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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: SingedFingers on March 21, 2017, 06:29:18 pm

Title: Reasonable cheap linear power supplies available in the UK
Post by: SingedFingers on March 21, 2017, 06:29:18 pm
Can anyone suggest a reasonable quality cheap, new linear power supply available in the UK?

Need 0-20v volts, 0-3A current limit, digital readout of current and voltage simultaneously, CC/CV indicator and an output enable switch that defaults to OFF. Current damping would be nice to stop the magic smoke escaping. Budget is about £120.

I've got a couple of Thurlby PL310's and an E3630A but I need MORE POWER for a project so the PL310's are going to fund this. Has to be a new unit. I don't want to bugger around with fixing and checking something out first for once.

I am expecting Chinese crap for my money, even Mastech, but preferably stuff that doesn't burn the house down :)

Currently considering: https://www.rapidonline.com/rapid-hy3003d-single-output-bench-psu-lcd-1x0-30v-0-3a-85-1935 (https://www.rapidonline.com/rapid-hy3003d-single-output-bench-psu-lcd-1x0-30v-0-3a-85-1935) ... an Mastech HY3003D variation.
Title: Re: Reasonable cheap linear power supplies available in the UK
Post by: tggzzz on March 21, 2017, 06:44:43 pm
Well, if you drop the "new", you could have a nice HP6632A 20V +5A and -5A system PSU for that price. Yup, it sinks 100W as well as sources 100W. I haven't tested the sinking nor the GPIB, but otherwise it works as far as I can tell.

FFI see http://www.keysight.com/main/techSupport.jspx?cc=GB&lc=eng&nid=-536900193.536900281&pid=6632A%3Aepsg%3Apro&pageMode=OV (http://www.keysight.com/main/techSupport.jspx?cc=GB&lc=eng&nid=-536900193.536900281&pid=6632A%3Aepsg%3Apro&pageMode=OV) and PM me if interested.
Title: Re: Reasonable cheap linear power supplies available in the UK
Post by: SingedFingers on March 21, 2017, 06:47:30 pm
I had a small fire yesterday inside a dodgy NAD amp. The output drivers left the building. Second hand is off the negotiating list with TPTB (SWMBO) at the moment. Even if Chinese ones explode I can point fingers elsewhere :D
Title: Re: Reasonable cheap linear power supplies available in the UK
Post by: tggzzz on March 21, 2017, 06:56:45 pm
I had a small fire yesterday inside a dodgy NAD amp. The output drivers left the building. Second hand is off the negotiating list with TPTB (SWMBO) at the moment. Even if Chinese ones explode I can point fingers elsewhere :D

Oh, come on. This is HP after all :) And you could see it working on April 30th, if you wanted to de-risk it further. Bring SWMBO and allow her to prevent you buying much more expensive stuff :)
Title: Re: Reasonable cheap linear power supplies available in the UK
Post by: SingedFingers on March 21, 2017, 07:01:47 pm
I'm working on it ;)

She has expressed precisely no interest in going on the 30th and said "would I take you to a craft fair?". Phew :)
Title: Re: Reasonable cheap linear power supplies available in the UK
Post by: Kleinstein on March 21, 2017, 07:23:33 pm
If you need 0-3 A and look at the cheap Chinese ones, get one for 5 A - that size might be able to actually deliver 3 A without overheating. The main trouble with the cheap ones is that they are not really made for there rated current - that is more like a short time peak load, but nothing to use for a longer time. Otherwise they might not be that bad.