Products > Test Equipment
Power Supply: Build or Buy?
james_s:
--- Quote from: Fungus on May 06, 2023, 04:56:54 am ---I wouldn't want a power supply that doesn't have readout of voltage and current. That's like using a CRO instead of a DSO.
Current limiting is fairly essential for me, too. Negative rail? Not so much. I rarely use op-amps and if I do I use R2R versions to avoid having to put fancy power supplies in the finished device.
The last part is just me, obviously, but the first part stands.
--- End quote ---
Some of us are quite able to use a CRO effectively, or measure the output of a PSU with a multimeter if we really need a precise voltage. The one PSU I have with an analog meter goes up to 20V and I can quite easily set it to 3.3V accurately enough in most cases. It's just a matter of knowing what you're doing and how to use the tools you have at your disposal. "A poor craftsman blames his tools."
Negative rail is absolutely essential for some projects, and not just those with op amps, while single rail op amps do exist, they have limitations. A split supply is hardly a "fancy supply", it's trivial to integrate into the finished product. I typically use a DC-DC converter module, they're tiny, cheap and effective. Not that it really matters, virtually all multi-output bench supplies have independent outputs that can be wired in series.
james_s:
--- Quote from: br4n_d0n on May 06, 2023, 04:20:06 pm ---
--- Quote from: BeBuLamar on May 06, 2023, 02:31:19 pm ---I don't see much point in using 24VDC power supply to power a soldering iron. Get an AC powered soldering iron and save the 24VDC iron for when you want to use it on battery.
--- End quote ---
I've had the soldering iron for a few years now so purchasing another one would be a waste of money. Having a bench PSU that can do double duty when I feel like it would be more worth it IMO.
--- End quote ---
So lash up a salvaged transformer, rectifier and filter capacitor (assuming the iron contains electronic temperature regulation) and call it done. If the iron is not a temperature controlled soldering station then IMO it's not really worth having except as a backjup.
nctnico:
--- Quote from: james_s on May 06, 2023, 05:50:00 pm ---
--- Quote from: Fungus on May 06, 2023, 04:56:54 am ---I wouldn't want a power supply that doesn't have readout of voltage and current. That's like using a CRO instead of a DSO.
Current limiting is fairly essential for me, too. Negative rail? Not so much. I rarely use op-amps and if I do I use R2R versions to avoid having to put fancy power supplies in the finished device.
The last part is just me, obviously, but the first part stands.
--- End quote ---
Some of us are quite able to use a CRO effectively, or measure the output of a PSU with a multimeter if we really need a precise voltage.
--- End quote ---
That becomes a nuisance quickly. Especially when you are working on projects that need a couple of different voltages. Been there, done that. Even considered buying even more DMMs but made a much wiser decision in the end: buy PSUs that have proper metering built-in. Saves a lot of time & effort so I can concentrate on getting my circuits going.
br4n_d0n:
As a newcomer and barely a hobbyist, this stuff is way overpriced for me. I may have to wait a long time or win some sort of contest to get something good.
Fungus:
--- Quote from: james_s on May 06, 2023, 05:50:00 pm ---Some of us are quite able to use a CRO effectively, or measure the output of a PSU with a multimeter if we really need a precise voltage.
--- End quote ---
Do you also use a slide rule instead of a calculator? They're good enough for most jobs.
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