Dual Rail Bench-Top powersupply - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: dashpuppy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2017, 03:45:59 am
content: I don't know if i am describing this properly but ill give it a shot. I'm looking for a DIY kit or Manufactured unit. Looking for a variable power supply that has dual rail that is both adjustable.Example +15V 0 - 15V Most power supplies on the market are 0-30V but only one side of the rail, witch would mean i need two but adjusting both at same time is harder to do..Am i dreaming or is there such a KIT or unit to buy..

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 12:18:15 am
content: Quote from: dashpuppy on November 27, 2017, 03:45:59 amIt seems that you are looking for a 2-channel Power Supply.Something like a GW Instek GPS-2303 has two outputs; 0-30 V, 0-3 A. With simple switches on the front panel you can set the two outputs in series and one set of controls will adjust both outputs at once.http://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/DC_Power_Supply/Multiple_Channel_DC_Power_Supplies/GPS-x303From the same manufacturer, you can hook up two GPS-3030DD (single channel 0-30V, 0-3A) together and you can set one as Master and the other as Slave.http://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/DC_Power_Supply/Single_Channel_DC_Power_Supplies/GPS-SeriesYou can download the manuals for these power supplies from the links above.HP/Keysight/Agilent power supplies will give you the same possibilities.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 12:34:18 am
content: You need a dual rail tracking power supply for this.The HP / Agilent / Keysight E3630A is a good one to look out for. I own one. They're not that cheap but you can get a bargain on ebay, especially if you are US side of things. In Europe they're very expensive!This has tracking adjustable -20V and +20V output at 500mA each and 0-6v at 2.5A. The individual rails track the same voltage but there is a tracking ratio control which allows you to change the ratio of voltages as well. It also does, if you use -20v as a reference, 0-40v at 500mA. Doesn't take a lot of room. Doesn't blow up in your face like cheap Chinese power supplies.Only criticism is the 20v rails are hard to adjust precisely so I've replaced the pots in mine with 10 turn ones.If you need more power and/or precision there's the E3631A which does -25V and +25V 1A and 0-6V at 5A.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 01:01:08 am
content: My GW Instek GPC-3020 dual tracking with 5v fixed supply will do that up to 2A each with an additional 5v3a fixed supply. You can have them track each other in parallel (more current) or in series (more voltage) or just be independent. The schematic and service manual was posted here just a few days ago.. Mine cost me around $55 including shipping (Used, via ebay ITT auction sellers). My one complaint is it has a noisy fan but its easy to replace. It would be hard to beat for under $100 elsewhere, considering it has three supplies in it. I also have another triple supply, a Sorensen XTT which I fixed - buying a broken unit and fixing it is a good way to get a good deal, but you have to know what you are doing. Its a fairly high end supply (it would cost >$400 if new) but I paid around $60 for it "for parts or not working".Quote from: SkyMaster on November 28, 2017, 12:18:15 am

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 02:08:33 am
content: "Isolated" means the outputs are not connected to the chassis or safety ground. Some of the cheaper power supplies may not be isolated. This feature is required to connect power supplies in series to effectively get positive/negative outputs, with the center tap as ground."Tracking" means you have multiple supplies in the same cabinet which can optionally be adjusted together with the same adjustment control. You will pay for this feature, which is why it's normally only found on more expensive supplies.There are many easily found DIY circuits to do this, depending on your voltage and current requirements. Very few of them deal with tracking, however. If independent operation and high-precision aren't required, you could probably make do with dual-gang potentiometers to adjust both sides at once.

author: dashpuppy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 02:45:23 am
content: Quote from: pevono on November 28, 2017, 02:43:29 amSend me one, ill review it on my youtube channel

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 03:30:12 am
content: If you're willing to get constructive criticism, why don't you take photos of your power supplies open showing the inside, show some test results, and ask people here what they think. You'll get valuable advice and if you listen to it you might end up with a good product at a good price, in the future, even if you don't have one now. In particular, the safety related advice you might get here would likely be helpful.But, something else seems to be a major gotcha..Question number one. You say its got "dual output"That looks like asinglesupply. Where is theother output?Dual output meanstwo(2) "er" maybe phonetically? TWO supplies in one.Quote from: pevono on November 28, 2017, 02:43:29 am

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 04:27:55 am
content: After reading the text that goes with the Ad, it seems to be typical Chinglish ... better than some, but still not using the right words properly.My first recommendation is to get the feature set clearly understood and then have a native English speaker write the text.

author: ruairi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 04:59:49 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on November 28, 2017, 12:34:18 amThis is a very good recommendation. I have this supply and use it more than any of my others. Simple, reliable and low noise (electrically and no fan!).

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 07:39:31 am
content: They are amazing supplies. The Keysight ones you can abuse terribly Short all the terminals until it overloads on full whack and just leave it for hours and it’ll shrug and just deliver.Had a HY1803D many years ago that this blew the ass out of.

author: dashpuppy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2017, 03:35:28 pm
content: Quote from: cdev on November 28, 2017, 03:30:12 amGuy comes to the forum to sell his junk from AMAZON !! lol