Constant voltage with ~40 Ohm load
V set V displayed V at DMM A displayed mA at DMM
7.0 7.0 7.00 0.20 163.2
6.5 6.5 6.50 0.18 151.2
6.0 6.0 6.00 0.17 139.2
5.5 5.5 5.50 0.16 127.5
5.0 5.0 5.01 0.15 116.9
4.5 4.5 4.51 0.14 104.3
4.0 4.0 4.01 0.13 92.8
3.5 3.5 3.51 0.11 81.2
3.0 3.0 3.01 0 69.7
2.5 2.5 2.51 0 58.1
2.0 2.0 2.01 0 46.6
1.5 1.5 1.51 0 34.9
1.0 1.0 1.01 0 23.3
0.7 0.73 0.72 0 16.4
0.5 0.5 0.51 0 11.7
0.4 0.4 0.41 0 9.4
0.3 0.3 0.31 0 7.1
0.2 0.2 0.21 0 4.7
0.1 0.1 0.11 0 2.4
0.0 0.0 0.01 0 0
Constant current with ~6 Ohm load
A set A displayed A at DMM V displayed
4.9 4.90 4.89 32.0
4.5 4.49 4.49 29.2
4.0 3.99 3.99 25.8
3.5 3.50 3.49 22.4
3.0 3.00 2.99 19.1
2.5 2.50 2.49 15.8
2.0 2.00 1.99 12.6
1.5 1.50 1.49 9.40
1.0 1.01 0.98 6.17
0.9 0.91 0.88 5.54
0.8 0.81 0.78 4.90
0.7 0.71 0.68 4.26
0.6 0.61 0.58 3.62
0.5 0.51 0.48 2.99
0.4 0.41 0.38 2.37
0.3 0.31 0.28 1.74
Constant current with ~40 Ohm load
A set A displayed mA at DMM V displayed V at DMM
0.20 0.21 177.0 7.63 7.63
0.19 0.20 167.2 7.24 7.23
0.18 0.19 157.2 6.81 6.80
0.17 0.18 147.8 6.39 6.39
0.16 0.17 137.5 5.96 5.95
0.15 0.16 127.8 5.54 5.53
0.14 0.15 118.4 5.11 5.12
0.13 0.14 108.7 4.69 4.69
0.12 0.13 98.7 4.26 4.27
0.11 0.12 88.8 3.83 3.83
0.10 0.11 78.7 3.40 3.40
0.09 0 69.2 2.98 2.98
0.08 0 59.1 2.55 2.55
0.07 0 49.1 2.11 2.12
0.06 0 39.2 1.70 1.69
0.05 0 29.3 1.25 1.26
0.04 0 20.0 0.87 0.87
0.03 0 10.2 0.44 0.44
The build quality doesn't look to bad, nice of them to label test points on the underside. How warm does it get?It boiled a cup of water, but did not get warm. :)
The build quality doesn't look to bad, nice of them to label test points on the underside. How warm does it get?It boiled a cup of water, but did not get warm. :)
Build quality looks somewhat reasonable... but whats your verdict, is it any good?
Build quality looks somewhat reasonable... but whats your verdict, is it any good?
If you understand psu limitations, and limitations are adequate to your use case, then psu is acceptable.
+ Case is nice. It looks good and it serves as a big heatsink for semiconductors bolted on it.
+ Price is nice too.
+ Fanless.
+ Good efficiency.
+ Can adjust voltage/current with output off. Some poor psu lacks even output on/off switch.
+ LED display.
+ Compact.
+ Lightweight.
+ No severe AC leakage.
+ Capacitors look adequate (Samxon 105°C).
- Ammeter on my unit is not working correctly below 0.3A. I asked manufacturer about that. At first they replied:
"Your CPS-3010 is not dfective, it can not show the current below 0.11A because the current meter display error." In next email, they corrected themselves: "Sorry! i mislead you, i have checked some CPS-3010 in our warehouse, they all can show the current below 0.1A, your PSU can not show the current below 0.1A maybe the transpodrtation," They also provide calibration procedure.
Anyway, ammeter has 4 digits with fixed period position: xx.xxA. So, first digit is effectively useless. Experienced technician can use 1mA resolution to diagnose complex devices like laptops. This is not possible with this psu. Lower model CPS-3205 (CPS-3205L) has 3 digits ammeter, but can switch to mA resolution. I thought that CPS-3010 will be superior to CPS-3205, but turns out, 3 digits ammeter on CPS-3205 works better than 4 digits ammeter on CPS-3010.
- Some UI is on the back of psu (hard switch, output connectors), some UI is on the front. I don't find that ergonomic. Buttons are small and hard to press.
- UI is very minimalistic: no memory slots, no PC connection, etc.
- Manual does mention over voltage and over current protection: “When OCP is triggered, MCU shut down the output and ammeter highlights “OCP””. Some psu (like Korad) have button for OCP which determines psu behavior when current meets user defined limit: either switch from constant voltage to constant current mode (drop voltage), or switch off output. Gopher switch to constant current mode. I have no idea why manual mentions output shut down.
- Psu is fanless, but not absolutely silent.
- Regarding spikes on hard power on look here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/franky's-sales-thread/msg463182/#msg463182 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/franky's-sales-thread/msg463182/#msg463182)
- LED display offers more contrast than LCD, but I don't like red displays.
- Supplied leads are a joke and should be thrown away. Banana plugs are screwed through insulation (who cares about wire stripping?). Crocodile connection is no better: wire is wrapped through hole but not soldered. Wire itself is thin and does not match 10A. Output wires inside psu are thick 12AWG, no problem here.
- Capacitor on the output. This PSU is more constant voltage supply than constant current supply.
- Rubber feet are hard, more like a plastic. PSU slides easily. I glued some rubber on it.
Overall, PSU suits my needs, but I would be more happy with lower model CPS-3205, (CPS-3205L, CPS-3205C).
Wait, :wtf: , the outputs are on the back? How idiotic is that?Having outputs on the back is not a bad thing. Many good psu have outputs on both sides. For instance, Gopher has option to auto enable output when power is on. So, it could be used as stationary DC supply for equipment. On the other hand, lack of outputs on the front is disadvantage, but since I attached stackable leads (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicone-Leads-with-Stackable-Shrouded-Gold-Plated-Banana-Plugs-1-Pair-/171008906695) to psu, I cannot care less about location of psu outputs. I can attach crocodiles, hooks, probes, bananas, whatever (http://stores.ebay.com/99centhobbies/General-/_i.html?_fsub=6506386014) to stackable leads.
How much did this clunker cost? Ali express lists it at $103Yes, with international shipping it is a bit over hundred.
Look at pic 17, did they spill a jar of rosin on the board or what? I'd be worried about longevity...How does no-clean flux affect longevity? For instance, how do you clean flux under BGA chips?
The problem is the extra resistance of the longer (high gauge) wiring and the added (common mode) noise you pick up, both from the longer wiring and from having more connection points due to extension cables.Wait, :wtf: , the outputs are on the back? How idiotic is that?Having outputs on the back is not a bad thing. Many good psu have outputs on both sides. For instance, Gopher has option to auto enable output when power is on. So, it could be used as stationary DC supply for equipment. On the other hand, lack of outputs on the front is disadvantage, but since I attached stackable leads (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicone-Leads-with-Stackable-Shrouded-Gold-Plated-Banana-Plugs-1-Pair-/171008906695) to psu, I cannot care less about location of psu outputs. I can attach crocodiles, hooks, probes, bananas, whatever (http://stores.ebay.com/99centhobbies/General-/_i.html?_fsub=6506386014) to stackable leads.
I would be more concerned about heat not being able to radiate properly from components that are covered on top (or all around) with flux. This may be a non-issue, though, for the particular components we are discussing.Look at pic 17, did they spill a jar of rosin on the board or what? I'd be worried about longevity...How does no-clean flux affect longevity? For instance, how do you clean flux under BGA chips?
The problem is the extra resistance of the longer (high gauge) wiring and the added (common mode) noise you pick up, both from the longer wiring and from having more connection points due to extension cables.I use 13AWG (less than 10mOhm) leads. For example, supplied leads have more than 100mOhm. Extra resistance? Noise pick up on a cable connected to cheapish switching power supply?
The problem is the extra resistance of the longer (high gauge) wiring and the added (common mode) noise you pick up, both from the longer wiring and from having more connection points due to extension cables.I use 13AWG (less than 10mOhm) leads. For example, supplied leads have more than 100mOhm. Extra resistance? Noise pick up on a cable connected to cheapish switching power supply?