WANTED, (Australia) Bench power supply

[Ap_EE_1990]

hey everyone,

I'm looking for my first power supply for my home lab, I'm an electronics/electrical engineering student in Australia and want to buy myself something for projects. I am a little stuck as the only real option here is either cheap Chinese gear which gets mixed reviews, or high end expensive gear which I cannot afford. Even the entry level rigols are $600+ here. And I see a lot of people comparing those $600 rigols to the cheaper chinese ones so I feel I'd need to go a bit higher to get a good unit. As with most posts about PSUs, a good HP/ Agilent or something similar would be more than adequate and cheaper than a rigol/similar brand. But the eBay shipping from the USA for these things almost double the price of the unit itself.

So, is there anyone here in Australia that has a nice HP/Agilent or similar PSU that needs a new home or any people from the USA that can do a good deal on the shipping (obviously anything from outside Australia will need to be easily switchable to 230/240VAC) I have a budget of around $300 Australian dollars, I can go a bit more if its in better condition. Or any advice would be great from anyone that has experienced the cheaper Chinese gear that has recommendations, that would be awesome.

Thanks,

Ash

[bob91343]

Perhaps you could get some useful answers if you stated the specifications of the power supply you seek.

[Ap_EE_1990]

Hi, thanks, yea as I said its for university projects, so mostly low power stuff, i can't be 100% sure as only experience and time will tell but I think anything from 0-15V or 0-30V and 0 - 3 amps, I cant see myself needing more than that to start off with. I like Dave's review of the HP/Agilent E3610a, something like that would be great, but needs to be switchable to 230-240VAC.

Thanks

[ledtester]

Here's a compact switching supply that comes highly recommended:

https://www.voltlog.com/voltlog-255-gophert-nps-1601-review-possibly-the-best-power-supply-in-this-price-range/

There's even an open-source effort to design a graphical front panel for it:

https://youtu.be/51xeZVMzJyQ

[Ap_EE_1990]

thanks for that, I've never heard of that one before, ill take a look and keep it in mind,

Appreciate it!

[Shock]

Consider some of these cheap controllers as well. Daves case in the video looks a bit cheap, but you could use a nice black metal case with a short black anodized knob and it would look quite tidy on the bench. They are feature rich and I think you can find some open firmware out there for them also. If you don't like the plastic front fascia and button layout make your own.

[wasyoungonce]

I’ll probably get shot down but some of these cheap linear units are cheap and quite good

https://www.wavecom.com.au/product_view.php?id_product=815

Wavecom 30v 5A unit with 6 programable settings. $120Aud.  It’s a rebadged PS-3005D.   I Like these version, have 2.    There are higher voltage and current units and USB/RS232 controllable versions. For higher costs !

But for $120 that’s cheap.  Yes some cheap version of these has issues years back but this units been more than fine for me.  Best part....linear PSUs quite beefy.

Cheers. FWIW.

[Circlotron]

Kit, not assembled.
https://www.altronics.com.au/p/k3218-dual-tracking-0-19v-power-supply-kit/

[Ap_EE_1990]

Thanks everyone, ill take a look at these suggestions.

Cheers

[Ap_EE_1990]

Ended up going for the wavecom rebadged ps3005d at $120aud delivered. Ive seen lots of good reviews on them and they look like they've fixed the issues they had early on, with the units having a meltdown like in daves first video. I really wanted to get hold of a nice HP/Agilent PSU but unfortunately we get ripped off here in Australia when you take into consideration the shipping, and I'm not about to pay nearly $400 delivered for a E3610a. I did manage to snag a really good condition Fluke 8000A multimeter for around $100 delivered on eBay which will be a nice companion to my handheld bk precision. Thanks for everyone's help.

Ash

[wasyoungonce]

Cheers Ash

IMHO nice units you can get versions with a fixed 5V rail as well. But they work so well for me at price point....hard to go wrong. I’ve driven mine to 18v 5A no problems for hrs running peltier TEC Experiments. 

The current can flicker around a bit. So best to use an ammeter if you want accurate current measurement.  But I guess anyone sensible would know that.

It’s not inaccurate it’s just it’s update rate is slow. But cost...been same for a few years cheapest was $98 on sale -$109 a few years back.

[Mr. Scram]

Ended up going for the wavecom rebadged ps3005d at $120aud delivered. Ive seen lots of good reviews on them and they look like they've fixed the issues they had early on, with the units having a meltdown like in daves first video. I really wanted to get hold of a nice HP/Agilent PSU but unfortunately we get ripped off here in Australia when you take into consideration the shipping, and I'm not about to pay nearly $400 delivered for a E3610a. I did manage to snag a really good condition Fluke 8000A multimeter for around $100 delivered on eBay which will be a nice companion to my handheld bk precision. Thanks for everyone's help.

Ash

They're great little units. I have little doubt it'll serve you well.

[ozcar]

Ended up going for the wavecom rebadged ps3005d at $120aud delivered. Ive seen lots of good reviews on them and they look like they've fixed the issues they had early on, with the units having a meltdown like in daves first video.

I've had one for years, so yes, mine was an early one, but I have not managed to melt it (not quite so rough on it, I guess). The fan got annoyingly noisy and I replaced that recently.

[aeberbach]

Also sold by Element14 under the "Tenma" brand name. I have two, good so far.

[toastedcrumpets]

This PSU is pretty amazing for the price. I bought the kit of banggood and the quality is remarkable:


My kit was these items:
https://www.banggood.com/RD6012-RD6012W-USB-WiFi-DC-DC-Voltage-Current-Step-Down-Power-Supply-Module-Buck-Voltage-Converter-Voltmeter-60V-12A-p-1687705.html?rmmds=myorder&ID=6290064&cur_warehouse=CZ
https://www.banggood.com/RD6012-RD6012W-RD6018-Digital-Power-Supply-Case-S12A-or-S800-Only-Metal-Housing-Shell-For-Voltage-Converter-p-1687955.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CZ
https://www.banggood.com/RD6012-RD6012W-S-800-70V-11_4A-Switching-Power-Supply-AC-or-DC-Power-Transformer-Has-Sufficient-Power-90-132VAC-or-180-264VAC-to-DC70V-p-1689167.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN

The cost was £118.7 shipped to UK, with wireless control and serious output power. Haven't fully assembled it yet, but the build quality is excellent for the price.

[ledtester]

It's also a good idea to watch this test of the RD6012 package -- especially at the 19 minute mark.

[toastedcrumpets]

Thanks for the link! I'm not surprised the switch mode supply is weak, it's so cheap. If I end up using it anywhere near it's rated power I'll search out a meanwell supply or something better to swap in.
I'm going to check out his other videos to find out what priceless equipment he's working on....