Lab bench power supply - Keysight or Rigol or GW Instek ??

[PavelKCZ]

Hello,

I am trying to select my (most probably) last power supply for my cave.
I already read tons of marketing materials, datasheets etc. I already saw really a lot of YT videos about various power supplies.
After all this, it seems that my selection is limited to one of those three types:

1. Keysight EDU36311A (nice, compact, but a bit limited when it comes to remote communication with PC).
2. Rigol DP832A (plenty of features, but incredibly long - 42 cm and also noisy)
3. GW Instek GPP-4323 (hidden gem, which is sold rebranded as a LeCroy for twice the price)

If you must choose one of those three, please write me
I really would like to know the pros/cons from peoples, who already have and use one or more of those three.

Thx PavelKCZ

[pdenisowski]

Have you considered Rohde & Schwarz?  We have a very wide range of power supplies with different performance, feature sets, and price points.

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-and-measurement/dc-power-supplies_64067.html

I have used (and produced a short video on) every single power supply we make, so if you have any questions, please let me know!

Edit :  Některé z našich napájecích zdrojů jsou vyráběny v České republice

[RAPo]

I have the GWW-instek, with LAN connection. It is indeed a gem; you get a good working PS with low DC ripple and constant load functionality. It was my best buy of 2023. But in the end, the intended use case at your side / budget is the determining factor.

[MiroS]

UDP3305S-E

[Wolfgang]

Rigol DP832. I have 10 of them since almost 10 years and they all still work. SCPI per USB works as well. OK, they are loud. But my Keysight spectrum analyzer and VNA make alot more noise, so ...

[nctnico]

I'm missing the Keysight E36313A from the list. I have one for many years already and I like it a lot; it is super quiet. But I'd likely bought the GW Instek GPP-4323 if it was available when I needed a good bench PSU.

I'd skip the DP832A as it has this weird numeric keypad and not all outputs are isolated; it is not going to be comfortable to use. A good numeric keypad is so much easier compared to having to turn knobs. I wouldn't buy a lab PSU without a numeric keypad.

Either way, make sure to buy a bench PSU with binding posts. Those make it easy to hookup wires to a PSU quickly.

[jayk]

I've been pretty happy with my GPP-4323 for a few years now.  I find it really useful to be able to parallel channels 1+2 and get 32V @ 6A out.  The per-channel voltage/current/power readings are nice (I was coming from an older E3631A which didn't have any of that).  The fan can get a little loud at heavy load, but no worse than my old Keysight, and it's really quiet at low load.  Actually if something 'unexpected' happens on whatever I'm testing I often first notice when the fan on the PS starts to spool up .

I haven't played with the electronic load function at all. 

The web interface is fairly minimal - you still need to use the SCPI commands to do anything. 

These were about $100 cheaper when I bought mine a few years ago, but still seems like a pretty good value.  As usual, would cost multiple times this much to get something from Keysight with comparable output power.

[Antonio90]

I haven't tried any of the proposed PSUs, although I have a different Instek PSU, and it is quite good. I miss sense terminals though, and, AFAIK, none of your options have them. Don't know if that is relevant for you, as high current and precision voltage at once is not too common of a requirement in a home lab.

Don't quote me on this, but I think there were some Rigol PSUs in which the channels were not isolated with each other. Check that out, because series/parallel outputs can be really useful.

If you are willing to pay Keysight's price, I wouldn't discount having a look at R&S and TTI, they make really good PSUs too.

EDIT: If those are your options, I would get the GWInstek without doubt. For around 1k I would start having a look at R&S and TTI.

[tooki]

I'm missing the Keysight E36313A from the list. I have one for many years already and I like it a lot; it is super quiet. But I'd likely bought the GW Instek GPP-4323 if it was available when I needed a good bench PSU.

The awful support described in this thread from today, and the fact that the thread shows that others have had the exact same failure, leads me to think it's maybe not that great a choice. Never mind that in most of the world, Keysight has categorically stopped selling to non-businesses.

[nctnico]

I'm missing the Keysight E36313A from the list. I have one for many years already and I like it a lot; it is super quiet. But I'd likely bought the GW Instek GPP-4323 if it was available when I needed a good bench PSU.

The awful support described in this thread from today, and the fact that the thread shows that others have had the exact same failure, leads me to think it's maybe not that great a choice. Never mind that in most of the world, Keysight has categorically stopped selling to non-businesses.

The topic starter of that thread should have contacted the reseller he bought the PSU from, not Keysight directly. And there is a 3 year warranty on the E36313A so it is likely the TS is barking up the wrong tree or misunderstood things.

[J-R]

I've found Keysight great to work with and I like my E36313A, but it is a lot more money compared to the other options so that is probably why it wasn't in the original list.

[thm_w]

- EDU36311A is weak at 90W. Should be fine if you are doing only digital stuff, but, if you plan to work on any powerful motors it would be a no-go.
- DP832 keypad is actually fine, but the unit is older and dated at this point, you can get better value and a bigger screen from other models.
- E36313A is probably out of budget for OP ($2200)

UDP3305S-E or one of the new Siglent PSUs is what I would be considering: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-siglent-spd4000x-series-power-supply/

[PavelKCZ]

Hi,

of course, I examined the R&S instruments. In fact, it is my dream to own something with R&S logo. But the price is prohibitive.
I am buying this PS for my private use as a hobby instrument. Not for profit, not for RD department of my company.

Best regards

PavelKCZ

P.S. Já bych možná něco snad i koupil, ale nesměl by to být přelakovaný Hameg

[PavelKCZ]

It seems that I already decided for Instek.
It is really a gem, sold almost for twice the Instek price rebranded as a Teledyne-LeCroy instrument.
https://www.conrad.cz/cs/p/teledyne-lecroy-t3ps43203p-laboratorni-zdroj-s-nastavitelnym-napetim-0-32-v-0-3-a-212-w-lze-programovat-pocet-vyst-1947394.html

Best regards

PavelK

[PavelKCZ]

I am sure that E36313A is a really good  PSU.
But the price tag is far to high for a good power supply in a private cave, used just for hobby purposes.

Best Regards

PavelKCZ

[pdenisowski]

P.S. Já bych možná něco snad i koupil, ale nesměl by to být přelakovaný Hameg

"přelakovaný"

We do manufacture the older Hameg power supplies in the Czech Republic (Vimperk), but we also manufacture our high-end power supplies there also (NGL, NGM, and NGU).

Enjoy the new supply!

[PavelKCZ]

This is interesting.
In fact, I did not have any idea that those Hameg PSUs are made in Vimperk. I alway tought that it is something from China.
Unfortunately, I had a really bad experience with Hameg brand (oscilloscope) 25 or more years ago and since then I somewhat dislike this brand.

[pdenisowski]

In fact, I did not have any idea that those Hameg PSUs are made in Vimperk. I alway tought that it is something from China.
Unfortunately, I had a really bad experience with Hameg brand (oscilloscope) 25 or more years ago and since then I somewhat dislike this brand.

Sorry to hear about the Hameg scope experience - we discontinued those scopes almost immediately after acquiring Hameg.  The power supplies are actually quite good and have been very popular. 

I can't speak to everything that R&S makes, but to my knowledge we don't manufacture anything in China.  It's mostly Germany, then some in the Czech Republic, and then a couple of much smaller plants in Singapore and Malaysia

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/career/professionals/manufacturing_253344.html

[Doctorandus_P]

I wil never buy a Rigol power supply. Some time ago I got very annoyed that they pust "software upgrades" into their power supply. You have to pay extra to use the color LCD instead of only monochrome mode, and oh, when you do that you also get an extra digit in the display or something.

On top of that, I find the design with the digits in a circle extremely ugly.

[Wolfgang]

... nifty people have found to get all these goodies for free via some simple commands available on the web. This is known for several years now. Siglent has the same strategy, AFAIK.
And GUI design - well, its a matter of taste. What counts more, IMHO,  is stability, robustness, a reliable remote programming interface and the like.

[KungFuJosh]

I disagree. Siglent doesn't do sketchy things like reducing screen quality for more money. Optional extras are a different story, and all brands do that on devices like scopes.

[Wolfgang]

Just read the numerous advices TauTech has given in this forum on how to unlock pay-for options on all kinds of Siglent equipment.
Everybody does it. Its a sort of not so well hidden discount so your stuff is competitively priced to private customers.

[tautech]

Just read the numerous advices TauTech has given in this forum on how to unlock pay-for options on all kinds of Siglent equipment.
Everybody does it. Its a sort of not so well hidden discount so your stuff is competitively priced to private customers.

Not exactly.

Like others I also read of members equipment explorations to unlock gems and some I have checked and confirmed, but it is for others to find these instructions as I DO NOT give instructions of how to unlock these gems.

[KungFuJosh]

Just read the numerous advices TauTech has given in this forum on how to unlock pay-for options on all kinds of Siglent equipment.
Everybody does it. Its a sort of not so well hidden discount so your stuff is competitively priced to private customers.

tautech might confirm if something works, but he doesn't personally give anybody instructions on that sort of thing.

Also, it's typically only home users that do that stuff. Organizations that need everything tracked and documented pay appropriately.