Electronics > Beginners
Choosing a PSU, what should I look for
Moriambar:
--- Quote from: tautech on February 23, 2019, 02:38:58 am ---
--- Quote from: Moriambar on February 21, 2019, 08:35:31 pm ---Anyway, in a couple of days I'll decide, but I probably will choose the SPD3303C, because it seems the best I can afford apparently (and especially among the ones I suggested), unless something else pops up.
--- End quote ---
Don't, get the SPD3303X-E instead and unlock it to an X model and get the 1mV/mA resolution.
The Siglent .ads thread has the unlock info, it's very simple.
The display is much nicer and more informative than the older C models.
The Hamburg and USA Siglent websites haven't been updated to show the newer GUI that was implemented in firmware after the X/X-E were released.
The Shenzhen website shows how they look now:
http://www.siglent.com/ENs/pdxx.aspx?id=1132&T=2&tid=17
--- End quote ---
Well, I actually do not see the added value for 1.5x the price (I mean, I will have to save some extra money to get the x-e since it's out of budget practically). I mean: do I really need the 1mV/1mA? I cannot see how. Apart from the GUI revamp (nice but not worth 150€), I actually do not see what else this unit gives that I can use:
* Power consumption (I don't actually care about it)
* Save/recall function (I actually do not have the need for it, it's nice but comes at a price)
* Timing info and pc interaction I really really do not care about
Perhaps there's something else I don't know about and I'm missing it. Please point that out if it is so. As it stands I think that paying a lot more money to have functionalities that really don't fit with my usage it's a waste of money.
As rstofer said:
--- Quote from: rstofer on February 22, 2019, 08:20:18 am ---At some point, choosing equipment by consensus is a waste of time. Everybody likes what they have, they dislike what they just got rid of (with reason) and it all breaks down with no definitive answers. There is always something just a little better for a little more money. And buying used is truly a risk. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not so much. Sellers almost never pay return shipping so you are out money even if you can send it back.
Drive a stake in the ground, buy something and don't look back. Years from now, if you need something else, sell what you have and buy it. In the meantime you will have gotten years of usage and gained a real awareness of what you like or dislike in some type of equipment.
--- End quote ---
I think there's no extra value in the x/xe model for me, but as a beginner I might be wrong!
Calvin:
Hi,
"well, even easiness and usability are personal judgements."
Well, Yes and No ;)
Of course does personal judgement play an important role, but there are certain common design rules that lead to an easy and intuitive layout.
Examples:
Rigol DP832A:
- distance between the connectors is all the same and quite close --> arrange + and - connectors as (channel)groups for easy identification
- Channel On/Off switches left-to-right arrangement (1-2-3) differs from that of the Display (1-3-2) --> no words, just :palm:
- Channel On/Off switches situated just on the opposite rim of the casing far off of the associated connectors --> simply |O
- "All" channel button appears logically as part of the encoder/Keypad block --> :scared:
- radially segmented display with almost an overkill of information and hence mostly very small Fonts --> arrange either horizontaly or vertically, reduce the number count of infos and allow for large easy to read Fonts for the most important infos.
- arrangement of infos differ between channels. For ch 1 and 2 it´s vertical, for ch3 its mixed hor/vert --> :-//
- redundant infos on a anyhow crowded display. The center circle repeats the set value of the highlighted channel --> why?? :rant:
- 36 buttons, 1 knob, 1 switch --> :wtf:
- 11 (!!! if I counted correctly) different button shapes --> ::)
- and finally -and just for optics- the mains power switch :-DD :-DD :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Of course it is not easy to layout the front for intuitive easy handling when you have to cope with so much functionality.
Still Rigol could have done a much much better job here ... and on almost all of their new devices.
They employ hundreds of engineers in their R&D department .... but why not a single competent industrial designer?
You expected a same layout within the family? Well, not with Rigol darling! :-DD
Rigol DP831A
- channel arrangement in the display is 2-1-3 --> :o
- channel connectors layout is not highvoltage/highvoltage/lowvoltage (DP832A) but just the opposite LV/HV/HV
Siglent SPD3303X
- connectors are arranged in groups --> :-+
- On/Off buttons in proximity to the connectors --> :-+
- channel arrangement in display coincides with connector layout --> :-+
- no display for third channel --> :--
- Fonts for ´secondary´ infos very small --> :--
- 15 buttons in only 3 shapes and arranged logically in groups --> :-+
- noy keypad for quick and easy programming --> :--
- CC/CV LEDS situated right above the channel´s connectors --> :-+
Siglent SPD3303C
- connectors are arranged in groups --> :-+
- On/Off buttons in proximity to the connectors --> :-+
- channel arrangement in display coincides with connector layout --> :-+
- no display for third channel --> :--
- only most important infos shown --> :-- :-+
- large easy to read and color-coded Fonts --> :-+
- 15 buttons in only 3 shapes and arranged logically in groups --> :-+
- CC/CV LEDS situated right above the channel´s connectors --> :-+
The Siglent layouts are not perfect either, but they certainly did a much better job than Rigol.
Display infos are easier to recognize and to read, with the 3303C beeing the easiest (admittedly no big deal to get that title with the least of infos on display).
Buttons, knobs and connectors are clearly arranged in amore logical way and are more intuitive to handle.
If it were for same specs and functionality I´d rather choose the device with the clearly better layouted front and UI.
regards
Calvin
Mr. Scram:
Honestly, I'd just go with the ubiquitous Korad 3005D-2S. It's relatively cheap, it does what you want and it's fairly convenient to use. If you can afford it you could consider a computer controllable power supply or one with a graphing screen, which are definitely nice-to-haves, but not as vital as a power supply you can beat on.
Moriambar:
--- Quote from: Mr. Scram on February 23, 2019, 06:28:16 pm ---Honestly, I'd just go with the ubiquitous Korad 3005D-2S. It's relatively cheap, it does what you want and it's fairly convenient to use. If you can afford it you could consider a computer controllable power supply or one with a graphing screen, which are definitely nice-to-haves, but not as vital as a power supply you can beat on.
--- End quote ---
Thank you. I want my computer as far as possible from my bench so I don't know about the computer controllable one. Also I just need a PSU, I wouldn't know how to use the graphing or anything.
Cheers
Mr. Scram:
--- Quote from: Moriambar on February 23, 2019, 07:59:19 pm ---Thank you. I want my computer as far as possible from my bench so I don't know about the computer controllable one. Also I just need a PSU, I wouldn't know how to use the graphing or anything.
Cheers
--- End quote ---
That Korad is a nicely positioned between the sketchy cheap units and the quite expensive fancy ones. It's not perfect, but it's safe and stable. It's more than good enough to use as a daily driver. The UI isn't terrible either, although some people have more problems with it than I have.
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