Power supply for under £100

[paddyred]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but I have been watching Dave's videos for years (no idea why I haven't been here before I must say!). The title pretty much explains itself. I am looking for a basic bench power supply for under £100. I have been looking at the KORAD KA3005D at the moment but I wondered if there was a new model/other brand that people would recommend?

Thanks in advance!

[MrSlack]

I bought an HY1803D from Rapid a while ago for £59. Not terrible value for money. I bought it just to use as a hot wire cutter supply and it has ended up on the bench.

However, you can get a decent TTI/Thurlby PL330/PL320 for 50-80 quid on eBay if you wait a bit - very nice power supplies and easy to service even if quite old. You won't get better for less than £100.

[Blaffetuur]

I bought the QJ1502C from amazon.de (http://www.amazon.de/dp/B007X2H5AQ/ref=pe_386171_37038021_TE_3p_dp_1) which was €44 deliverd.

For now it does the job for me 

[Towger]

I second the eBay TTI/Thurlby.  Just don't pay too much for it, I have see some in the last few months go for big money, while a week or later the same model in good condition could go for around 50 - 60. Local collection sales with a low starting price can even be even cheaper.

[BillyD]

Another vote for the Thurlby Thandar / TTi and to agree with the previous two posters.
They appear on ebay.co.uk quite regularly, ranging from about £50 to £90 so if you're patient you should be able to pick one up at the lower end of that scale.

[MrSlack]

As a note, I paid £24 for my PL330 because it was collection only. Fortunately it ws about 5 minutes drive from home

[mos6502]

What do you want to do with it?

If you're going to have only one power supply, I'd say you want at least 5 amps. The PL320/PL330's 2/3 amps are weak sauce. The KA3005D is a decent PSU. The Korad's meters also have one more digit than the Thurlbys, which is extremely handy.

Then there's also this. It's a switcher, though. But very handy if you just want to power something and not waste your electricity with a linear supply.

http://www.banggood.com/CPS-3205-0-32V-0-5A-Portable-Adjustable-DC-Power-Supply-110V220V-p-934530.html

[MrSlack]

The Thurlby won't kill you or burn down your house though

[mos6502]

You're exaggerating. There was only a very small number of fatalities and all the problems have been fixed in the current production models.

[rgawron]

I think this one is nice:

http://www.tme.eu/gb/details/nsp-3630/one-channel-power-supplies/manson/

It's completely silent (no fan) and small. Not a linear one, so voltage noise is probably bigger.

I have it and I'm happy with it.

[mos6502]

I think this one is nice:

http://www.tme.eu/gb/details/nsp-3630/one-channel-power-supplies/manson/

It's completely silent (no fan) and small. Not a linear one, so voltage noise is probably bigger.

I have it and I'm happy with it.

Twice the price of the Gopher and only 3 amps? Not very good value.

Here are some pics of the Gopher's insides:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/franky's-sales-thread/msg461675/#msg461675

[paddyred]

Thank's for all the replies it helps a lot. I do need the 5A really as I deal mostly with automotive stuff and testing that needs a little more than 2A a lot of the time. What actually caused the electrocution/burning down issue with the one I was looking at? I bought a scottle soldering iron/reflow gun when they had the issue where the metal on the heat gun was accidently wired to 240v mains so a disassembly/inspection has become common place with anything Chinese made! Its always a case of don't turn it on and take it apart!

[MrSlack]

If you're doing anything automotive, a 12v lead acid battery and an appropriate fuse is a pretty good power supply.

[Towger]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TTI-Thurlby-Thandar-TS1410-12-14V-10A-Bench-Power-Supply-/141951621468?hash=item210cf9d95c:g:fmkAAOSw9uFW9~69

[MrSlack]

That's just about spot on - good find.

[wraper]

Twice the price of the Gopher and only 3 amps? Not very good value.

The joy is not in the more amps. More amps comes with their own downsides BTW.

[Towger]

That's just about spot on - good find.

Or the PL154 15V 4Amp version, but there are none for sale (ebay) in the UK at the moment. With the 15V limit it will not blow any up any 12V 'car' device attached to it.

[paddyred]

Thanks for that! I need a power supply with adjustment as I often come accross issues for example where the unit is playing up as the battery voltage drops overnight and causing starting issues in the morning. Having the ability to drop the voltage allows me to find out what voltage causes the unit to shut down

[BillyD]

That's just about spot on - good find.

Just be aware that its voltage range is limited from 12 to 14, and it doesn't have current limiting.
It's a vastly different beast to the Korad you were considering.

[Fungus]

If you're doing anything automotive, a 12v lead acid battery and an appropriate fuse is a pretty good power supply.

Yep.

Or just a fixed 12V 5A supply, and a box of fuses. It'll be much cheaper (...about $15).

Attach a $4 LED volt/amp meter to it if you want.

Or spend a little bit more and get a 10A supply (it'll last longer) and a better meter.