EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: TheBay on August 12, 2015, 10:02:51 pm
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So I ordered a new Power Supply for my amateur radio equipment, I haven't had much luck lately trying to get a decent one and after looking on forums CEP Italia was recommended to me as they build high power linear power supplies.
http://www.cepitalia.it/prodotti/16/14h40a2(40amp-) (http://www.cepitalia.it/prodotti/16/14h40a2(40amp-))
All pictures here: http://1drv.ms/1hzlAZo (http://1drv.ms/1hzlAZo)
I exchanged a few e-mails and ordered the 14H40A2 Linear PSU with Digital Meters, I was told both meters will be 3 1/2 digit, which is perfectly fine for this use. I also ask what is the OVP protection on this. He told me a SCR over the outputs, that's pretty normal and acceptable for me.
So the power supply arrives, the Digital meters are too small in height for the cut outs, so I open the lid to check everything is okay as it has come from Italy to the UK, the meters are held in by hot snot to stop them moving up and down - nice.
Then I notice a 92mm fan next to the heatsink, this is just stuck on with glue or hot snot to the regulation PCB?, check all connections are okay, everything is all snug. Noticed it uses a Toroidal transformer, hmmm I was under the impression this had a EI/Laminated transformer.
Ok moving on it all looks electrically safe inside so power it up.
Plug in my fluke to the front outputs to check/set voltage, turn the pot... Oh this is nice either a the wrong logarithmic pot or a linear pot, easy to turn it from min to max, but try setting it to it's operating range, ideally smack on 13.8v, not easy.
I go to check the Digital voltmeter and it's 3 digit not 3 1/2, not happy about that and the "least" significant digit according to that display is fluctuating between 7/8/9 constantly. Checking the scope and the multimeter the output isn't actually doing this and the real least significant digit is rock solid, well apart from the drift as it warms up and cools down, but thats about 20mv +/- change not too bothered about that.
So voltmeter is useless and not a 3 1/2 digit. Not happy.
Still checking it over at this point and notice a lot of heat coming from the front PCB, getting awfully toasty...
Ouch I burn my finger on a resistor, look down and can just about make out it's markings, a 1k 2w bleeder resistor on the output caps, hmmm not good the colour is changing already on this and it's warming up a big electrolytic filter capacitor next to it, grab my IR Thermometer and it's about 130-150c! at least raise it up on it's legs! Ideally fit the right rating and wattage, I would have put a 5w here personally.
Then the fan kicks in, really basic design, the fan is wired through a thermal switch that sits on the heat sink, this is normally open and kicks in at 60c, so it sits there clicking on and off every 10 minutes, this is with just a 2amp load.
So I check the schematics and it states it has a linear transformer with 2 secondaries, 18vac and 8vac.
The Toroidal is 20vac and 9vac, although this is only 2v difference on the AC output, its a fair bit more when converted to DC by the rectifier, I spoke to the manufacturer and they said they switched to a Toroidal because it's better (Debatable this one, for this purpose), ok so the voltage has changed but seems they haven't changed the other parts of the board in relation to this, such as the bleeder resistor...
I spot the SCR device, connected correctly and a nice external device bolted to the chassis, nice!
However there is not 1 fuse on the secondary side at all?
So I explain about the thermal issue and the meters, and they don't know at this point I am an electronics engineer they say it's getting hot because it is on the 230v tap of the transformer and to switch it on to the 260v tap, I said well the transformer is stone cold, the heat is coming from the bank of TIP3055's, Mr please change the tap on the transformer they insist. I also asked why is there no fuse on the secondary for safety and the SCR/OVP, they tell me there is a fuse on the mains, ummm yeah like that will blow, the regulators, rectifier and the thermal fuse would go in the toroidal before that thing blows!
So I do as they tell me, which is basically take black wire and swap from brown.
There is a black wire coiled up next to the toroidal, they have no idea of what experience I have, I could just be joe blogs here!, they expect me to strip a wire, crimp a connector on it, locate the existing live wire and swap it over!
No company should ask a end user to do this!!!
I do this and no change... So I suggested to them they should run the fan at a low speed, such as placing a 47R over the thermal switch, which will allow the fan to spin half speed and then click in full speed when it gets over 60c.
Seems they have not thought of this and will do it in their next models...
So I say about the meters, oh are the outputs doing the same as the meters, I answer no, I sort of get told well that's okay then and 99% of their customers buy analogue meters.
But I was told they were 3 1/2 digit, but I got 3 digit and the significant "least significant" digit is useless.
So I check it over again this evening to see if it's still nice and cool, I look down at the rear of the Toroidal and I see the sticker, 0-230v - 260v AC, okay that's fine, but they could have used to correct tap in the factory...
Next line reads, Secondary 20Vac 24a / 9Vac 1a...
This is a 40AMP Peak PSU with a 35AMP Continuous output!!!
Needless to say I am not happy, no idea where to go here with this and a bit annoyed. I really need to somehow get this refunded.
So mis-sold on power rating, transformer on the wrong tap and told to swap it over which could have been fatal for someone else!!!, 3 digit useless displays not 3 1/2 digit.
I really should get some pictures of this beauty up!
|O
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You know what they say about Italian electronics...
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I don't actually, the joke in the UK is about French electronics, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot ;D
You know what they say about Italian electronics...
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Do you need an adjustable output on it for amateur radio use? I much prefer a fixed 13.8 that can't be bumped or changed by mistake. I have two Samlex SEC1223's that run two 100 watt HF rigs and some mobiles. They are super small, the fans never come on and while they are switching supplies I can find no sign of RF noise on any HF band.
I hope the return goes well and you find a better supply - if you have a nice HF rig you need a supply you trust 100%
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I don't actually, the joke in the UK is about French electronics, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot ;D
You know what they say about Italian electronics...
All I heard bad here in the U.S. about foreign electronics was Lucas Electrics, from some country in Europe. :-DD
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html)
Oh, and sorry for the OP's experiance with that supply, I would be pissed off also.
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Thanks :)
Yeah I have a brand new FTdx3000 and a Kenwood TM-V71, will also be getting another radio so want a PSU I can trust. 90% of Linear Power supplies don't even have any form of OVP!?!?
No I wanted fixed, but they don't really exist, I had a very expensive Microset HSB-135 switchmode, but had hash on HF band, this thing was designed to run repeaters but annoyed the hell out of me.
I also run a SDRPlay and I can see hash quite easily on the display as it's got 8mhz bandwith, really amazing bit of kit.
Samlex is not available in the UK any more either, there seems to be no decent quality power supplies available directly in the UK. Very sad that people just want to buy cheap and not quality :(
I've been chasing QRM all week to top things off, next door neighbors cheap Chinese DVD player (will buy them a new one) and seems another neighbour has a Plasma, argh! Life isn't easy with amateur radio as you know :)
Do you need an adjustable output on it for amateur radio use? I much prefer a fixed 13.8 that can't be bumped or changed by mistake. I have two Samlex SEC1223's that run two 100 watt HF rigs and some mobiles. They are super small, the fans never come on and while they are switching supplies I can find no sign of RF noise on any HF band.
I hope the return goes well and you find a better supply - if you have a nice HF rig you need a supply you trust 100%
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Sad thing is, this is so true about Lucas :-DD
My friend has a 2 year old Landrover Defender, lots of faults! going rusty too, he has a loan Landrover, that has rust around windscreen?
It has some Lucas electrics, but Lucas is no longer in business?
I don't actually, the joke in the UK is about French electronics, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot ;D
You know what they say about Italian electronics...
All I heard bad here in the U.S. about foreign electronics was Lucas Electrics, from some country in Europe. :-DD
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html)
Oh, and sorry for the OP's experiance with that supply, I would be pissed off also.
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Here are some photos and a quick video of the power supply, just demonstrating the fluctuation on the "3" Digit Voltmeter, the inside and also the temperate of the bleed resistor.
The TTI TSX 3510 is just to show the manufacturer what a 3 1/2 digit volt meter looks like and how stable it is (It's actually a 4 digit)
Pictures here, just click and drag to go through the pictures.
http://1drv.ms/1hzlAZo (http://1drv.ms/1hzlAZo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goUJ_lz-M-8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goUJ_lz-M-8)
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Here is an update, they are trying to say I must lose the original shipping cost and the return postage, because they MIS-SOLD ME an item that does not meet the advertised specifications and is faulty?
They sent me a document in Italian which states something about costs of return shipping, but that's for a repair and also I was not informed of this when I purchased it.
Also there is a EU Law that over-rules this, they have also not given me any sales contract, so they are liable for all costs.
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That little toroid was never 40 a. Have you got anything capable of putting a decent load on it.
Those meters would drive me made...
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Yeah I can load her up, but I don't want to break it...
You can see on the pics it's a 500va, 20vac 24a and 9vac 1a...
Surely this is false advertising?, I bet its the same transformer as their 22amp model!, I bet it's all identical inside but the current feedback has been adjusted LOL.
What a SCAM, did they think no one will notice?
That little toroid was never 40 a. Have you got anything capable of putting a decent load on it.
Those meters would drive me made...
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Ouch I burn my finger on a resistor, look down and can just about make out it's markings, a 1k 2w bleeder resistor on the output caps, hmmm not good the colour is changing already on this and it's warming up a big electrolytic filter capacitor next to it, grab my IR Thermometer and it's about 130-150c! at least raise it up on it's legs! Ideally fit the right rating and wattage, I would have put a 5w here personally.
Why would a 1K 2W resistor get hot @ 13.8V?
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The resistor is across the filter capacitors before the voltage is regulated so it's around 26-28v.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j457/thebayuk/20150813_091118_zpsvbrliapt.jpg) (http://s1086.photobucket.com/user/thebayuk/media/20150813_091118_zpsvbrliapt.jpg.html)
Ouch I burn my finger on a resistor, look down and can just about make out it's markings, a 1k 2w bleeder resistor on the output caps, hmmm not good the colour is changing already on this and it's warming up a big electrolytic filter capacitor next to it, grab my IR Thermometer and it's about 130-150c! at least raise it up on it's legs! Ideally fit the right rating and wattage, I would have put a 5w here personally.
Why would a 1K 2W resistor get hot @ 13.8V?
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Yes that is correct, the power supply is advertised as 35a Continuous 40a Peak.
It's a 500va Toroidal @20vac secondary = 24amp plus 9vac Secondary = 1amp Total 25amp.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j457/thebayuk/20150813_091032_zps6eaez9lu.jpg) (http://s1086.photobucket.com/user/thebayuk/media/20150813_091032_zps6eaez9lu.jpg.html)
My Italian is a bit rusty but doesn't the web site for the unit say 35A countnous and 40A peak?
The transformer is only labeled for 24A resistive?
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You know what they say about Italian electronics...
What? :popcorn:
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I don't know either?
I see you're from Italy, have you heard of C.E.P.?
You know what they say about Italian electronics...
What? :popcorn:
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My Italian is a bit rusty but doesn't the web site for the unit say 35A countnous and 40A peak?
The transformer is only labeled for 24A resistive?
My Italian is non existent, however they actually say this in the description text
35 Amp. effettivi in trasmissione ciclo 50%on / 50%off ( 30' on - 30' off ). 40 Amp. di picco
which would appear to be saying that you can only run it at 35A if you do so at a 50% duty cycle.
Pretty crappy really and completely abusing the transformer. |O
Well thats pretty ballsy of them either the transformer is mislabeled are not to many of their customers use it at more then 50% rated power.
See above - they only rate the whole thing for 50% duty cycle.
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Well thats pretty ballsy of them either the transformer is mislabeled are not to many of their customers use it at more then 50% rated power.
Italians are well known for pumping out 1KW+ on many of the bands.
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Yes and this is one of the reasons I went for this PSU as they like their power.
Well thats pretty ballsy of them either the transformer is mislabeled are not to many of their customers use it at more then 50% rated power.
Italians are well known for pumping out 1KW+ on many of the bands.
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They have just added this tonight! It was not there when I ordered it and I have a screenshot taken today!!
My Italian is a bit rusty but doesn't the web site for the unit say 35A countnous and 40A peak?
The transformer is only labeled for 24A resistive?
My Italian is non existent, however they actually say this in the description text
35 Amp. effettivi in trasmissione ciclo 50%on / 50%off ( 30' on - 30' off ). 40 Amp. di picco
which would appear to be saying that you can only run it at 35A if you do so at a 50% duty cycle.
Pretty crappy really and completely abusing the transformer. |O
Well thats pretty ballsy of them either the transformer is mislabeled are not to many of their customers use it at more then 50% rated power.
See above - they only rate the whole thing for 50% duty cycle.
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The resistor is across the filter capacitors before the voltage is regulated so it's around 26-28v.
It would appear to be within its rated spec though.
Off load the peak DC is 33.6V which would give 1.1W for a 1k resistor
And 2W metal oxide resistors run close to their rated power can get very toasty - see eg this Panasonic data sheet http://industrial.panasonic.com/lecs/www-data/pdf/AOB0000/AOB0000CE11.pdf (http://industrial.panasonic.com/lecs/www-data/pdf/AOB0000/AOB0000CE11.pdf)
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They have just added this tonight! It was not there when I ordered it and I have a screenshot taken today!!
That's pretty ******* underhand.
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Here we go, I knew I wasn't going mad!
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j457/thebayuk/screenshot_zpsqbwpccaj.png) (http://s1086.photobucket.com/user/thebayuk/media/screenshot_zpsqbwpccaj.png.html)
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Here we go, I knew I wasn't going mad!
<picture>
OK, I can't get the language on the site to change to English (browser issue, I think) - does it still omit the duty cycle bit on the English version?
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They have just added this tonight! It was not there when I ordered it and I have a screenshot taken today!!
Still says "Load: 35 Amp. continuous 40 Amp. peak" in the "Technical features:".
In my book 35Amp continuous means it can supply 35A 24X7 365 days a year.
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I totally agree with you, hence peak @ 40amp. I am so annoyed at this and the cheek of it all!
They have just added this tonight! It was not there when I ordered it and I have a screenshot taken today!!
Still says "Load: 35 Amp. continuous 40 Amp. peak" in the "Technical features:".
In my book 35Amp continuous means it can supply 35A 24X7 365 days a year.
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Can someone screen dump the main page of the power supplies and you can see they have updated some and not others, I'm on a laptop that is low res so won't capture the whole screen. You can see them adding it as they go along.
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The resistor is across the filter capacitors before the voltage is regulated so it's around 26-28v.
It would appear to be within its rated spec though.
Off load the peak DC is 33.6V which would give 1.1W for a 1k resistor
And 2W metal oxide resistors run close to their rated power can get very toasty - see eg this Panasonic data sheet http://industrial.panasonic.com/lecs/www-data/pdf/AOB0000/AOB0000CE11.pdf (http://industrial.panasonic.com/lecs/www-data/pdf/AOB0000/AOB0000CE11.pdf)
It's flat to the PCB and sitting next to a electrolytic warming it up quite nicely, PSU has only been used briefly and resistor has lost it's markings and is VERY hot. Wont be long till the board gets scorched if I had left it on.
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:wtf: They have also now added this line "Admission: 230 Vac or 260 Vac +/- 10% 50 Hz speed manual internal"
Well that explains them telling me to mess around with the transformer tap, this line wasn't on there before, as per my screenshot.
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I see you're from Italy, have you heard of C.E.P.?
Only a couple of times. Some HAMs here speak well about Microset, their website is quite crappy but their PSUs are considered good quality. They don't state huge or unrealistic values in their specs, and when talking about current, they claim "xxA in continuous use".
About C.E.P. I can't say you anything since I never heard of their company except a couple of time at a HAM show.
By reading your review is clear that they don't know well how to design electronics, just only the bleeder that runs at >100°C makes me understand that it's something that is badly engineered. Also the 3 and 1/2 digits story was a shame.
But this can happen with companies from over all the world.
I wonder why you from England has choose an Italian company. I didn't checked it, but I'm sure that you have a couple of good PSUs manufacturers in your country. So why C.E.D.?
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Thanks for your reply,
Although I am in the UK, I am from Wales :)
In the UK most PSU's are Switching, the linear are Chinese PSU's, nothing against China but these are all made by Manson under different names, they have negative bonded to earth, which should be floating, no OVP and Capxon capacitors. Nearly every PSU sold in the UK is made by these, such as the Diamond GSV/GSS Series.
I have a Microset 135-HSB SMPS but even that had hash on HF which was very annoying, this was an expensive model with battery backup, it is designed really for Repeater use. I have given this to my radio club for field days.
I did order a Microset PT-135, but the UK shop sent me a 12 year old one that must have been used before, this kept tripping out, possibly a dry joint?
So they said they will send me another PT-135, but Microset were on holiday and would take weeks. So I looked online and tried to find information on Microset as it's not known in the UK. On all the Italian forums I read that everyone prefers CEP and said really good things,
a lot of people said Microset won't give schematics or help if anything goes wrong. So with the information I had I thought I'll get the CEP.
But the design is poor, the fan control is poor, fan is just glued to a pcb! wrong rated transformer and those 3 digit volt meters that were supposed to be 3 1/2 digit. And then to tell me to mess with mains wiring on transformer taps inside? They shouldn't tell people things like that.
I see you're from Italy, have you heard of C.E.P.?
Only a couple of times. Some HAMs here speak well about Microset, their website is quite crappy but their PSUs are considered good quality. They don't state huge or unrealistic values in their specs, and when talking about current, they claim "xxA in continuous use".
About C.E.P. I can't say you anything since I never heard of their company except a couple of time at a HAM show.
By reading your review is clear that they don't know well how to design electronics, just only the bleeder that runs at >100°C makes me understand that it's something that is badly engineered. Also the 3 and 1/2 digits story was a shame.
But this can happen with companies from over all the world.
I wonder why you from England has choose an Italian company. I didn't checked it, but I'm sure that you have a couple of good PSUs manufacturers in your country. So why C.E.D.?
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Why don't you just send it back? According to EU-Law, you have 2 weeks from the time it arrives at your home to send it back.
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They don't seem to know EU law. I paid €334.00 and now they reply to me in Italian (It was English previously) and say they will give me €300, as they wouldn't refund my shipping and expect me to pay for me to ship it back to them. It is being investigated by EU trading standards who have said they have to refund me the full amount paid plus the return shipping cost. But they have said at this point do not send it back to them. As they are investigating this.
Why don't you just send it back? According to EU-Law, you have 2 weeks from the time it arrives at your home to send it back.
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I don't actually, the joke in the UK is about French electronics, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot ;D
You know what they say about Italian electronics...
As a victim of a Renault Megane II with constant electrical faults (airbag, seatbelts, aircon) don't I bloody know it. I invite any EE to try and decipher the Renault wiring diagrams easily, it's not so much they are French but that everything is just a block with a number (VISU-Schéma is the Renault CD for anyone interested).
Much prefer my Ford Focus. The TIS electrical diagrams are actually quite nice with wire colours, gauges and connector pinouts clearly labelled. The off diagram callouts are all there going to correct pages and the top down flow is easy to follow. I've only ever had to refer to it for mods and a reverse light switch not working. That car has been solid since 2001 when I bought it and I refuse to let go of it. Never failed an MOT either. I guess it was made in Germany which helps :-DD
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In 2007 I had a brand new Megane II 1.5dci Sport Tourer Dynamique. I had problems for 2 years. Renault ended up giving me a new car! A Megane III. I had that for one week and ended up getting a BMW.
I don't actually, the joke in the UK is about French electronics, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot ;D
You know what they say about Italian electronics...
As a victim of a Renault Megane II with constant electrical faults (airbag, seatbelts, aircon) don't I bloody know it. I invite any EE to try and decipher the Renault wiring diagrams easily, it's not so much they are French but that everything is just a block with a number (VISU-Schéma is the Renault CD for anyone interested).
Much prefer my Ford Focus. The TIS electrical diagrams are actually quite nice with wire colours, gauges and connector pinouts clearly labelled. The off diagram callouts are all there going to correct pages and the top down flow is easy to follow. I've only ever had to refer to it for mods and a reverse light switch not working. That car has been solid since 2001 when I bought it and I refuse to let go of it. Never failed an MOT either. I guess it was made in Germany which helps :-DD
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*UPDATE*
They have agreed to a full refund and will collect it, they tell me that the manufacturer? has made a mistake with the Transformers I think, it should be 630 VA - 18V
"Aspettiamo il pacco per sbloccare il rimborso con PayPal.
Comunque ci siamo accorti di un errore sul traformatore deve essere 630 VA –18 Vac secondario."
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Renault comes with a heated rear window so your hands do not get cold pushing it. At least till the battery dies.
At least it is not Alfa, lovely car, but you will be best friends with a mechanic, and it will either rust to pieces or bits will fall off. Dad owned one, lovely car, nippy, responsive, beat most pocket rockets, but little things like non self adjusting handbrake, odd electrical issues and lights, and it ate tyres commensurate with the suspension being set to "sport" dynamic set. Tyres lasted as long as spark plugs, 10 000km per set. Add the love like the French for "Tool, Special" for everything, so he made his own set to do the weekly handbrake adjustment ritual. Better and faster than the manual approved tools and methods, made from some well abused cheap socket sets and some scrap metal rod and tubing.
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*UPDATE*
So they arranged for the PSU to be collected, it was collected on the 18th, this company will not respond to any of my e-mails and will hang the phone up on me.
I have not received a payment at all.
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:palm:
This is exactly the CB 'quality' stuff from Italy that has been on the market for like 40 years, I wonder why it still didn't die. Remember the 1KW PA with a few PL519 tubes in it? Seeing their website when I clicked your link brought back a few unhappy memories, it's just the way the stuff looks, I don't know...
Never buy that again! (a bit too late as a warning, I know)
Oh, by the way, your counter is broken: it counts 0 - 1 - 2 ... 9 - 0 - A - B ...
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I had no idea that they were CB "Quality" I read good things on Italian Amateur radio forums |O :palm:
I now have a Microset PT-135, it seems to be working well, though probably another CB "Quality" product, hi hi :-DD
Yes I won't buy that again and if I don't get my refund soon I will make sure I will tell no one else to make the same mistake.
PL519's, yeah basic home made PA's lol.
:palm:
This is exactly the CB 'quality' stuff from Italy that has been on the market for like 40 years, I wonder why it still didn't die. Remember the 1KW PA with a few PL519 tubes in it? Seeing their website when I clicked your link brought back a few unhappy memories, it's just the way the stuff looks, I don't know...
Never buy that again! (a bit too late as a warning, I know)
Oh, by the way, your counter is broken: it counts 0 - 1 - 2 ... 9 - 0 - A - B ...
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*UPDATE*
So they arranged for the PSU to be collected, it was collected on the 18th, this company will not respond to any of my e-mails and will hang the phone up on me.
I have not received a payment at all.
There are consumer protection organizations that fight against this. Did you get assistance from them? Here in my country we have a public one too.
I never trust companies when there are issues, I always go first to my public consumer protection office and complain a lot about my issue.
Are radio PSUs so hard to design? I'm a newbie, but I think to be able to do it a lot better than them with some patience and documentation.
What's that trend about toroidal transformers? Are they better for all applications? I'm still not convinced, but some people say it's the best thing these days.
I hope you have luck with your issue and get legal advice about all this. These bastard's deserve a metaphorical kick in their ass, what a bunch of scammers.
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So they said they will send me another PT-135, but Microset were on holiday and would take weeks. So I looked online and tried to find information on Microset as it's not known in the UK. On all the Italian forums I read that everyone prefers CEP and said really good things,
a lot of people said Microset won't give schematics or help if anything goes wrong. So with the information I had I thought I'll get the CEP.
My golden rule: If you want to buy something in Italy ask before.
If you have a friend in Italy then you are pretty much in the best position possible to get a deal.
If you don't have one drop me or other Italians a PM here. Trusting the Italian forums even if you know Italian fluently is still a high risk move.
I never heard about CEP.
Anyway now you have some Italians friend in this trusty forum now, be happy.
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The design itself does not look that bad from the mechanical point of view. Just the transformer is good for only about 15 A contineous load, not 35 A. The problem with such cheap supplies is, that the ratings are often not real or parts are loaded to way more than nominal ratings. Thus lifetime may be rather poor if max. ratings are actually used for an extended time. So not even 35 A at 50% duty cycle sound realistic to me.
In many respects toroidal transformers have advatages: they are smaller, lighter, have better efficiency and less stray field, less acoustic noise and often they are cheaper as less material is used.
The downsides are usully no full separation of primary and secundary and large inrush current when turned on hard. The rather low output impedance is sometimes good, but also can cause a poor power-factor und thus more ripple current.
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I did speak with the company before I ordered, I asked every question I could and everything sounded great.
I bet the are in the factory pulling the labels off all the Toroidals :-DD
The Microset I have now has a lovely big EI Traditional transformer, nice windings on it and really good separation of primary and secondary.
Thank you for that, really appreciated :), If I don't get a refund in a few days I might ask someone on here to give them a call to find out what's going on,
I can't speak Italian very well, but manage via e-mail :)
@Circuiteromalaguito
Yeah I have spoken to http://www.ukecc.net/ (http://www.ukecc.net/) which are EU Trading standards, they have copies of the e-mails, screenshots etc.
If the seller messes me around with the refund the will take things further, they will get me a refund and fine the company.
So they said they will send me another PT-135, but Microset were on holiday and would take weeks. So I looked online and tried to find information on Microset as it's not known in the UK. On all the Italian forums I read that everyone prefers CEP and said really good things,
a lot of people said Microset won't give schematics or help if anything goes wrong. So with the information I had I thought I'll get the CEP.
My golden rule: If you want to buy something in Italy ask before.
If you have a friend in Italy then you are pretty much in the best position possible to get a deal.
If you don't have one drop me or other Italians a PM here. Trusting the Italian forums even if you know Italian fluently is still a high risk move.
I never heard about CEP.
Anyway now you have some Italians friend in this trusty forum now, be happy.
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their behavior is disgusting, maybe they are still on vacation and the phone hangs up automatically but I'd like to insult them for the support they are providing to you.
Of course they are underestimating the visibility that this forum has.
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Hi folks,
A month ago I was looking for a power supply too and read about CEP from Thebay in another thread where he was looking for a new power supply too. (If I was you i would stay with the Microset asking for a good and new unit)
So I gave a try and asked to CEP to send me a quotation for their ham and lab PSU. They replied right when TheBay started this thread. Lucky me I read this before to buy one of their units.
I answered then with a "no thanks" and linked this thread in the mail so thay cloud read what people thinks about one of their products.
I am sure that they changed the descriptions on their site because they read this.
About Italian products I can say there's same chance to buy crappy things in Italy as in another country.
Hope they will refund Thebay and my 2 cents advice before to buy acessories for Hamradio use: go to eHam.net and look there for a review of the stuff you are going to buy, if it's not there is not for Hams.
Ciao
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Hi Giorgio,
Ah yes the other thread :)
I ended up going back and getting another Microset PT-135, it works really well :-+, Not even a hum from the transformer and no fans needed as it has a lovely heatsink on the rear.
There isn't anything for CEP on Eham, or much from Microset on there, but it seems to be reviews mainly from America not much in the way of European reviews.
I think I will put a review for the Microset PT-135 up there and if CEP take too long to refund me they will get a 0-5 review on Eham!
Are you an Amateur too Giorgio?
Hi folks,
A month ago I was looking for a power supply too and read about CEP from Thebay in another thread where he was looking for a new power supply too. (If I was you i would stay with the Microset asking for a good and new unit)
So I gave a try and asked to CEP to send me a quotation for their ham and lab PSU. They replied right when TheBay started this thread. Lucky me I read this before to buy one of their units.
I answered then with a "no thanks" and linked this thread in the mail so thay cloud read what people thinks about one of their products.
I am sure that they changed the descriptions on their site because they read this.
About Italian products I can say there's same chance to buy crappy things in Italy as in another country.
Hope they will refund Thebay and my 2 cents advice before to buy acessories for Hamradio use: go to eHam.net and look there for a review of the stuff you are going to buy, if it's not there is not for Hams.
Ciao
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Yes I am :-+
I go QRP CW and digital modes.
Like more to experiment than to make QSOs.
73's
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Maybe I'll hear you on the radio one day :)
This was me on the weekend, on the top of a mountain, I was going to put a tent up but the weather got really bad so had to leave.
Yes I am :-+
I go QRP CW and digital modes.
Like more to experiment than to make QSOs.
73's
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All ends well, I have just been refunded :-+
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The product it's a bad but at least the Italians gave your money back and I am sure this forum made it happens! :-+
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All ends well, I have just been refunded :-+
they come to their senses or you reckon they got a telling off?
Nice defender BTW! TD5?
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This is why you order things with a credit card. I've found simply threatening a charge back makes 90% of companies bend over backwards to give a refund. (This only applies to North America, not sure how things work in Euroland.)
Sent from my Tablet
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It's a 2012 Defender 2.2tdi XS (Puma I think they call them), It's my friends car.
All ends well, I have just been refunded :-+
they come to their senses or you reckon they got a telling off?
Nice defender BTW! TD5?
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I started a Visa chargeback with the bank :)
This is why you order things with a credit card. I've found simply threatening a charge back makes 90% of companies bend over backwards to give a refund. (This only applies to North America, not sure how things work in Euroland.)
Sent from my Tablet
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Thought you said you were refunded? why charge back?
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I started the chargeback before they refunded me, as they were ignoring me...
I've cancelled it now.
Thought you said you were refunded? why charge back?
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I started a Visa chargeback with the bank :)
This is why you order things with a credit card. I've found simply threatening a charge back makes 90% of companies bend over backwards to give a refund. (This only applies to North America, not sure how things work in Euroland.)
Sent from my Tablet
If you told the company that, I bet that's why they sent a refund.
Fun Fact: Every time a company receives a charge back, the credit card processor not only takes back the money from their account, they also charge a fee that can range upwards of $200 or more. In addition, you're only allowed a limited number of charge backs, afterwards the processor will drop your account. This information is also shared with other card processing companies, effectively blacklisting you from getting a merchant account and being able to accept credit cards again.
Sent from my Tablet
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That's interesting! I didn't know that, but it makes sense.
I think it's probably this forum that kicked their arse in to gear :)
I started a Visa chargeback with the bank :)
This is why you order things with a credit card. I've found simply threatening a charge back makes 90% of companies bend over backwards to give a refund. (This only applies to North America, not sure how things work in Euroland.)
Sent from my Tablet
If you told the company that, I bet that's why they sent a refund.
Fun Fact: Every time a company receives a charge back, the credit card processor not only takes back the money from their account, they also charge a fee that can range upwards of $200 or more. In addition, you're only allowed a limited number of charge backs, afterwards the processor will drop your account. This information is also shared with other card processing companies, effectively blacklisting you from getting a merchant account and being able to accept credit cards again.
Sent from my Tablet
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It's a 2012 Defender 2.2tdi XS (Puma I think they call them), It's my friends car.
test drove an o'12 110 with that engine, excellent vehicle!
I did not know about visa chargeback and that it applied to debit cards too - just been reading about it on Which (http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/how-do-i-use-chargeback)