The beginnings of a PSU addiction? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 12:58:57 pm
content: Top to bottom:* DPH5005 50V 5A Boost/Buck DC/DC powersupply* DPS5020 50V 20A Buck DC/DC powersupply* Tenma T2-2540 30V 5A AC/DC powersupplyIn the photo the Tenma is running the top PSU as I don't have spare banana plugs to connect it to the 48V 10A DC brick sitting behind them.Besides the top PSU is for stepping up 12V batteries charged off solar when I'm feeling green but need a solid 12V supply from a not-quite 12V battery.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 01:23:25 pm
content: There's always room for one more inrehabthe TEA group..

author: davy peleman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 04:44:37 pm
content: know what you mean they are so practical and beautifull with their multicolored digits and so nice to experiment with. i have 2 and a self made one out of an old atx. their maximum voltage is 30volts so i could use another one with more voltage output

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 02:51:58 am
content: Yes, Paul, it's just the beginning. The inexpensive ones are the gateway drug.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 03:38:23 pm
content: Hi Paul,I have the Tenma one too, I think it's a great wee supply. I have a wee 35V 6A switching power supply I was sent by mistake instead of something else I ordered. I never really use the switching supply, always the Tenma!How do you like yours?

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 04:15:44 pm
content: Quote from: Terry01 on February 04, 2018, 03:38:23 pmThe Tenma is great. Hasn't let me down. I only bought the DPS5020 for something to play with and to power an 80W battery charger that needs more than 5A as it won't take 20V input.I tend to trust the tenma more, but the Chinese DP* PSUs seem pretty accurate voltage wise at low current.If I could say something negative about it would be that it needs a fan control. I know keeping the regulators cool or at a steady temperature gives a more accurate output, but it's a little noisy even when drawing very light loads.I did try out the USB serial interface. There is a Python command line program someone knocked up that works fairly well, it's pretty basic, but it works.The DPH5005 Boost/Buck (top PSU) is so I can run my bench off solar charged batteries. Works great. I was able to charge a 3S LiPo from the solar panel controller, hook it up to the DPH5005 and power a whole bunch of stuff from it on 12V. It's nice that as the battery drops down to 11V or even 9V the DPH maintains the 12V steady on the output. I can run the PSU for electronics bench work for a week on a full battery.I have a LiPo alarm on the balance lead for safety and my god are those things loud indoors! Sounds like the fire alarm!

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 08:03:35 pm
content: QuoteHave a look at this video for a simple solution:

author: Kalvin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 08:32:16 pm
content: Quote from: paulca on February 04, 2018, 04:15:44 pmIf I recall correctly, Tenma comes with memory M4 programmed to 30 V as default. After a certain incidentI have always instructed people to program the M4 to 0V.

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 08:37:14 pm
content: Problem, what problem....The Tenma looks suspiciously like a KORAD. Agree, one of the first things I did is went through all the memory settings and lowered the voltage/currrent.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 09:23:55 pm
content: Quote from: ledtester on February 04, 2018, 08:03:35 pmThanks, ordered 3 of them. That should allow me to shut up the whaling gale when all 3 PSUs are on!

author: HoracioDos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 09:29:02 pm
content: Quote from: imidis on February 04, 2018, 08:37:14 pmI've done the same from M1 to M5 the first time I turned it on.

author: glarsson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 10:13:13 pm
content: When it comes to Popover supplies you can never have enough.I used to have one Aim TTI TSX3510P (0-35V, 10A) but when it was occupied powering a GPSDO I realized that I needed more.Now I have two TSX3510P and two TSX1820P (0-18V, 20A) with a total output power of 1420W.I plan to buy two more power supplies (not high power this time) in the near future.https://www.aimtti.com/product-category/dc-power-supplies/aim-tsxseries

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 08:22:00 am
content: The Tenma fan is controlled to be proportional to the amp draw. As soon as the amps rise the fan rpm rises.How will it enjoy or hate it if I put a bi-metallic switch in series with it?Maybe I should leave the tenma alone and just silence the DP*s.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 08:23:18 am
content: Quote from: HoracioDos on February 04, 2018, 09:29:02 pmAt least it cuts the output when you switch memory programs. Personally I just always pause looking at the settings before I press the LOAD button.