Circuit Specialists power supplies, ok or junk? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: scatterandfocus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 03:48:10 am
content: I'm looking at this one (below) as a first bench power supply for general tinkering. My interests are slanted toward audio circuits, which may at some point involve 48v phantom power. And at a low price point a linear supply seems like a safer bet for noise concerns in audio.QuoteI haven't found much about it. Someone on Amazon mentioned that the current control is pretty touchy, being a little screw adjustable pot. Maybe that could be upgraded later if needed.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 03:59:57 am
content: Isn't that just another random generic OEM Chinese power supply that Circuit Specialists puts their name on? What's so special about it?In fact, even without the Amazon feedback, that goofy current control would be a show-stopper just by itself. Why would you even put up with something so user-hostile? I wouldn't. Surely there are dozens of similar products with proper current controls.

author: scatterandfocus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:03:31 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on August 24, 2019, 03:59:57 amI have no clue who makes it. At that price point I'm guessing that it is Chinese made. I'm looking at it because I think the specs would fit my use cases.

author: maxwell3e10
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:14:00 am
content: I have a similar one, CSI12001X. It seems to work fine, except the CC/CV switching was a bit confusing. As long as you get used to it, should be fine.

author: scatterandfocus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:58:26 am
content: I just noticed the one i was looking at is only single output.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 05:11:05 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on August 24, 2019, 03:59:57 amPlus the GND jack in the middle.NO dual banana jack usage there.

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 08:27:08 am
content: I see you are USA based.Check out Ebay (other used equipment sources are also available) for used HP psu.There are usually available and can be very reasonably priced.The old linears tend not to go wrong. No, you will not have to change the capacitors.

author: scatterandfocus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:05:23 pm
content: Quote from: MosherIV on August 24, 2019, 08:27:08 amThat is what I ended up doing. I found a well regarded HP linear dual supply that should well meet my needs for what seemed to be a reasonable price. I did the same for a well regarded Tek scope and HP function generator after contacting the sellers to inquire about any issues. But even though all this gear is well regarded to have excellent build quality and repairability, there are user and service manuals freely available, and there has been lots of discussions about this gear including repairs, as a beginner I do still worry about something breaking and not being able to track down the problem and repair it. But I guess that is the tradeoff as a beginner of buying old well-built and repairable gear vs. new cheap-made gear with a warranty that is less-repairable or non-repairable in the longterm.The lack of service manuals for lots of new test equipment seems anti-user, use and throwaway mindset, to me.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:26:35 pm
content: The cheap Chinese supplies can still be repairable. Some even give schematics - nothing you will find for modern supplies from a main brand. They tend to use standard parts. A main problem is that they tend to exaggerate with the specs or seem to use some slightly smaller Chinese amperes. A Chinese 3 A supply is usually good (acceptable) for some 2 A.So chances are one will have to repair.Not having a real adjustment for the current is more a weak point even for a cheap Chinese one.

author: rauldm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:28:54 pm
content: You have some options, for example if you are hobbyist, I recommend buy a new chinese PS based on reviews or some like Agilent but used. I have two PS, one Agilent and one commuted chinese, the noise on the chinese PS is very high and current control on low current values is too bad, only I use for high current applications, when I work with more especialised things, I use my Agilent. Normally some chinese products, it has good quality for the price, but also have high probabilty to fail.I paid 150 usd for my e3640a and I paid 100 usd for chinese PS in my country.

author: scatterandfocus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 04:46:16 pm
content: Being an audio person, one of the main aspects that drives my interest in electronics is that much of the modern audio gear is cheap-made, use and throwaway. I want to build gear that is better than that. Much of the older audio gear has been in service for 40/50/60/+ years because it was well-built (often over-built) and has schematics available. I guess I have taken on the mentality that I want my test gear to be the same in that regard. It just doesn't make sense to me that so many precious resources and labor should be used in manufacturing something that gets tossed in the landfill after some component fails. Although the low prices of cheap Chinese made gear for getting started is very tempting to us beginners.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2019, 06:52:25 pm
content: For a power supply, I would not buy anything which does not have a service manual available.