Power supply recommendation

[drummerdimitri]

I'm looking for programmable DC power supply with at least 2 outputs, 30V/5A and 150W for at least one channel and the option to parallel two channels for the same voltage but double the current would be perfect.

I really like the Rigol ones but couldn't find any that go higher than 3A which is very low for any power electronics  unless two or more channels can be combined of course.

The power supply needs to have advanced features like waveform analysis, timer features and preferably a colored display.

What do you recommend that fits my description? Price shouldn't be over 1K USD.

[finos]

The spd3303x can do that but only goes up to 3.2a but it can be paralleled to get 6.4

[colorado.rob]

Aim-TTi MX180TP

Over your budget, no color display, but kicks ass as a programmable power supply and meets your power requirements.

http://www.saelig.com/aim-tti-mx-series/mx180tp.htm

[drummerdimitri]

Aim-TTi MX180TP

Over your budget, no color display, but kicks ass as a programmable power supply and meets your power requirements.

http://www.saelig.com/aim-tti-mx-series/mx180tp.htm

Way out of budget and not needed.

[drummerdimitri]

The spd3303x can do that but only goes up to 3.2a but it can be paralleled to get 6.4

Unfortunately Dave does not approve of this model. Watch his youtube video.

[finos]

The spd3303x can do that but only goes up to 3.2a but it can be paralleled to get 6.4

Unfortunately Dave does not approve of this model. Watch his youtube video.

Ι have watched the video, a lot of times
But were exactly does he does not like the supply?

Because I thought that overall was an OK Instrument

[DaJMasta]

As with most things, there are complaints, but I don't think he didn't like it from the video either.  I've got two SPD3303X-Es hacked to Xs and they work great.  Some minor annoyances with UI (display fonts, button choice), but they are workable, and I have virtually no BNC to banana adapters, so I've never even run into the plug spacing as an issue.  For the cost, I think they're some of the best value for money available, though there are some other good options.

You're going to have some trouble finding 5A output per channel in a triple supply at this pricepoint, so if you really need that output, maybe consider two single supplies.  For the budget, you could also get two SPD3303X-Es and run both in parallel mode (32V 6.4A per unit plus auxiliary channel), but if you don't need the extra channels, a pair of single channel units is probably a better bet.

[JxR]

What you want doesn't exist at that price point as far as I'm aware.  Especially when you put in features like waveform analysis and a colored display.  If I'm understanding you correctly, what you really want is a minimum of 300W power supply (150W per channel), that is capable of 2x 30V/5A or 30V/10A in parallel.

This power supply does exist, and it is ~$2700. (Keysight E36233A or E36234A)

You may be able to find something used that can meet those power requirements, but your probably going to have to script everything else.  It would most likely be easier to find two separate single channel power supplies (something from HP/Agilent).  The TTi MX180P is honestly one of your better options to have that power in a single unit, and be some what close to your price point.  You would still have to script all the other features you want.

[electricMN]

Don't know anything about this one but it covers your voltage and current requirements.

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-meter-HY3005F-3-104-127V-Alligator-Included/dp/B009622HC2/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=1MBWW927KTQGO&keywords=korad+power+supply&pd_rd_i=B009622HC2&pd_rd_r=d5245c23-730b-45b5-b782-aa9f9ec7f953&pd_rd_w=iZekJ&pd_rd_wg=VGCZe&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=PFGTP8P228NKH46GR5RX&qid=1560883902&s=gateway&sprefix=korad+power%2Caps%2C324

[Rich@RohdeScopesUSA]

It will be over your $1K budget by a couple hundred dollars, but you might consider our HMC804x family:

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/product/hmc804x-productstartpage_63493-61542.html

The HMC8042 will give you two channels at 32V/5A with the ability to combine them together for 10A for $1,230. 

-Rich

Edit:  Just reread your requirements - while they can do up to 32V OR 5A per channel, it is limited to 100W, so it may not cover exactly what you need.

One more edit:  Here is a third party review of the HMC8043 (3-channel version) if you'd like to see someone else's take on it:

http://houseofthings.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Elektor_2015_11-12.pdf  Page 111

[djacobow]

Don't know anything about this one but it covers your voltage and current requirements.

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-meter-HY3005F-3-104-127V-Alligator-Included/dp/B009622HC2/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=1MBWW927KTQGO&keywords=korad+power+supply&pd_rd_i=B009622HC2&pd_rd_r=d5245c23-730b-45b5-b782-aa9f9ec7f953&pd_rd_w=iZekJ&pd_rd_wg=VGCZe&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=PFGTP8P228NKH46GR5RX&qid=1560883902&s=gateway&sprefix=korad+power%2Caps%2C324

I have the "Mastech" version of this supply. I have had it for years with no problems. It obviously has no digital controls, and the knobs are all single-turn and twitchy, but it works. It also has no fan, which is nice. OTOH, I have never taken it all the way up to 30V @ 5A + 5A. Honestly, my rule with this sort of cheap equipment is to treat the max values as about double what the unit can do comfortably.

[tautech]

A pair of SPD1305X
https://www.siglenteu.com/power-supplies/spd1000x-series-programmable-dc-power-supply/

[drummerdimitri]

After much digging, I found a very suitable one being the Owon ODP3063.

It has 3 channels with the first two being 0-30V 6A channels and supports parallel and series connections on the outputs for a total of 368W of power and costs only 469$ 

Not sure about Owon as a brand in terms of quality and the user friendliness of the GUI.

[nctnico]

After much digging, I found a very suitable one being the Owon ODP3063.

It has 3 channels with the first two being 0-30V 6A channels and supports parallel and series connections on the outputs for a total of 368W of power and costs only 469$ 

Not sure about Owon as a brand in terms of quality and the user friendliness of the GUI.

Interesting. I'd test it for power-on and power-off transients though. That is where many power supplies go wrong.

[drummerdimitri]

After much digging, I found a very suitable one being the Owon ODP3063.

It has 3 channels with the first two being 0-30V 6A channels and supports parallel and series connections on the outputs for a total of 368W of power and costs only 469$ 

Not sure about Owon as a brand in terms of quality and the user friendliness of the GUI.

Interesting. I'd test it for power-on and power-off transients though. That is where many power supplies go wrong.

Good to know. Unfortunately I would not be able to test it prior to purchasing it since I will have to order it online as there are no re-sellers in my area. Might go for the Rigol DP832 but since this model is quite old now shouldn't I just wait for a new model to come out? I can make due with my boost and buck converters for now.

[DaJMasta]

The DP832 like the SPD3303X-E really doesn't suit your specifications as a single unit, so unless you want to buy two, I don't really think it's making the cut at this point.

Owon is an established brand with a history of making OEM equipment, but while their gear is usable, it generally seems to be a lower level of polish than Rigol or Siglent as of late - maybe have a look at the threads about their scopes or spectrum analyzers that are around the forum to get an idea of the level of polish you can expect.


That all said, with the exception of the screen/UI, the age of a power supply design really doesn't count for much with its quality.  Power supplies are well understood and when they swapped over to digital control, you can get comparable quality units for almost 30 years now.  Keysight's E3631A doesn't suit your requirements at all, but it began its sales under the HP brand in the 90s and it's still a very good quality supply (though the display is a very limiting factor, since you can only get readout on a single channel at a time).  I wouldn't hold the DP832's age (or those of other brands) against them if the display suits your needs.

[drummerdimitri]

The DP832 like the SPD3303X-E really doesn't suit your specifications as a single unit, so unless you want to buy two, I don't really think it's making the cut at this point.

Owon is an established brand with a history of making OEM equipment, but while their gear is usable, it generally seems to be a lower level of polish than Rigol or Siglent as of late - maybe have a look at the threads about their scopes or spectrum analyzers that are around the forum to get an idea of the level of polish you can expect.


That all said, with the exception of the screen/UI, the age of a power supply design really doesn't count for much with its quality.  Power supplies are well understood and when they swapped over to digital control, you can get comparable quality units for almost 30 years now.  Keysight's E3631A doesn't suit your requirements at all, but it began its sales under the HP brand in the 90s and it's still a very good quality supply (though the display is a very limiting factor, since you can only get readout on a single channel at a time).  I wouldn't hold the DP832's age (or those of other brands) against them if the display suits your needs.

I can see that the fit and finish on the Owon units are quite poor as Rigol looks and feels like Keysight units and similar brands.

The DP832 suits my needs perfectly since I can parallel both channels and get 30V at 6A or 60V at 3A which will be sufficient most of the time and when I require more power my DPS5020 will do the job.

[2N3055]

ITECH IT6332A
 3 outputs (2x 30V/6A, 1x 5V/3A), 375W

[nctnico]

IIRC the Rigol DP832 suffers from start-up and/or shutdown spikes. This might kill sensitive circuits.

[drummerdimitri]

IIRC the Rigol DP832 suffers from start-up and/or shutdown spikes. This might kill sensitive circuits.

I don't work with sensitive circuits mostly power electronics, fans, LED's etc.

[DaJMasta]

The DP832 suits my needs perfectly since I can parallel both channels and get 30V at 6A or 60V at 3A which will be sufficient most of the time and when I require more power my DPS5020 will do the job.

If that's the case, it's certainly a reasonable choice, but the original specifications were 5A on two 30V channels, and it can only do that on one.  When I had a similar choice I found the SPD3303X-E a better value for money, but I would prefer the adjustable third channel of the DP832 and it's a solid choice (and well documented on the forum).

[2N3055]

IIRC the Rigol DP832 suffers from start-up and/or shutdown spikes. This might kill sensitive circuits.

Mine DP831 has very little, on order of 250mV. Not really a problem..
As I stated before, ITECH IT6332A fits original requirements.

[nctnico]

The Itech IT6332A looks nice as well. It is hard to determine how it compares to the (much cheaper) Owon.

[BillB]

While the Itech meets the power spec, is decently made and most likely would satisfy the precision and noise requirements, I believe its dated interface puts it at a major disadvantage compared to devices from other manufacturers offering native USB / Ethernet connectivity and graphical displays. 

I don't have this supply, but I do have an Itech 8511+ load built on this same platform.  The features are difficult to navigate given the UI interface and the ITech PC software is rather dismal as well. 

[drummerdimitri]

Ok so I've chosen to go for the Rigol DP832A since it has a colored display and all the nice features included that the DP832 has as an option.

Thanks!