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Power Supply: Build or Buy?
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br4n_d0n:

--- Quote from: mawyatt on May 08, 2023, 03:45:52 pm ---The first thing to consider for a newcomer to electronics is how many channels and what voltage current levels are necessary. As all of us at one time were newcomers "been there done that" and quickly found out for general purpose work dual channels is a must, at minimum +-20V at 1A.

We also found out that all switching PSs make additional noise above a linear type, some are so bad as almost useless for anything other that driving a motor!! Altho some recent quality switching PS are not too bad and could be useful for even some analog type work.

The additional cost one finds in a quality lab/bench type PS like the mentioned Rigol (and others) is they are linear types, use of torrid type transformers (low magnetic field leakage), multiple independent channels, very low output noise levels, utilize precision DACs and ADCs so the outputs are spot on (both voltage and current), don't have turn ON or OFF overshoot/undershoot (disastrous for sensitive semiconductors), behave nicely when engaging Over Current or Voltage limits, easy to read digital displays (some have/allow much larger fonts) and have multiple means to remotely communicate.

All these features cost in design time, assembly, components (and customer service) and this is reflected in the end user cost.

Since most of us have "been there done that", a wise newcomer would learn from others and select a PS that's linear and has a couple outputs capable of producing clean accurate voltages and currents, maybe +-20V and 1A from a reputable OEM source (or used).

One thing a newcomer may not recognize, but will quickly learn (usually the hard way!!), everything in electronics starts with the Power Supply, wether a Battery, Mains PS or Solar Source, and a cheap, noisy, inaccurate PS soon finds its way to the trash. This is especially true as one gains knowledge in electronics and becomes "seasoned" :-+ 

Best,

--- End quote ---

I think this is quite helpful for someone new such as myself. Thanks  :-+
james_s:
Something else worth noting is that you will probably end up with several power supplies of various types, it's hard to have too many. I have a mix of commercial, kit, and home built power supplies and I use all of them. When I was a kid I mostly used batteries and salvaged wall warts, I still do for some things. Then I moved on to building my own PSUs with 3 terminal regulators, and then I received an old Heathkit bench PSU as a gift which I still use. That can only do 500mA so I built several other 12V and 5V power supplies over the years and later picked up a big beefy Tek bench supply. You don't have to spend too much time finding the one power supply that will do everything, you start with what you can afford that fits the needs of the projects you want to work on and go from there.
dobsonr741:
Newcomers needs a fix point to learn and build their lab experience. Power supply is one of the best fix point, one that is professionally made and have the right features.
It's easy for us to forget, who got formal education into electronics, what was our first initiation into instruments. It was certainly not a DIY, it was this power supply.
Still a good starter at 0-25V, 0..1A and 5V fixed at 0..1A, even it was made 40 years ago.
5U4GB:

--- Quote from: mawyatt on May 08, 2023, 03:45:52 pm ---use of torrid type transformers
--- End quote ---

I've always maintained that buying your electronics off Pornhub is a bad idea :-).
5U4GB:

--- Quote from: gjvdheiden on May 08, 2023, 01:09:58 pm ---The only 4 digit Rigol I can find is the Rigol DP2031. Just over 1300 euro. That thing can do arbitraty waveforms, 1mV/1uA precision, 10A max per channel (banner specs), has a TFT, various control inputs and then some. I don't think I could built that cheaper myself. You pay, you get.
--- End quote ---

Ah, sorry, the wording was a bit ambiguous, the Rigol sentence and the following one were separate comments.  For the Rigol it was the DP-832, which cost more than the different models of DS-1000 listed next to it.  It does have a lot of bling in there but then so do the scopes, and do you really need all that in a power supply whose principal job it is to just provide X volts at Y amps?
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