Voltcraft (Conrad) Power supply and others for 90€ - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ElectroElvis
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 06:15:21 pm
content: Hello again my fellow forum members.Yet again i come up with a question and seek some buying advice. With your help i ordered Philips 3240 50MHz scope for 160€ total it will come hopefully in 1 week time (it is fully tested and calibrated).I am buying also small lab power supply up to 90€I found one from Voltcraft which is here shown in link1.http://www.conrad.at/ce/de/product/511806/LINEARES-NETZGERAeT-PS-1302-D/2110330&ref=listIs it any good or2.http://www.ebay.at/itm/regelbares-Labornetzgerat-0-15V-0-1A-15-W-Netzgerat-/390301688311?pt=Netzger%C3%A4te&hash=item5adfcb21f7#ht_2457wt_11393.http://www.ebay.at/itm/Labornetzgerat-0-15V-0-3A-DC-digitale-Anzeige-NEU-OVP-/250974992196?pt=Netzger%C3%A4te&hash=item3a6f467744#ht_2261wt_11634.http://www.ebay.at/itm/Labor-Netzgerat-NG1620BL-regelbar-0-15V-DC-max-2A-N100-/310372559462?pt=Netzger%C3%A4te&hash=item4843a56a66#ht_2809wt_1139Thank you for all information.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 06:29:03 pm
content: Get one with an adjustable current limit.You will rarely need voltages above 15 V for most electronics.Likewise you will rarely need currents above 2 A.A separate output on/off switch is nice (in addition to the normal power switch).A "current set" button is nice, so you can adjust the output current without having to short the terminals.

author: ElectroElvis
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 06:51:11 pm
content: The first one from Voltcraft is adjustable voltage 0-30 and Current 0-2A, As far as my needs go i need only up to 13V and 1A max. For that money is it possible to get powersupply that is "reliable"?Any of the above listed are good to pick up? (all have Adjustable Current and Voltage)ThanksElvis

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 07:00:45 pm
content: Not all of them have adjustable current, for example the second one has a single knob for adjusting voltage only.All of those power supplies are likely to work fine as basic power supplies. There may be some differences in the details of their performance under close examination, but it is impossible to say unless someone already owns that exact model and has subjected it to detailed scrutiny.One thing you could do is look at the user manual and specifications and see if it all seems suitable for your purposes. Reading the user manual is the next best thing to having the device in your hands.

author: ElectroElvis
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 07:17:05 pm
content: It might sound dumb but is it normal that you must shorten positive and negative terminals on powersupply to set the current limit? That is kinda dumb isnt it? It means that you cannot easily set current during testing?Atleast that what it says in Voltcraft manual:)Thanks IanB for informations.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 07:43:44 pm
content: From looking at them, I regard all except the Voltcraft as junk. Number 2 being the worst. A cheap analog meter for current is acceptable, but a (estimated) class 2.5 analog meter for voltage isn't. 2, 3 and 4 look pretty much like older rebadged Atten power supplies, which I would avoid. And 4 looks too expensive. I have seen them from other suppliers for less.If the listed supplies are your only alternatives I would go with number 1.For a similar price you should also be able to get a garden-variety chinese 30V, 3...5A power supply, like HY3003D, DF1730, SK1730 and hundred other names. Maybe you can find them cheaper than 1.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 08:19:42 pm
content: how about these ones, actually discounted ?http://www.elv.de/Schaltnetzgerauml;t-NSP-3630-1-36V,-0-3A/x.aspx/cid_74/detail_10/detail2_22162/flv_/bereich_/marke_orhttp://www.elv.de/Schaltnetzgerauml;t-NSP-2050,-1-20V,-0-5A/x.aspx/cid_74/detail_10/detail2_22161/flv_/bereich_/marke_or this one available as a kit, a little more expensive but so much interesting ?http://www.elv.de/Prozessor-Netzteil-PPS-5330,-Komplettbausatz/x.aspx/cid_74/detail_10/detail2_18011/flv_/bereich_/marke_regards,

author: ElectroElvis
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 09:22:47 pm
content: The last one is very tempting but i dont want to mess with mains voltages so soon. BTW i moved from Slovenia 4 months ago so i dont speak German that is the also reason why i cannot find so many shops in DE or ATThank for the links I will definitly check it out.Elvis

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 10:11:42 pm
content: damn I forgot this open source lab power supply, available as a kit for ... EUR 24 + transformer + enclosure....http://tuxgraphics.org/electronics/201005/bench-power-supply-v3.shtml

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 10:29:49 pm
content: Does the Tuxgraphics power supply have something resembling a transient response yet? How does it fare with a standard 1 kHz 10%-90% load square wave?ELV's own designs, like the PPS-5330 kit, are usually decent quality, although you don't always save much compared to one made in China. No idea about the switch mode power supplies, they appear to be rebranded. Searching for NPS-2050 yields several identical power supplies, including English manuals.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 10:34:50 pm
content: Quote from: alm on January 21, 2012, 10:29:49 pmI'm now drooling over that ELV PPS-5330 kit, but they don't seem to ship to the USA (and shipping would be costly if they did). Short of shipping it to the UK and going over there to collect it, does anyone know of an American reseller, or of similar kits or designs available in the USA?(And it looks like the ELV kit has a fixed 230 V 50 Hz transformer, so I would need to substitute that anyway)

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 11:00:26 pm
content: Quote from: Elvis O. on January 21, 2012, 09:22:47 pmyou can get the same power supply already built for some 120 EUR here :http://www.elv.de/Prozessor-Power-Supply-PPS-5330/x.aspx/cid_74/detail_10/detail2_18134/flv_1/bereich_/marke_it is out of your initial 90 EUR but it is a very nice supply...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 11:04:30 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on January 21, 2012, 10:34:50 pmFunny, they appear to ship to almost every country on the planet (including North Korea) but the US and Canada. Must be some liability or certification thing.Best bet would probably to have someone from Germany or whatever country has the cheapest shipping to the US (tends to be much more expensive than the other way around for some reason) order it and then forward it to you.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2012, 10:03:08 am
content: I have the schematic of the supply, it was available on their web site some times ago freelybut it is 5Mb and this forum only allows 1Mb ...so I can't post herealso there are two microcontrollers in it with no idea ofwhat's inside ...but the analog system used is clearly described (in german..)