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| Is there a better power supply option for $700? |
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| jjoonathan:
I went a different path and fixed the channel coloring on the GPP-4323 with markers. Two years later, I still love this little supply! |
| flano:
I purchased a GPP-4323 and it worked ok for a couple of days and then stopped booting. I received a replacement unit from Element 14 and straight out of the box did the same thing. Both units were sent back to Element 14 and then to GW Instek and were unable to be repaired. I wasn't provided any further info on the fault. Apart from the fault, I liked the GPP-4323, four outputs and good accuracy, but wasn't willing to try my luck with a third unit. I ended up buying a DP932E and I'm very happy with it. Touch screen is nice. Hope this helps you in your decision. Mike. VK4MWL. |
| points2:
hi JJ_023, --- Quote from: JJ_023 on January 03, 2024, 04:17:31 pm ---I am doing some research into purchasing a power supply. I've narrowed it down to Instek GPP-4323 (LAN) --- End quote --- this one ? => https://eleshop.eu/gw-instek-gpp-4323-programmable-power-supply.html nice gear... --- Quote from: JJ_023 on January 03, 2024, 04:17:31 pm ---I need a power supply for basic general needs and for learning basic electronics stuff. --- End quote --- Honestly, I don't have any benchtop PS, because I'm dealing with voltages below 5VDC at PCB level. So, - for "learning basic electronics stuff" => I can't see the point to use any benchtop PS given their noise. I prefer my current setup : various SMPS (dead cheap), to deliver 3.3 / 5 / 9VDC => followed by a linear module (based on LT3045), with adj. Vout. With that, I get dead clean Vout thanks to the linear module (Vajd, thus, I can get what I need...). ICs need that kind of PS : no ripple, and able to match their transients. - for "basic general needs" => having a couple of Meanwell (@ 25eur each), that deliver high A & 1 or 2 output voltage => far enough, & cheap vs any benchtop PS A "all-in-one" PS for gen.purpose (=apple) AND investigations at PCB level (=caviar :palm:) => it doesn't exist If you need to "learn" about electronics (that what you says ; given that I'm a noob although I'm climbing the learning curve... a never ending story that hobby :-DD ), please explain what instrument you have... there is maybe a better investment to do prior to a costly PS (VNA / SA / soldiering station / microscope / ... many ways to spend money & learn about EE). My 2 cents. PS : just my view vs PS, I'm a nice guy, don't bite please ! :) |
| Antonio90:
I have a GW Instek, a GPD-4303S. It works quite well as a psu, reasonably precise, stable, and reliable OCP and OVP, but cannot show the settings of more than two channels at once on the screen, and you have to turn on/of all channels at once. This last flaw is, by far, the worst. If I were to buy another PSU right now, it would probably be the one you are considering. There is custom firmware in this forum for the GPP, which improves readback speed, and accuracy? Can't recall right now. I would have a look at AIM-TTI supplies. They are also really precise, with sense terminals on the front, and simple interfaces. More expensive for the same features, and I don't think you will get two quadrant supplies for that budget outside of the GPP. The MX series from TTI look quite nice though. |
| JJ_023:
--- Quote from: ArcticGeek on January 03, 2024, 08:35:55 pm ---@JJ_023 The GPP-4323 is a decent supply but it does have its drawbacks. For these reasons I recently sold mine after about a year and got a different unit. The things I am referring to might seem petty, but I found them very annoying. The things I don't like about the GPP-4323 are: 1. The screen is really too small for display all 4 channels at once. If you have it directly in front of you, its okay. But I have my power supply on the shelf above my bench, and I find it very difficult to read all of the settings for all of the channels because the font is so small. I actually sent an email to GW-Instek requesting a FW update that made the font a bit larger and possibly removed other things in the window such as OVP and OCP....and they basically were not interested. 2. The layout of the binding posts on the front panel is very ackward for me to get used to. From a very early age I learned to read from left to right and that you count 1,2,3,4 in that order. Instek decided on this goofy arrangement of Channel 4-1-2-3 on the front panel makes sense. I could never get used to this and it was always confusing. 3. Related to #2 above, the screen which shows each channel's status is shown as channel 1 and 2 on the top, and channels 4 and 3 on the bottom (in that order). Again, I find this very annoying because I'm accustomed to counting 1-2-3-4 (reading from left to right). 4. The binding posts are not really color coded and marked very well. Most mfgrs put a red ring around the positive and black ring on the negative binding post at the end of the binding post. Instek only has the small red and black band BEHIND the binding posts, and I found myself spending way too much time just to make sure I have the right polarity and connected to the right set of binding posts. As others have mentioned, this unit has good specs and built well, but these user interface issues mentioned above became a real problem for me. If you don't think these issues would bother you, this unit is pretty good. In case you are wondering, I purchased a Rigol DP932E as a replacement for the Instek unit, and added the $100 high-res option (although I think that is hackable now). Although it's only 3 channel, I find that the user interface is much more friendly than the Instek and it's much easier/quicker to connect my leads and read the current/voltage of all the channels. Just my opinion for what its worth. Good luck in your decision. --- End quote --- Thank you for such an elaborate response. When it comes to personal preferences I don't think anything is petty. 1. I can't really comment on the screen size because I haven't seen this particular unit in person. Usually that sort of stuff won't bother me as much. I think you can run it off the PC. Is this not the case? I'm also surprised that some of the talented people on this forum that have this particular supply have not figured out a way to adjust the font size. 2. I agree that is a pretty stupid way of doing it. 3. This is also pretty stupid, I totally agree. Do they issue firmware updates? If so how often? 4. This also doesn't make much sense however I would probably solve that with a sharpie. Don't laugh. I have thought about the Rigol seems like a decent unit. Is there anything about the Rigol that you don't like and bothers you as well? Why is the DP932E 195W and the DP932A 210W. I thought it is basically the same unit that's why it is upgradable. |
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