Is this chinese power supply reliable?

[redgear]

I designed my circuit to use a Meanwell IRM-10-05 psu. But now, i have some problems with its delivery. A local supplier says he has HLK-10M05 psu which is a replacement. The product datasheet says it meets the UL and CE standards but I am still not sure if it's reliable to use. I am attaching the datasheet with this post. Would like to know your suggestions on the PSU and the typical circuit given in the datasheet.

Thanks

[janoc]

That's impossible to answer unless you define "reliable". How many hours without failure? Under what load? Which environmental conditions?

Generally speaking Meanwell is a decent brand making good quality supplies (even you picked the original supply from them). Ah, the replacement isn't Meanwell.

UL certification means that someone has actually checked the supply for safety issues, you should be able to find the test results online on the UL's website. That doesn't say much about the reliability of the supply, though, only that it likely won't kill you or set your house on fire. However, the datasheet doesn't say this was actually certified - only that it complies with requirements and that any UL/CE certification is up to the customer. Which isn't quite the same thing.

The typical circuit in the datasheet is just a bog standard fuse + mains filter arrangement required to comply with safety and EMC regulations.

[ledtester]

You might be interested in this power supply if it suits your purpose (Recom RAC05-K):

https://recom-power.com/pdf/Powerline_AC-DC/RAC05-K_C14.pdf

Review and teardown:

https://youtu.be/_qdTVKohC-o

[viperidae]

Your local supplier is pulling your leg.
The "replacement" is significantly cheaper, from a random Chinese brand. Meanwell is quite well regarded.

[redgear]

That's impossible to answer unless you define "reliable". How many hours without failure? Under what load? Which environmental conditions?

Generally speaking Meanwell is a decent brand making good quality supplies (even you picked the original supply from them). Ah, the replacement isn't Meanwell.

UL certification means that someone has actually checked the supply for safety issues, you should be able to find the test results online on the UL's website. That doesn't say much about the reliability of the supply, though, only that it likely won't kill you or set your house on fire. However, the datasheet doesn't say this was actually certified - only that it complies with requirements and that any UL/CE certification is up to the customer. Which isn't quite the same thing.

The typical circuit in the datasheet is just a bog standard fuse + mains filter arrangement required to comply with safety and EMC regulations.

Thank you.
Atleast 10k hours without failure. What concerns me most is the safety, I don't want anyone to be electrocuted or burn down the house because of this. This will only be used in first few units until the meanwell supplies are back on stock.

You might be interested in this power supply if it suits your purpose (Recom RAC05-K):

https://recom-power.com/pdf/Powerline_AC-DC/RAC05-K_C14.pdf

Review and teardown:

https://youtu.be/_qdTVKohC-o

Thank you. I looked at this one too, but unfortunately the LT are higher for these too.

Your local supplier is pulling your leg.
The "replacement" is significantly cheaper, from a random Chinese brand. Meanwell is quite well regarded.

I will checkout what Mouser and Digikey have in stock

[floobydust]

Ahh... the old bait and switch. The alternate PSU will have cheapola electrolytic capacitors and a few parts that run hot, as well as no formal safety approvals. But for $2.80 it's dilemma for some 
I'd find an alternate supplier, with a decent manufacturer. I did go through all the drama of these cheap chinese SMPS and found they can be too cheap compared to Taiwan or high end products. You really have to test one and tear it apart to see.

[redgear]

Ahh... the old bait and switch. The alternate PSU will have cheapola electrolytic capacitors and a few parts that run hot, as well as no formal safety approvals. But for $2.80 it's dilemma for some 
I'd find an alternate supplier, with a decent manufacturer. I did go through all the drama of these cheap chinese SMPS and found they can be too cheap compared to Taiwan or high end products. You really have to test one and tear it apart to see.

Thanks
I'd better wait than having to go through these troubles then.

[janoc]

Thank you.
Atleast 10k hours without failure. What concerns me most is the safety, I don't want anyone to be electrocuted or burn down the house because of this. This will only be used in first few units until the meanwell supplies are back on stock.

Then look for brand name supplies that are actually UL certified (and not only "compliant" with the certification being up to you). Cheap, China and mains are pretty much a deadly combination.

OTOH, I have seen some good reviews of these Hi-Link modules, also LCSC is selling them (https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Power-Module-AC-DC_HI-LINK-HLK-10M05_C403745.html ) , so it likely isn't a complete bottom of the barrel thing. But if you want to be sure and safety matters for you then you need to pay for it - a $3 module when the comparable Meanwell (and that is Chinese/Taiwanese brand too!) costs more than double should tell you something already.

[redgear]

Hi-Link is the IoT subsidiary of Huawei, the company with such good engineering capability that Trump thinks it is a threat to American engineering.

I would have no problem trusting it in terms of performance and safety, not so much on reliability as it is consumer grade, targeting IoT market.

FYI, my first choice for such mower modules is Mornsun, a very well established Chinese power module manufacturer with very good tracking record since the 90s.

They do sell for a bit more expensive (still cheap enough if you know who to ask, I was able to get AC85V~305V to 5V 3W non-encapsulated modules without input DC bus cap for $1.5 each in sample quantity, those fully integrated encapsulated Hi-Link modules here is around the same price), but you get true industry grade stuff (as opposed to Hi-Link's consumer "IoT" grade).

Thanks a lot. Just checked out Mornsun. They cost almost the same as the Meanwell and the supplier has them on stock. Would you recommend choosing it over Meanwell?

[redgear]

Would you recommend choosing it over Meanwell?

I don't use AC-DC modules a lot. I use DC-DC modules a lot, which is what Mornsun does very well. Since my order of AC-DC modules is negligible, I'll just get from one vendor.

As for larger industry automation power supplies like those DIN rail ones or metal box ones, I use Mean Well a lot. I have a couple of very high Mean Well PSUs on my bench to power my local 12V and 48V bus.

Also for Mean Well, make sure you get them from a reputable source. They are very well counterfeited due to the iconic brand name.

Alright, Thanks!