Hp/ Agilent rear output psu's - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Dandoni
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 02:11:17 pm
content: Curious on people's setups that have rear output hp/ Agilent power supplies. They seem to be common supplies but I have only managed to find a few pics floating about of front the panel conversion, but what about the rest of the folk out there? Interested in various setups and how you bring that power around

author: lausvi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 03:14:17 pm
content: Like these?https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-667-agilent-6643a-power-supply-binding-post-hack/

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 03:58:54 pm
content: I made a thin aluminum plate that fits behind the front bezel so the terminals have something substantial to mount to and ensure the correct 0.75" spacing.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 04:21:46 pm
content: This is my HP6012A modified with front binding posts:But sometimes I'm just lazy and run wires from the back like on my HP6572A. Also 100A is a bit much for 4mm binding posts:Actually one of Rx8pilot's photos of his bench showing a similar (and much nicer made) solution inspired me to hack this together.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 05:09:51 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 08, 2016, 04:21:46 pmNice alternative knobs there, too. What's the toggle switch for? Front/rear selector?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 05:33:00 pm
content: Quote from: bitseeker on October 08, 2016, 05:09:51 pmThe original pots where missing as well and the 80's retro look seemed fitting. The toggle switch is an output enable (it shorts the voltage adjust potmeter) which is a modification I have made in most of my power supplies.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 06:23:30 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 08, 2016, 05:33:00 pmModern digital supplies with soft output on/off control that I've seen just set the output to zero. Your toggle switch is the analog equivalent. Good idea.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2016, 07:00:26 pm
content: I have an HP 6622A dual channel rear output supply. Ratings are 20V@4A or 50V@2A per channel.I ran the outputs and sense leads to a box on the end of a 2M long cable. This way, I take power and sensing to the point of use. The power leads are 16AWG zip cord. The sense leads are 20AWG twisted pair with a foil shield around each pair. All leads are stranded. Everything is wrapped with a nylon spiral wrap to keep it neat and tidy.

author: Dandoni
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2016, 06:37:17 am
content: Yes I did see that thread Lauvsi. Was trying to gather other ideas. It would be good to get matching posts for the front but not a whole lot of option around. Found some on ebay from China but dont know what the quality is like.

author: pelule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2016, 10:47:08 am
content: I did it similar to edpalmer42 - just I have a HP 6624 4Ch PSU, thus it needs 16 binding posts (4 times 2x outputs and 2x sense).The 6624 does not offer the option of frontal binding posts (it wouldn't make much sense with such number of required).Advantage of that soloution:the 6624 is a real heavy tool ("the tank") and a bit noise because of the fan.It is now located away from my workbench - thus the noise is no issue anymore.The controll I do remotly by GPIB with my workbench PC (even I have a mid-term plan to build an PC independant remote control electronic using GPIB to be independant from the PC).

author: yngndrw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2016, 12:32:03 pm
content: I have a HP / Agilent 6032A which is 60V / 50A and rear-output. I used some 8 AWG silicone cable (Twisted together) for the output with a twisted / shielded microphone cable (RS 238-9052) for the sense line. These go to an XT90 connector along with the required elco capacitor that the manual mentions. The XT90 is quite a nice connector and there's loads of adaptors available as it's used a lot for RC models. The main output adaptor that I use just goes to a 30A screw connector that I can wire into.I haven't done anything to add an output enable feature but I might make a little microcontroller which turns it off via GPIB from a couple of buttons.