Electronics > Beginners
Need Advice Please. Lab Setup
rstofer:
I have the DP832 and it's a really nice power supply. There are two overcurrent settings per channel - the first limits the current from the supply and the other is a trip which shuts down the supply should the current exceed the threshold (higher than the running overcurrent limit). It's probably worth reading through the manual.
When you bring up a new project, estimate how much current the device will need and set the limits accordingly. This will prevent the magic smoke from escaping. I used this feature when I brought up a Z80 project. I had an address conflict which resulted in two devices shorting each other on the bus. I had set the current limits quite low and nothing was damaged. But I knew right away when the output voltage dropped to zero that something was wrong. And that's why I bought a capable power supply.
Berni:
Yep i have a Rigol DP832 at home and we got some at work.
Very nice PSU for the money. Does have some weird things like that circular number pad and a few odds and ends but you get used to it. You can hack it and unlock all options using a keygen. Tho the fans are kinda loud so i swapped mine out for quieter ones.
But its still not my only PSU. I still keep some old analog twiddly knob ones for when i just need a quick 12V or something. My favorite ones for that are the Agilent E3610A with a little mod to give it 25Hz display update speed.
RoGeorge:
--- Quote from: Simon_RL on January 15, 2020, 02:00:38 pm ---I have an RD6006 which is great for powering Arduino board and really basic stuff, but with all I am learning I have realised a good clean DC power source is very important. I have been eyeing off the Rigol DP832
--- End quote ---
Rigol DP832 is an OK power supply, but for Arduino and such, a DP832 will make absolutely no difference from the RD6006 you already have. You will still need good filtering on the PCB or on the devboard. The importance of clean power is about having filtering capacitors on the PCB, right near each integrated circuit if possible, and not too much about the power supply itself.
My advice will be to buy something that you don't have at all, so it can open you new possibilities, or help you do new things.
For now it doesn't look to me like you need better instruments. You seem to already have a very good setup for learning in the areas you mentioned at the beginning.
Go ahead, do as many projects as you can with what you have. At some point you will notice you can not do something because of the instrument. That is the moment when you need to buy one with better performance, only after you tried with what you already have, and you cannot because the instruments you already have lack in performance or in features.
Is there some project you want to try, but you can not because the instruments you have are not good enough?
- If no, then don't buy some random instrument just because it has more performance than the one you already have. It will always be out there something that seems better or shinier.
- If yes, let's see what tool will help.
What would be that project you can not make because the instruments you have are not good enough?
rstofer:
As I said above, I have the DP832 but, more often than not, I power things with a wall-wart. Or USB...
For decades, I got along with fixed voltage supplies or wall-warts. I just bought the DP832 because I could, not because I had to have it. I will admit that current limiting is a terrific feature but, again, I got along without it for decades.
It's better to buy when you have an absolute requirement that you simply can't meet any other way,
Simon_RL:
--- Quote from: rstofer on January 16, 2020, 12:52:35 am ---As I said above, I have the DP832 but, more often than not, I power things with a wall-wart. Or USB...
For decades, I got along with fixed voltage supplies or wall-warts. I just bought the DP832 because I could, not because I had to have it. I will admit that current limiting is a terrific feature but, again, I got along without it for decades.
It's better to buy when you have an absolute requirement that you simply can't meet any other way,
--- End quote ---
rstofer I totally get what you are saying, basically the KISS approach the best way to learn electronics. It teaches you to be resourceful and find your own solutions. Which is great advice and I am definitely taking it onboard.
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