma. to A without having to use my dmm. I have seen reviews complaining about twitchy adjustment and and slow response. I also saw a Mastech liner 3A supply that they cut the price on to $89. Any good? I don't know if there is much difference in supply protection or quality of electronics or mechanical construction in this price range. The weight and size of a linear is not a problem. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.
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cdev:
I like it when you can easily adjust the constant current limit value to a fairly precise setpoint and then have a good indication if it trips. A bright LED with a relay click for example.
As you probably have read here, there are good reasons to look for a good used bench supply from the great many reputable manufacturers.
If you can find the service manual for it online and can see it uses standard parts thats a big plus.
Then it is likely to be fairly easy to fix if it breaks.
6PTsocket:
I am starting to see what you mean. Reviewers find things like big voltage spike when shutting off that fries sensitive electronics. As for Mastech, just another Chinese company building to a low price.
These things can have problems I never anticipated. I'll look for better reviews.
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ArthurDent:
For a general use power supply I don't believe you really need a expensive precision power supply but one that is stable and doesn't drift is better. I have also found if you could have just one power supply that a dual or triple output supply is extremely versatile. Although I have several with digital meters I find that if I'm trying to read the current drawn by a circuit that an analog meter is easier and quicker for me to understand. I do have one single output power supply that has digital meters with a bar graph type gauge under the digital indication to give me both types of display on the same meter.
I have had a Mastech power supply and wasn't impressed with the design or the quality. One supply I found that seemed to fit the bill and was very well made was a Topward TPS 4000 with dual 30V/3A supplies and a fixed 5V/3A output. This supply (and similar ones) are available on eBay for about $75 and up in good used condition. Being linear power supplies they are quite heavy so you may get hit on shipping depending on where it has to be shipped from. The one I bought was from a local seller so I could pick it up and eliminate shipping charges. Here is a photo of the Topward supply and a extremely capable single output HP supply I have that could cost 4 to 10 times as much. The price you pay depends on what your needs (wants) are.
cdev:
The GW-Instek GPC-3020 that I have is very similar to your Topward in functionality and layout and cost me around $55, lower than its typical price due to the large number of them which became available after a private for-profit technical school in the US went bankrupt. Its a solid unit although the fan is pretty noisy, I still have not got around to replacing it.
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