Looking for bench power supply suggestions - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Youkai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 04:54:23 am
content: I think I'm at the point that using a USB cord from a wall plug is no longer feasible for my prototyping. I'd like to get a decent, not too expensive, bench supply.The only things I know enough to know I care about are: I'd like to be able to change the voltage, and I'd like it to tell me how much current the circuit is drawing.This power supply will be used on arduino projects, leds, servos, ect; i.e. small hobby projects. I would be using it during the breadboard phase. Checking the amps used from the supply would tell me how big of a wall wart/battery I need to get for whatever the project is. I don't really know but I imagine the biggest projects I would be building would be 3-5 amps. If that's not enough information to give decent suggestions please let me know what else you need.Thank you!

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 05:17:55 am
content: The answer is you will never have enough power supplies or one for all applicationsQuick and dirty option is get an old FREE PC power supply and one of these sort of boardseBay auction: #295931682575This will get you a good step up from basic wallwarts.Another option is building your own power supply brickshttps://www.aliexpress.com/store/345286is the source for these, follow the datasheets and either DCDC or even Mains to DC these are working really well. Laser cut cases are mine but roll your own 3D printed ones too.From there you move up to Variable PSU's. You can start off at $10-15 from AliX or Evilbay and use your converted PC supply (or similar) to get you some current limiting and variable voltage. Some of these are total trash and noisy but some are good.Apart from it is a great 'project' to learn from I wouldn't in this day and age look at designing my own let alone spending the time to build it. Heretic I may be but my time has a valueUsed Linear supplies as you are in the USA are where I would look in particular at the Hewlett Packard era gear.Not right or wrong but some ideas to consider

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 05:19:56 am
content: KORAD KA3005P is a pretty solid choice for a lab power supply.

author: Youkai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 05:31:14 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on September 27, 2023, 05:19:56 amThis came up in amazon when looking at the one you mentioned and it's about half the price. Thoughts?Wanptek DPS3010

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 05:33:37 am
content: if you want a good cheap switcher.....

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 05:36:12 am
content: Quote from: Youkai on September 27, 2023, 05:31:14 amKORAD is a liner power supply from a reputable company with known good performance.That other thing is a switching supply from a random Chinese company. It may be decent, it may be complete crap. There are 100s of them and nobody knows how good any of them are.Also, analog adjustments automatically disqualify it from any real work for me. It is incredibly easy to bump the knob and fry your circuit. Correction: it looks like has digital control with knobs. No idea how good it is, I still would not risk it. Chances are - it is crap.Yes, those DIY kits are pretty decent. You will still get a switching supply, so it will be noisier (electrically), but it may not matter for your use. They will also be lighter and quieter.

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 05:37:13 am
content: Also, you really, really want a power supply with an output enable/disable button. Without that you have to disconnect your load while you configure the settings. (Okay not always, but you should)

author: metebalci
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 06:28:07 am
content: When I was looking for a PS (my first and still last PS actually), I didnt pay much attention if it is 2 or 3 channels, and I got one with 3 channels (thinking just in case) and then I realized two channels would be really limiting. So if you are looking for >1 channels, I recommend 3 channels instead of 2.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 07:39:52 am
content: Use Classic 1980s..1990s HP dual and triple analog linear , have many ....$35...100 on ebay or ham fleas...Built like tanks, easy to service. HEAVY!HP 6236B tripleHP 6205C dualJonPS: Chestnuts here!https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-did-you-buy-today-post-your-latest-purchase!/msg5081791/#msg5081791

author: PCB.Wiz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 08:17:28 am
content: Quote from: Youkai on September 27, 2023, 05:31:14 amOne detail that is unclear on those, is if the current display auto-ranges. If not, the 10mA LSB on the 10A model is a pain, vs the 1mA LSB on the 5A models.Addition: I see those DC head units with LCD have a RD6006P and RD6006W with 5 digit readouts

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 08:47:51 am
content: Quote from: jonpaul on September 27, 2023, 07:39:52 amWhen I click on the first image, a bowl of figs? loads.

author: PCB.Wiz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 08:53:44 am
content: Quote from: xavier60 on September 27, 2023, 08:47:51 amHazelnuts?

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 08:59:20 am
content: Quote from: PCB.Wiz on September 27, 2023, 08:53:44 amYes.

author: wykasz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 09:11:45 am
content: I'm pretty sure those are chestnuts.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 10:17:10 am
content: A long time ago I was also longing for those 30V 5A power supplies, but in my youth, I could not afford them. Later I realized these things are of course useful, but you rarely need them. An adjustable power supply that goes up to 20V and 1A is plenty for nearly all projects on your bench top. There are of course plenty of projects that need more power, from motor controllers, CB equipment or audio amplifiers, but those quite often need either very simple or specialized power supplies and then the "30V 3A" power supply also do not fit well. For such projects it is also quite easy to start with building the power supply you need for it.Overall, I think that a relatively low power linear power supply is just as useful than the relatively cheap 30V5A supplies. But there are not many affordable and lower power power supplies on the market. It is relatively easy though to build them yourself, and it is also a good way to improve your skills in analog electronics.The "hiland" kit (about EUR10 from China) is a quite usable power supply, but it has some issues you have to know about before building. There is a long thread about this power supply on this forum.And one extra thing you will want to have is an adjustable current limit. the current limit does not have to be very precise, It is most often used just to keep things from getting damaged when shit happens, such as short circuits or wiring faults on your breadboard. for example, it happened a few times to me that a circuit did not work, the power supply went into current limit, and then I discovered I inserted an IC backward. And then, after turning the IC around it worked. Without an adjustable current limit, the IC very likely would have overheated and self destructed.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 02:29:31 pm
content: Rebonjour a tous.....re the hewlett Packard vintage lab PS HP 6236B triple and HP 6205C dualmentioned above (sorry for chestnuts!) Corrected...)1/ 99 % 0f linear bench analog is powered with symmetric 5, 12 or 15V. The 400 ma of the HP dual and triple is fine. These have current limits2/ 99% of digital breadboards are run on +5 or +3.3V3/ Linear lab PSU can have very low noise, hum, low drift and great regulation. plot attached 1 hr turn onHave used these since 2010.HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC DAY!Jon

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 06:02:05 pm
content: I'm a fan of the HP E361xA series. I own a E3611A.They are quiet (electrically and aurally), uses 10 turn pots for voltage/current, and shows/sets in 100mV/10mA increments.If neccessary, they are easy to repair (no exotic parts) with complete service manuals available (including schematic,E3615A,E3611A).It's nice to have at least one supply that you can dial-in a low current for those times when you're about to bring up an expensive part for the first time.Here's a reasonably pricedE3615A on eBay.There are dual (E362xA) and triple (E363xA) output series, however, current adjustment is not available.Once you're familiar with a nice single output supply like the E3615A, you'll then have the confidence to make an investment in those expensive triple output, LCD+computer controlled supplies from Siglent, Rigol, or Keysight.

author: PCB.Wiz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 06:34:02 pm
content: Quote from: JustMeHere on September 27, 2023, 05:33:37 amThe RD6006P head units here show 5 digits readoutshttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005898461456.htmlDoes anyone have one of those ? Do they really have a 16b ADC ?

author: HalFoster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 06:38:52 pm
content: For affordability, reparability and usefulness one of the HP 62xx series are hard to beat as well as any of the Power Designs units.Most of your decision should hinge around what the planned uses are - unless you are primarily interested in digital circuits, I would go with an analog supply. Even then, a cheap linear supply can be a better prospect than a more expensive SMPS. if you are going to be working with analog circuits then at least a dual tracking supply - preferable with a third fixed rail - is very good to have. Not necessary, but good.If you have a little more to spend, I canhighlyrecommend the Siglent SPD3303-X as I have a couple and am very impressed with them. Also, the Power Designs precision supplies cannot be beat. Seriously, they really can't...Hal

author: PCB.Wiz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2023, 05:35:13 am
content: Quote from: Youkai on September 27, 2023, 04:54:23 amAt the simpler end of the scale, Boxed + LCD, but with external DC, maybe old laptop supply, are low cost units like thishttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005225335210.htmlor if you want to go to 0V, (not 0.6V min) and have more watts, for a few more $https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005461295265.htmlor add a metal casehttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005643876964.html

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2023, 05:42:06 am
content: Those two buttons and an LCD modules have horrible UI. I have a number of power supplies built around this typehttps://www.aliexpress.us/item/2252799817975251.htmland I'm very happy with them.In the end they are still electrically noisy, but acoustically quiet. And they perform reasonably well.And they fit nicely into this casehttps://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/546-1591US-BKalong with a couple binding posts and a small power supply.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2023, 06:19:15 am
content: Over the decades we found simple analog meters MUCH better for lab work as trends and fluctuations are show instantly, no delayThe digital readout PSU may be more accurate but we use an ext DVM if needed for accurate setting, rather than depend on the often poor accuracy digital PSU readouts.j

author: liaifat85
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2023, 10:48:45 am
content: I found Vantek DPS3305P power supply good.

author: YTusername
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2023, 08:38:08 am
content: If it is only for simple hobbyist projects, then I would recommendPocket USB Power Supplyor you can build thisopen-source USB PS.

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 02:26:11 am
content: i'm a radio ham,switchers kill the hf bands,build a linear with a well known lm723,cant go wrong,just the cc mode needs inprovement imho

author: Konkedout
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 03:12:26 am
content: My idea is to start with an old 18V - 20V laptop power supply. I have a bunch of those lying around. I have designed my own adjustable SEPIC DC/DC converter to follow that with. I think there must be buck boards around or build something. But...the AC-DC part of it is the most difficult, and I think those laptop supplies are plentiful; lying around..