HP/Agilent/Keysight E3632A DC PSU for hobby/repair use - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Black Phoenix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2021, 03:56:27 pm
content: I've been looking for a good PSU for my uses. I'm a AIM TTI fanboy but here in China they are rarer like a endangered species compared with Europe.From some reason in the 2nd Hand Markets here in China there are tons of this PSUs available. A factory probably closed and the lots of equipment were sold to lots of sellers, some with Samsung Equipment Inventory stickers on the sides.My question is how good this PSU is?What kind of problems this PSU have (if there is a problematic product)?Is there a chance of using 2 PSUs to increase the total output in case of need?From what I see it only have GPIB and RS232 connections on the back. How easy it is to control it connected to a PC (I suppose that via Telnet) and what kind of extra functionalities they have hidden?I know I could had Google it but currently the VPN service I've been using is with lots of problems, and Chinese is still not my strong suit (and Chinglish translations also don't help).Thank you.

author: gslick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2021, 04:40:03 pm
content: If you have some questions about repairing one of these, there are some repair videos that might be interesting, for example:The Signal PathTSP #108​ - Teardown & Repair of an Agilent E3632A DC Power SupplyIanScottJohnstonVideo Blog #064​ - Agilent E3632A PSU Repair - Part 1Video Blog #065​ - Agilent E3632A PSU Repair - Part 2Video Blog #066​ - Agilent E3632A PSU Repair - Part 3Video Blog #067​ - Agilent E3632A PSU Repair - Part 4

author: Black Phoenix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2021, 04:54:29 pm
content: Quote from: gslick on May 01, 2021, 04:40:03 pmThank you for the video links, I will check them as soon as the VPN problems are solved from the part of my provider (Yes no Google or Youtube here in Mainland China).

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2021, 06:42:04 pm
content: I see my previous post dissapeared. A recap: Unless these PSUs are really cheap I'd stay away from them. They are more geared towards semi-permanent / remote controlled setups than bench use. They don't have a keypad (which is really what you want on a digitally controlled PSU; setting voltage & current is really fiddly without a keypad) and a loud fan. When I was looking for a good bench PSU a couple of years ago I ended up with a Keysight E36313A but nowadays I'd probably would buy a GW Instek GPP series (https://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/detail/GPP-Series); this is a reasonably new series and it also has a DC load function. Rigol and Siglent also have bench supplies for a reasonable price but the Rigol doesn't have truly isolated outputs and the Siglent doesn't have a keypad. The GW Instek OTOH ticks all the boxes.

author: Smith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2021, 08:40:54 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on May 02, 2021, 06:42:04 pmI second this. I have 2 of them and replaced both fans, this fixed (most) noise. Still, I don't like using them as a bench psu. It is a hassle to change the current / voltage and turn them on / off. So if you need multiple voltages this becomes a nightmare to use. I also used multiple programmed by a PC for measurement and power setups, and for this work they are great, and as far as I can tell reliable. I've seen multiple be used over 10 years in 24/7 use. Only downside is the display, it will start to deteriorate after a few years. After about 10 years it can become very dimm.I also use a Rohde Schwarz NGE 100, and it is much better to use, still there is no option to quickly change the voltage. These do have presets which do come in handy.The Delta EST150 is the most basic bench PSU I use, but it is so easy to use.