Cheap power supply for a begginner going on "FleEbay"? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 01:46:01 pm
content: Spotted this while browsing Ebay and thought it may be a decent buy for a beginner?https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rapid-Electronics-30V-10A-DC-Regulated-power-supply/283372173587?hash=item41fa4c3913:g:VhYAAOSwRaFcXtj8Prob get it £5 cheaper on an offer or there about.May be good for someone....

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 01:52:57 pm
content: Enclosure design looks like Manson.It'll be a switcher, of decent quality if it is a Manson.Absolutely don't like the loudspeaker contacts for the 5V / 12V output, that's just cheap crap.10A is a bit "oversized" for a beginner, 30V would be fine for many purposes.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 02:43:11 pm
content: Quote from: capt bullshot on February 11, 2019, 01:52:57 pmYes you may be right.I was just thinking for £15 it may be ok for someone just starting out. They don't need the best of everything to see if electronics is for them.If they decide they are going to stick with it obviously a better 1 would come in time and if not they haven't shelled out £££'s on a power supply that they will no longer use.

author: Tetzly
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 05:12:21 pm
content: Triple output power supply for 20...how could you go wrong?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 05:23:55 pm
content: Quote from: Tetzly on February 11, 2019, 05:12:21 pmIt's an auction, 20 is just the starting price.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 05:29:56 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on February 11, 2019, 05:23:55 pmIt has "make offer" below it.I knocked £30 off the starting price of something a couple days ago by making an offer lower than the starting price. Even £25 would be an ok price for that if you could get it for someone just starting out.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2019, 05:46:02 pm
content: Quote from: Terry01 on February 11, 2019, 05:29:56 pmThat normally means in this situation make a higher offer, but hey anything is possible.

author: Ordinaryman1971
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2019, 04:08:24 pm
content: It looks like a BK Precision to me.. the same display and the same "futures".Those power supplies go for about $120 in States so it's definitely good price.If it's the same build they use 3055 pass transistors and they are working fine.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2019, 05:19:37 pm
content: Those are the modern version of the old black ones with the analogue/digital meters (PS3025 type/series) on them. They're "mostly" ok. The design is a bit marginal i.e. they tend to explode if you run them full whack for a bit. I had one in the late 90s and it was used to run a CB off. Was TX'ing and it let the magic smoke out. Turned out one of the wires had gone woosh inside it.Honestly though, if you are willing to wait, you can usually pick up a TTi PL supply for around £20-30 for a single and £50-60 for a dual/triple at a hamfest here in the UK. Well worth the extra cash and somewhat better documented. Don't buy a brown one those though - they are poo coloured for a reason! Also look out for Farnell linear supplies if you want some amps.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2019, 06:17:17 pm
content: I have a BK Precision 1686 that is a workhorse (Manson EP-912) and is somewhat similar to this PS. The louspeaker connectors on mine, however, are intended for voltage monitoring or secondary points of load and are not independent.It is a well built power supply and is great for starters. If you can get it at a very reasonable price it is well worth it.

author: TheNewLab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2019, 06:20:37 pm
content: HEY! I used those speaker spring connections in my DIY triple power supply!I based the build on an old JameCo catalog photos LOL

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2019, 06:24:35 pm
content: No more make an offer, it's officially an auction.

author: tkamiya
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2019, 08:54:31 am
content: I don't know about this particular brand but many cheap power supplies have nasty surprises. Connect wires first and turn the mains switches on. BANG! Huge voltage spike comes out before it stabilizes. Some of my power supplies are half of my age but cheap, rugged, and stable. (and ugly) A really good HP ones can be had for cheap, if you don't mind it taking up 1/3 of desk space....

author: malagas_on_fire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2019, 05:59:10 pm
content: Hii'm between choices on a budget Adjustable power supply...https://ebay.us/Nhwhxlhttps://ebay.us/U02DDphttps://ebay.us/xvpOLrhttps://ebay.us/DseMtm( This can be bought at local market at 73 Eur)I'm also open to a used one .

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2019, 08:29:50 pm
content: Quote from: malagas_on_fire on February 15, 2019, 05:59:10 pmI have this supply and find it ok. It has lasted me fine and never let me down. It has all the safety features on it too which is handy. I created plenty sparks and puffs of smoke when I was learning and it always worked just fine right after. There are plenty videos and posts on it too.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tenma-Programmable-Single-Output-Dc-Bench-Power-Supply-30V-5A-Output-150W/362288127567?epid=9024283099&hash=item545a0e1e4f:g:tz0AAOSwgBNaxyEu:rk:5:pf:0I also have a small switch mode supply which i use sometimes too that came as a kit from Ebay. It is 32v 12A and has also lasted me well. I like the TENMA much better and would recommend it over the Ebay one although the switcher can do more Amps. This is the switcher one... you have to buy the case separately for it too which is about £20-£30 if I remember correctly.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DPS3012-Buck-Power-Supply-LCD-Color-Display-Step-down-Voltage-Converter-32V-12A/153199172959?epid=19024301095&hash=item23ab61dd5f:g:bKAAAOSwa6JbryYJ:rk:35:pf:0The switcher needs supply to run it too so not ideal. I have a small 36v supply I picked up on Ebay and wired a IEC cable right into it then wired the 36v up to the banana jacks on the rear of the 32v supply. Even with all this it still has a very small footprint but it is a bit of a faff. The TENMA is so much easier.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2019, 09:08:17 pm
content: On the switchers I tend to just buy a meanwell unit from RS for the task at hand. Those are pretty good and don’t explode if you short them out. The same cannot be said for the DUT

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2019, 11:02:56 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on February 15, 2019, 09:08:17 pmLOL... poor DUT!I dunno how durable the Ebay one I have would be. I doubt it would handle as much "beginner" mistakes as the Tenma 1 has over the time i've owned it. It has probably ended up costing about the same £'s as the Tenma 1 when you add all the pieces together. I kinda bought it a piece at a time after i watched a few YouTube videos on it. I had no intention of building the finished unit when i bought the first power supply board, then the control unit, then the case, then the seperate PSU to run it from the wall...

author: jabalv
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2019, 08:20:02 pm
content: I am after power supply as well, but what to go for if I need to test car components. So I need here around 12/24V with current up to 24A or so.Any suggestions?

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2019, 09:42:50 pm
content: A car battery perhaps?In a very distant past we used to have a couple of motorcycle batteries when we needed some real output current at that voltage level (at that time switching PS was almost non-existent and linear was very expensive).

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2019, 09:51:49 pm
content: Yeah I use one now. 28Ah SLA does the job.

author: jabalv
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2019, 11:56:47 pm
content: Actually right - I will lookup tomorrow morning some of my old PC power supplies. PC power supply gives 12V DC, which will work so good for my desk testing or so. So will not need to keep hazardous liquid car battery under the table.For inspiration

author: malagas_on_fire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2019, 12:25:57 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on February 18, 2019, 09:42:50 pmhave some 12V / 5V 1 ~2A Switching PSU small adapters , ATX desktop, one slab from a old UPS , some 9V batteries and linear regulators. never got a adjustable power supply because most of the voltages and currents are in the desired range. The ATX and SLAB's comes handy when current is required. Also using LM317 can be used to build the charger.

author: sambonator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2019, 12:43:05 am
content: Quote from: jabalv on February 18, 2019, 11:56:47 pmThis would work well with an old PC Power supplyhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/24Pins-ATX-Benchtop-Board-Computer-PC-Power-Supply-Breakout-Adapter-Module-TE762/142926531780Even an old laptop AC adapter with 12v out might work for you...

author: jabalv
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2019, 05:49:19 pm
content: At the end I am planning to build something similar as this:Ordered most of the parts. I have few old PSUs laying around in a house. But I am wondering of possibility to squeeze out additional 24V which would be useful to test truck electrical parts/lamps etc.Any ideas if I can achieve 24V from regular computer PSU in easy way?