What justifies the price of Agilent power supplies such as the 6622A? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Tectonic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 03:48:24 pm
content: What functions and features are the main cost drivers for power supplies such as this one:http://www.home.agilent.com/en/pd-836779-pn-6622A/system-power-supply-80w-2-outputsWhy would you want to use this over a more traditional bench power supply?

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 04:33:35 pm
content: Quote from: Tectonic on January 04, 2014, 03:48:24 pmI wonder as well why it is so expensive.I have one even more expensive with a broken display and I don't need it anymore.eurofox

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 04:43:42 pm
content: If it's anything like the 6632B's that I use, the main features would be:- utterly dependable, boring reliability- impeccably well controlled start-up / shut down behaviour - monotonic edges, zero overshoot- extremely accurate voltage and current monitoring- remotely programmable, with very fast response to commands from the host system- ability to work as an electronic load (ie. sink current) as well as sourcing it. Very useful indeed for testing battery powered products which are able to recharge the battery as well as drawing current from it.They're primarily sold for use in production test applications, where they're required to power high volume products such as mobile phones. Every second on the test rig counts, so quick responses and total reliability are essential. The cost of the power supply is still small compared to the cost of having any downtime.

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 05:33:44 pm
content: I worked for a company that did many li-ion batteries. It was important that we could dial a charge voltage and current that was accurate. These systems are about 10x more accurate than the typical bench power supply. Every now and then I see one go cheap on ebay and long to buy it. Space is my real problem right now.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 09:38:49 pm
content: take the lid off and you'll see why they cost morethough that 6622 is more than 3x the new cost of my 6632... ouch!

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 09:51:09 pm
content: It has 6 ms rise and fall times, and built in 4 digit meter. Normal power supplies have much worse of these values, ie 150ms for the E36xx series. If you run an automated production testing system, Your test takes 300ms, than your throughput of your tester is basically doubled. With an other power supply, you need two testers, and other components easily can be more expensive than this.

author: Tectonic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2014, 01:46:17 am
content: I pulled the trigger and bought one on ebay. It doesn't power up so I'll get a chance to hunt down the problem and fix it.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2014, 02:30:52 am
content: I got one from KJDS, here:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AGILENT-HP-6632B-Bench-DC-Power-Supply-0-20VOLT-5-AMP-Programmable-/350957363663?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item51b6b061cfPut a pair of bananas in the front and off I go, its a boat anchor, but its transformer buzz is a thing of beauty, that and dimming the lights when I turn it on, you know it has serious grunt.And having the built in meter means you need less multimeters hooked to your projects.For the price that they are going on eBay, get one(if you can afford them).

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2014, 01:29:43 pm
content: Also, there is a fair bit of hardware in there, I mean, if you price it out hardware wise, it's a lot of money. Sure, not 10k, but iut would be far more than KJDS is selling them for, i mean, the case alone in one off quantities would be close.