Author Topic: Bench power supply. Bin or repair  (Read 3053 times)

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Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« on: October 25, 2021, 03:12:19 pm »
Hi,

I picked up a power supply on e-bay. Its a Powerline electronics 30V/10A. It looks ancient.

It appears to work above 4V, but dropping the voltage below this results in zero current.

Is there anything I should be looking at as a quick fix, or is it destined for the bin?

Many thanks

« Last Edit: October 25, 2021, 03:14:40 pm by mysticpizza »
 

Offline RoGeorge

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2021, 04:30:44 pm »
That can make a great analog power supply for anybody's lab.  If you don't want it, don't just bin it, better donate it to somebody who doesn't have one yet.  The power transformer alone worth these days a couple hundreds or so.

Shouldn't be too hard to repair, I'll say you should try to fix it.

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2021, 04:34:28 pm »
I cant imagine its worth much. I think I paid £10 for it.

I don't have the skills to fix it unless its a simple fix like dirty potentiometers etc.
 

Offline Gyro

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2021, 04:37:32 pm »
Yes, definitely repair.

Linear PSUs don't become 'outdated' the way other test gear does. Out of fashion maybe, if you want lots of blaring digits, but definitely don't lose their usefulness, or output quietness!


Edit: The first step is to try and find a manual for it - what's the model number?
« Last Edit: October 25, 2021, 04:39:29 pm by Gyro »
Best Regards, Chris
 

Online bdunham7

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2021, 04:38:53 pm »
I don't have the skills to fix it unless its a simple fix like dirty potentiometers etc.

And this is where and how you acquire them.  If no service manual or schematic can be found (practice Google-fu, an important skill when you repair ancient, arcane electronics), then take the cover off and post some photos.  Even with the problem that it has, if it works well otherwise it is worth keeping until you do have the skills to repair it.  Your photo obscures the model number, which would be helpful.
A 3.5 digit 4.5 digit 5 digit 5.5 digit 6.5 digit 7.5 digit DMM is good enough for most people.
 

Offline RoGeorge

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2021, 04:41:18 pm »
Open it and put some pics with the inside.

Could be because of dried capacitors, or it could be just dirty pots or bad contacts somewhere, or maybe that model doesn't start from zero volts.  What range of voltage is printed near the output connector?
 
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Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2021, 04:43:30 pm »
Thanks. I got it for a specific one off job . Charging LifeP04 cells at 3.6 V. It doesn't appear to do that, though it will charge a bank of cells if connected in 12V configuration.

I went and bought a cheap one off Amazon to do the job.
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2021, 04:44:14 pm »
Ok. I'll have a look tomorrow and post some pics. Thanks
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2021, 05:03:10 pm »
It's an Powerline electronics Lab 510





 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2021, 05:09:48 pm »
Pic
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2021, 05:10:21 pm »
Pic
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2021, 05:12:28 pm »
Pic
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2021, 05:14:33 pm »
Pic
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2021, 05:16:36 pm »
Pic
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2021, 05:18:22 pm »
Pic
 
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Online bdunham7

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #15 on: October 25, 2021, 05:31:04 pm »
Can you zoom out and provide a single photo that shows the entire interior?  There's something missing in your photos--a control board--and I'm wondering where it is hiding.
A 3.5 digit 4.5 digit 5 digit 5.5 digit 6.5 digit 7.5 digit DMM is good enough for most people.
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #16 on: October 25, 2021, 05:39:04 pm »
Pic
 

Offline Andy Watson

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #17 on: October 25, 2021, 05:42:15 pm »
There's something missing in your photos--a control board--and I'm wondering where it is hiding.
I think it might be hiding on the underside of the blue tray - i.e. need to take the bottom cover off to find it.
 

Online bdunham7

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2021, 05:48:11 pm »
The first photo, with the rusty transistors, where is that and could there be anything underneath?

I can see generally how this thing works, but finding a schematic would be really helpful.  What sort of electronic test equipment do you have available?  I'll be honest--if  you are starting with 'no skills' then this will be a challenge and a  learning experience!  But that's what we're here for.... :)

Edit:  OK, I see now--the transistors are on the back side of the back panel.  There's still a control board somewhere that I don't see.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2021, 05:49:59 pm by bdunham7 »
A 3.5 digit 4.5 digit 5 digit 5.5 digit 6.5 digit 7.5 digit DMM is good enough for most people.
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #19 on: October 25, 2021, 05:50:38 pm »
Yeah. Im thinking this is going to be beyond me. I have no skills and little equipment.

Oh, well its been interesting looking inside the thing anyway. Its really heavy. No luck finding the 510, but here was another model. I don;t know how to insert PDFS though.

 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #20 on: October 25, 2021, 05:52:36 pm »
Pic
 

Offline mysticpizzaTopic starter

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2021, 05:54:02 pm »
Pic
 

Offline BrokenYugo

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2021, 06:30:55 pm »
A bit crusty, but certainly serviceable. It's even modern enough to use fiberglass boards and carbon film resistors.
 

Offline xrunner

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #23 on: October 25, 2021, 06:48:04 pm »
Yeah. Im thinking this is going to be beyond me. I have no skills and little equipment.

Oh, well its been interesting looking inside the thing anyway. Its really heavy. No luck finding the 510, but here was another model. I don;t know how to insert PDFS though.

As you and we can see it's in need of TLC here and there. You can do a shotgun approach barring anything else. Unplug it (of course) and re-flow as many solder joints as you want to with a bit of fresh solder to make sure the connection is good. Inspect any other wire connections as you can find that are screwed on and re-tighten them. You might get lucky.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2021, 12:47:50 am by xrunner »
I told my friends I could teach them to be funny, but they all just laughed at me.
 
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Offline shakalnokturn

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Re: Bench power supply. Bin or repair
« Reply #24 on: October 25, 2021, 09:58:04 pm »
I have one of much similar build, my first lab supply actually and still one of the most used due to the coarse and fine adjustments. Its most common use is reviving Li-Ion cells from over discharged state.

Mine has poor contacts in the precision wirewound potentiometers so that may be something to check on.
Other than that check the electrolytics starting with the blue Philips one.

If you must bin it out of despair, please consider bining it to France I'm sure I can make some use of it  ;D
 
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