Products > Test Equipment
Is there a better power supply option for $700?
JJ_023:
--- Quote from: Pfriemler on January 04, 2024, 02:19:48 pm ---looking forward to buy a PSU, I got stuck on the GWs with load function as well. As a benefit to a well constructed and basically reliable PSU it‘s nice to have an EL, but I really love my Kunkin KP184 as a separate device, not only because it can handle up to 400 watts and 150 volts. Before that, I used some Chinese naked PCBs with fans on it up to 50 watts. I am very glad to leave them behind.
Rigol? did not the 83x series have many odd issues in behaviour and stability?
--- End quote ---
Having an electronic load inside a power supply is nice but no way a needed feature for me. I have a decent amount of experience with all sorts of industrial machines. The reason I say that is usually combination units compromise on 1 of the combinations. So I don't really expect much from that particular load. I do however expect a good power supply as its main role. I think primarily I would limit it to stupid stuff like discharge curves of a battery at a low current.
I have no idea on the Rigol.
ArcticGeek:
--- Quote from: nctnico on January 04, 2024, 11:33:25 am ---
--- Quote from: flano on January 04, 2024, 08:37:28 am ---
--- Quote from: JJ_023 on January 03, 2024, 10:12:04 pm ---Thank you for the data point. What is something that you don't like about the Rigol? I've considered that unit as well.
--- End quote ---
Nothing really. It only has 3 channels vs 4 for the GPP-4323, but that's not an issue for me. GPP-4323 also has an electronic load.
The Rigol does everything I need, very happy.
--- End quote ---
IIRC the Rigol 930 series does not have seperate grounds for all channels. This could be problematic in some situations.
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Just to be clear, the DP932 series has all of the channels floating relative to the other channels. This was NOT the case with the DP832 series from Rigol, however.
ArcticGeek:
--- Quote from: JJ_023 on January 03, 2024, 10:05:11 pm ---
--- 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.
--- End quote ---
The DP932E is only rated for 30V/3A and the DP932A is rated 32V/3A. I think in both cases the max current is 3.2A on the actual unit, and as I recall I think the max voltage that you can set on my DP932E is 31.5V.
There are 2 things I don't like on the Rigol DP932E:
1. The fan control. When you first turn it on it's at the max setting and quiets down once booted. Even at the slowest speed it's still a little annoying, although from what I understand it is still better than the older DP832. I've found from experimenting that the fan algorithm is pretty simplistic - if you short all 3 outputs when set at max current the fan stays at the lowest speed for 3 minutes and then goes to max speed, no matter how warm/hot things were previously. Once the outputs are no longer at max current the fan immediately goes back to the lower speed.
2. When you press the ALL ON/OFF button you are prompted "Are you sure you want to turn all outputs on?" and you have to either press enter or select to get the outputs to turn on. This requires a second button press, and I find it very annoying.
I sent an email to Rigol asking for a change to this as well and the fan issue , and their response was that they might consider a change to the ALL ON button action in a future FW release if other customers requested it as well. They did not make any comments about the fan.
I continue to hope that they improved both issues in future FW changes.
JJ_023:
--- Quote from: ArcticGeek on January 04, 2024, 09:08:39 pm ---
The DP932E is only rated for 30V/3A and the DP932A is rated 32V/3A. I think in both cases the max current is 3.2A on the actual unit, and as I recall I think the max voltage that you can set on my DP932E is 31.5V.
There are 2 things I don't like on the Rigol DP932E:
1. The fan control. When you first turn it on it's at the max setting and quiets down once booted. Even at the slowest speed it's still a little annoying, although from what I understand it is still better than the older DP832. I've found from experimenting that the fan algorithm is pretty simplistic - if you short all 3 outputs when set at max current the fan stays at the lowest speed for 3 minutes and then goes to max speed, no matter how warm/hot things were previously. Once the outputs are no longer at max current the fan immediately goes back to the lower speed.
2. When you press the ALL ON/OFF button you are prompted "Are you sure you want to turn all outputs on?" and you have to either press enter or select to get the outputs to turn on. This requires a second button press, and I find it very annoying.
I sent an email to Rigol asking for a change to this as well and the fan issue , and their response was that they might consider a change to the ALL ON button action in a future FW release if other customers requested it as well. They did not make any comments about the fan.
I continue to hope that they improved both issues in future FW changes.
--- End quote ---
I see the difference. I was originally under the impression that they were the same unit and it's just a matter of different firmware. I guess I stand corrected.
I am not 1 of these people that is bothered by fan noise. I am surprised at how many people are distracted by this.
The ALL ON button might be a pain but in other cases it might save you. Can you individually turn channels on and off?
It would be nice if companies actually listened to people that spend money on their products. lol
Again thank you for the information and your time.
nctnico:
--- Quote from: JJ_023 on January 04, 2024, 11:28:27 pm ---I am not 1 of these people that is bothered by fan noise. I am surprised at how many people are distracted by this.
--- End quote ---
Wait until you get a bit older. Fan noise will become a nuisance. It is easier to concentrate on a difficult problem in a quiet environment.
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