Yet another PSU question tti or Agilent/Keythingie whatits name - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: StarFishPrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 08:41:50 pm
content: Hi FolksAfter struggling with my old Coutant PSU, replacing caps and still staring at a very jiggly scope trace I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a new PSU for home bench work. A single output will do me 95+% of the time and I like the idea of overvoltage/current protection after I tripped the mains in my college physics lab twice yesterday. I play around with geophysics sensors / raspi pi interfacing so frankly 20V would be fine.Its coming down to a geeky toss-up between the Agilent U8001a and TTI pl303, same price in UK. The TTI appears to be quieter and a little sorter in the body. Both seem good solid simple bits of kit that should last. I can't see myself needing to interface with a PC and being a 'bear of little brain' get put off by a psu that looks like the space shuttle control panel despite Dave's excellent review of the Rigol supply.has anyone had personal experience of both these manufacturers to give a killer opinion or is it a matter of taste?Cheersian :-)

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:27:32 pm
content: Though I have other Agilent kit, I've not used their power supplies but I do have a TTi PL320QMD and I've been very pleased with it. I got it for £160 fromhttp://www.test-measure.co.uk/as new old stock but they've now sold all their current stock.I find it very useful having the meters and knowing what current is being drawn without having to hook up a DVM as well as the current limiting, though I have on occasion set it too low and then wondered why my circuit wasn't working (I did this with a GPS module, set the limit to 20mA and it wasn't sufficient to pick up a signal, it worked fine when I allowed the current to rise to the 35mA it needed - the display does flash to show limits but I failed to look at it).The older TTi supplies like my one appear on ebay fairly frequently and they are pretty robust I think so a fairly safe buy if you want to save some cash. I have also bought a couple of ex demo counters off TTi directly so it may be worth asking though they probably don't do demo power supplies.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:08:22 am
content: I also have a Thurlby PL320QMD. Mine is ancient (1980s); got it on ebay cheap cheap.It is rock solid. My favorite power supply; I've had many. Highly recommended.

author: Thomas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:37:19 am
content: The TTi has an extra digit on the ampere meter, so it has 1mA resolution. It also has a 500mA range with 0.1mA resolution.That would be useful if you work on low-current projects.I have an EL302RT and the panel meters are surprisingly accurate.

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 10:55:39 am
content: I would go for the TTi. They are the standard here and are made nearby in Huntingdon

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 11:14:26 am
content: I've got a TTi EX355 supply for sale if you're interested. It's an unused discontinued model (the EX355P and EX355R that repplaced it have USB interfaces and 1mA, 1mV resolution).£100+VAT and £10 delivery.

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 11:16:28 am
content: The TTi is nice, I have the PL303P version (with LXI).I also use a lot of TTi supplies at work, and like them all.They tick all the important boxes for a general purpose lab PSU:* Simple user interface.* Load on/off switch.* Large and clear (LED) displays.* Current setpoint shown when load is off.* Mostly silent.

author: StarFishPrime
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 05:28:27 pm
content: Thanks for all your comments, advise and offers of equipment. I bit the bullet and bought a TTI PL303 and am very happy with it. I just wanted a simple, low ripple psu and this seems to be great. I ordered from CPC in the UK at 6:30 and it was waiting for me when I got home the next day. My wife has not yet asked me the price. One feature that I particularly like is that, by default the output is off until you hit the power rails button giving me a reminder to check the levels before frying my circuit.CheersIan