Jaycar power supply failure- new world record - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 09:04:40 am
content: Bought one of those MP3087 supplies this afternoon (dual version of the supply in #30). Yeah, I know, I could probably shop around for better, but I had the money on me for once today, near a store (I HATE waiting for delivery), and I've desperately been needing something a step up from my various home made boxes.Well, the magic smoke released before I could even see what the screen looked like powered up. Seriously, the very instant it was powered up I smelled/heard the unmistakeable smell/sound of an electrolytic dying painfully. Back to Jaycar in the morning for a replacement or refund. I'm so tempted to take a look inside but I'm not about to void the warranty on something I've owned less than 3 hours. I'll see if they mind popping the cover when I'm in there though haha, I'm very curious. I'm not a doctor nor a psychic, but for some reason based on the sounds/smell/general vibe I kind of suspected a reversed cap.Goddammit.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 09:23:40 am
content: Definitely worthy of some pics!Get them to void the warranty for youDave.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 09:29:15 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 30, 2012, 09:23:40 amAnd reveal the black magic happening inside? No way!Alexander.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 10:01:57 am
content: Fuck it. Couldn't resist taking a look. It's a whole 13 hours or so until they openI figure if I didn't get sold a busted product, I wouldn't NEED to open it, therefore my warranty should remain valid. Or something. I dunno.Anyway, yep, looks like 2 dud caps. I'm not going to bother trying to figure out if they were the problem or failed because of another problem. But here ya go, pics inside the dual version:

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 10:29:23 am
content: Tell them it's Dave's Jones fault for voiding the warranty and point them to the thread!Alexander.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 10:55:20 am
content: Quote from: firewalker on November 30, 2012, 10:29:23 am

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 11:54:02 am
content: Some of those opamps (the 8pin DIP chips) look like they're slightly out of socket ... don't know if their bottoms exploded or just came loose from shipping.Check the bridge rectifier (s) , replace those capacitors that are swollen after the rectifier.There's probably something more faulty with it.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 12:33:47 pm
content: No fan

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 02:45:46 pm
content: "BOOM!" It so went like a failed rocketQuote from: Shock on November 30, 2012, 12:33:47 pmWhy does it need a fan? My dual tracking 30V 3A PSU has NO fan! If you say it blew up because it had no fan you are wrong either, the caps blew up on powerup

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2012, 01:12:54 am
content: Got a new one now, time for a test. Couldn't help but laugh in the store when I went to exchange it, they had a power failure and apparently don't use the backup systems they sell themselves haha. They couldn't use phones or tills or anything.I also noticed when I chucked the old one on the counter that there was a screw missing from the heatsink. Combined with the scuffs I found on areas of it last night, I wonder if maybe it had already been returned/"repaired".P.S. Dave, you'll be glad to know the staff in there have been watching your videos. We had a bit of a chat about the single channel one you tore down

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2012, 09:39:36 am
content: So... before I pull apart or return the second one of these in a matter of days...Does anyone know if there's a meter calibration pot in these? I just noticed that the 2 channels don't match my multimeters, or even each other

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 02, 2012, 10:25:01 am
content: I've had a lot of stuff fail from Jaycar. Over the years it seems to be getting worse (cheaper). Some (DC-AC converters etc) is dangerous.Why do keep going back? Well, often I have to fix a problem ASAP, or find something for a friend that's cheap. If no one else is open,or has stock, I take a chance. Some stuff ends up in the bin, had too many arguments with idiots trying to explain the "issues".The times I do open them up to check, I wish I hadn't :-) ... at least I know what to expect.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2012, 10:40:10 am
content: Quote from: David Aurora on December 01, 2012, 01:12:54 amI don't use them anymore either. I'd get twelve months out of the batteries with practically only standby use. The last one went rogue, caught fire and then took out a couple of computers which was annoying. Bought a new Centurion one from Altronics that is as noisy as a passing train but at least hasn't let me down and killed anything (touching wood). I posted about that on here.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2012, 06:04:34 am
content: Quote from: Ed.Kloonk on December 02, 2012, 10:40:10 amInteresting you should mention the fire thing... a staff member told me exactly the same thing and told me NEVER to buy their older stye backups. Apparently the new one with an LCD is fine, but the old ones were prone to fireYeah I buy less and less from there these days too. Same story, lots of shit products. Every now and then though, budget or location sends me in there for something.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2012, 11:27:04 am
content: Quote from: David Aurora on December 03, 2012, 06:04:34 amSo a LCD prevents it from blowing up. That gives me a lot more confidence.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2012, 03:11:09 pm
content: Quote from: Ed.Kloonk on December 03, 2012, 11:27:04 amHaha. Man, the discussion was hilarious that day. Standing in the store, in the dark, with my blown up power supply and the staff member raving about how shitty their products are and telling me the main ones to watch out for, which ones had been redesigned since major fuck ups, and so on. He actually also mentioned he refuses to sell those fire producing units to anyone. So that's a good sign I guessShit products aside though, Jaycar has got to have some of the best staff anywhere, ever. The occasional dickheads seem to get weeded out really quickly. All the staff I regularly deal with at multiple stores are super friendly, super helpful and super honest about product quality. If something sucks and they know about it they always seem to give me the low down on it.

author: ptricks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2012, 01:46:00 pm
content: Seems to be a trend to use as much wire as possible inside a supply. The inside looks like the spaghetti monster had babies .Are all the caps in the supply JakeC brand ? That brand sucks .

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2014, 09:23:07 pm
content: Very, very old thread I know... But it seems the MP3087 power supply has had a pretty big redesign, externally anyway.http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3087Which confuses me a bit, as it no longer has separate fine/course adjustments, and the current limiting adjustment?It also no longer has binding posts?Does anyone have the newer version, and how does it compare to the old?

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2014, 01:43:06 am
content: Zooming in on the picture, there appear to be two 'protective covers' at the bottom front, labeled "EXT OUTPUT" with a warning symbol. What's the bet there are screw terminal blocks underneath?Dear God, did the safety Nazis finally make banana posts forbidden even on low voltage bench power supplies?Golly, I'd better take my 300VDC 1.2A bench supplies with front panel screw posts outside and burn them.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2014, 01:59:38 am
content: Quote from: AmmoJammo on July 07, 2014, 09:23:07 pm@Ianscottjohnston has both the single channel and the dual channel version of it, here is a link to a short video on the single channel version from his youtube channel;

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2014, 04:57:32 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on July 08, 2014, 01:43:06 amYou mean my neon sign transformers with the exposed porcelain insulators for both the mains inputs and the 14kV output are dangerous? Who would have thought that, I was just annoyed that they would flash over in the rain when it dripped on them.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2014, 05:45:15 am
content: Quote from: AmmoJammo on July 07, 2014, 09:23:07 pmCould also be they changed the supplier and just kept the old name. The new one looks like from Ningbo Jiuyuan Electronic, also known as QJE.QJE use that style of enclosure for many years. And yes, they do have screw terminals. For people who set up semi-permanent experiments and don't want to bother with banana plugs.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2014, 11:05:06 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on July 08, 2014, 01:43:06 amHP6448 (images stolen from some ebay listings)See, just needs a small "Warning High Voltage" printed vaguely near the terminals. Not shown in these pictures is the power inlet on the rear, which is an exposed terminal block that wouldnt even meet protection from the standard test finger.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2014, 09:31:13 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on July 08, 2014, 01:43:06 amQuite right there! But that still means there's no way to simply and easily connect bare wires, like I would be doing 99% of the time...The other thing I've noticed, is there's a version that does 5amps on each output, and another thats only rated at 3amp... makes me wonder how different the internals really are!

author: jokkydee
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 06:20:44 am
content: Quote from: David Aurora on December 03, 2012, 03:11:09 pmI wish I could say the same thing about the Jaycar in Adelaide, complete opposite. Some of the worst customer service I've experienced and everyone else I know who has been there seem to agree. So for me, average quality products and shit customer service. I only go in there as an absolute last resort for electronic components if other stores are out of stock.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 08:49:20 am
content: Seeing this old thread from when I first got it come back to life has inspired me to do a detailed, long term review.After a year and a half I can confirm this thing was, is, and will remain an utter piece of shit.I think that about covers it. Any questions?Yeah. Seriously. The replacement one has felt like it's on the brink of going for quite a while now, I keep meaning to pull it apart and service it but I never get around to it (probably because it's supposed to be a work tool, not a hobby project. Like the piece of shit oscilloscope I got from there which I've now repaired 3 times haha). Current limit on channel 2 has been completely unreliable from day one, the thing randomly decides to just ignore it and you hear the relays click and your circuit light up even though it should have no current flowing. Ripple is getting ridiculously bad so I guess those amazing 13 cent a metric tonne, second hand, factory second, scratch and dent sale, water damaged, fire sale, black market, imitation of an imitation of an inferior product's third cousin bargain bin caps they put in all this shit are on their way out. Voltage readings are a joke. Displays are horrid. Screen update takes about 9 years if the wind is blowing in your favour and the gods are smiling. Build quality sucks. Etc.I guess the power switch has a nice-ish click to it though, so that's one point for it.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 10:10:29 am
content: I have one of these also so I concur. I bought mine from Soanar for $300 way back when Jaycar was flogging them for $400. I had to repair it before even plugging it in! Jaycar is now pretty much the Harbor Freight of electronics, but their prices aren't dirt cheap. My last purchase from them was a soldering iron tip, a month ago or so. It lasted about 30 minutes at 70% heat, then the iron cladding flaked off.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 12:05:58 pm
content: My Marconi/Ediswan supplies. Short circuit current for the ~700VDC on the "UNREG" binding post is a few hundred mA.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 11:25:36 pm
content: Quote from: GK on July 09, 2014, 12:05:58 pmSome serious grunt for those little glowing bottle projects during the cold months.I wonder how many of these old timers are still running, would be nice to have a peek under the hood sometime

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 05:43:16 am
content: Quote from: GK on July 09, 2014, 10:10:29 amHarbor Freight is at least useful if you need something disposable, like cheap sandpaper or a tool you know you'll only need once. Sounds like Jaycar's crap might actually be hazardous to health though!

author: electrophiliate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 10:19:50 am
content: Putting aside the issue of the quality of staff and products at Jaycar, they use a courier company that seems to have a pretty bad reputation?:http://www.productreview.com.au/p/star-track-express.html1.3/5 stars based on 551 reviews!Perhaps there may be some self-selection bias in the above article, angry customers more likely to leave a response.When one of my orders seemed to arrive late, I had a look at the company and discovered that it was largely owned by Australia Post:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Track_Express

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 10:30:58 am
content: My companies supplier uses startreck, and its not uncommon for corners to be crumpled or packages to be sodden wet,Still awaiting to hear how the replacement plays out as my boss is determined to get the same model in 2 weeks time,

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 11:12:25 am
content: Jaycar power supplies? Never trust them. One place I worked threw about a dozen Powertech MP-3084 power supplies in the bin after some electronics were damaged by a 50V spike on the 5V rail at power up on one of them. I have seen several Jaycar variable 0-20V power supplies go faulty with 45VDC on their outputs. The failure mode of that power supply means the design is crap. Lego could have done a better job designing the +, - and earth terminals. I don't buy any power supplies from Jaycar on principle.Don't overlook some good power supplies sold by Element 14 and RS. These are generally overpriced but as they don't sell many, I found you can bargain them down by as much as 50% or more off (ask them for a quote).

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2014, 07:24:16 am
content: Well, I bought one of the newer MP3087 power supplies. $90 second hand.It hasn't blown up yet, so that's a good start!So, who wants to see what internally?It still has two transformers, but they're smaller than the 5 amp version I believe.

author: jord4231
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 01:53:36 am
content: Yep I know its an old thread but i'd be interested in seeing inside

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2019, 09:52:24 pm
content: Quote from: jord4231 on April 28, 2019, 01:53:36 amWhile I am still using this supply, the output voltage has taken to spiking to over 40 volts on power up, no matter what the output is set too.I didn't realise this issue till after killing two Commodore 64 motherboards...

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 03:47:10 am
content: Quote from: AmmoJammo on June 14, 2019, 09:52:24 pmJaycar put these on special about a month ago, but even at the reduced price I walked past it. Mainly from reading opinions describing what you just have.If you find the original listings for these units, sold under the QJE brand, they state to connect the circuit only after turning the outputs onSo they know there's a fault but they still sell it and tell you to live with it. Total trash.

author: maginnovision
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 04:49:22 am
content: My experience has been that most of the cheaper stuff should be on before you connect a circuit. That doesn't mean they regulate well but they're especially bad on startup.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 05:58:55 am
content: Quote from: David Aurora on December 01, 2012, 01:12:54 amThey probably don't want their store burning to the ground.