Choose a power supply for about 150~400USD - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: WhiteWolf
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 08:27:18 pm
content: I thought that I would start new topic about PSUs that can be bought around 150 to 400USD on ebay or other similar webpages.Note: Yeah, I know this might have been asked and answered couple of times in fractions on this forum or other forums. But I haven't seen a topic where it is as a list and summarized.After almost two weeks of searching for a new/used PSU I can't really deside which one I'm gonna buy. So now I'm asking for some recommendations and opinions from you people. What experiences do you have and so on. I'm a huge fan of HP/Agilent equipment and somewhat Tektronix. But Rigol doesn't seem to be a bad manufacturer what I have seen and read. In short: is it possible to get a good PSU for about 150~400USD?My requirements for the PSUs:* Input voltage of 230V.* Digital display.* Can supply atleast 15V but 24V wouldn't be bad.* +/- output is prefered but I might be able to buy 2x PSUs to get a - output too.* There is no need for like more than 40V.* Low output ripple wouldn't be bad.* Can handle shortcuts.* Good enough accuracy and precision for a new started company / little more than hobby level.* Should be good enough to have in a smal electronic development business. (I'm about to start one)Notice that I haven't include these brands and models:Korad, BST-1502D, Dazheng PS-305D, Vihua/Best PS-1502D, Gopher CPS-3205, MCH-303D, PS-305D, ATTEN/YH -3003D, UNI-T UTP3315TF-L, HANTEK HT3003/5PE, Yihua/HY -605D, GW Instek GPS-1830D, Zhaoxin RXN-605D, Dazheng PS-305D, Maisen MS-3010D, Mastech HY3003D-3, 3010D, Tekpower TP-3003D-3, Zhaoxin PS-3005D, Horizon HR-80, HY3003, Kikusui PMC18-3, Tenma 72-8695, MPS-3002L-3, GW Lab GPS3030D, MPS-3005L-3.Cause they all almost look alike and is sh*ty. Some of them have real big problem with over/under-shoot and so on.But then I'm not sure about Extech 382285, ATTEN APS 3005D/P/S if they are any good or so. I haven't investigated/looked at them yet.The list:Manufacturer/Model - Specs and/or // CommentReferences/comments from this forum (EEVBLOG) and youtube.HANTEK PPS2116A - 0-32V 5A (Single output) // Looks like a cheap chinease PSU like a Vihua, Zhaoxin and so on. What I have read about the PSU is that it doesn't have problems with power spikes.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hantek-power-supply-pps2116a-review/msg280190/#msg280190HANTEK PPS2320A - 0-32V 2/3/5A / 0-2.5V 3A /3.3V 3A /5V 3A // Looks really wierd.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hantek-pps2320a-power-supply/msg388948/#msg388948https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hantek-pps2320a-power-supply-or-something-else/msg233956/#msg233956Siglent SPD3303D/S - // Yeah, the S-model is slightly more accurate and little bit more expencive. Seems like a quite decent PSU but I don't have much off experience with Siglent equipment.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-spd3303d-review/msg288251/#msg288251Rigol DP832 - Seems like a good PSU. Yeah, even with the bad design of 5V output.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-512-rigol-dp832-bad-design-investigation/BK Precision 1697 - 1-40V 5A (Single output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/recomend-a-programmable-power-supply-please/msg100137/#msg100137BK Precision 1735A - 0-30V 3A (Single output) // Looks like a cheap chinease PSU like a Vihua, Zhaoxin and so on.BK Precision 1760 - 4-6V 5A, 0-30V 2A (Triple outputs)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/bk-precision-1760a-design-flow/msg283814/#msg283814BK Precision 9110 - 0-60V 5A (Single output) // Looks like a cheap chinease PSU like a Vihua, Zhaoxin and so on.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/bk-precision-9110-60v5a-100w-psu-review-(with-pix!teardown)/msg68996/#msg68996https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-315-korad-ka3005p-reviewfail/msg130136/#msg130136https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/forum-intro-and-bench-power-supply-question/msg66886/#msg66886(Noisy fan. Damn I can't accept that or I have to change the fan)## Now for the quality stuff ##Agilent E3610A - 0-8V 3A, 0-15V 2A (Single output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-166-hp-e3610a/msg42412/#msg42412Agilent E3611A - 0-20V 1.5A, 0-35V 0.85A (Single output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/agilent-e3611a-problem-or-not/msg132443/#msg132443https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/in-need-for-a-power-supply/msg383366/#msg383366https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/good-agilent-power-supply-deal/msg177603/#msg177603(Some faulty unit)(Just a bad review)Agilent E3615A - 0-20V 3A (Single output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hpagilent-e3615a/msg369575/#msg369575https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/agilent-power-supply-e3615a-or-u8001a/msg74257/#msg74257https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sht-power-supplies/msg387592/#msg387592Agilent E3620A - 0-25V 1A (Dual output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-e3620a-power-supply-no-schematic-available-says-agilent-support/msg295990/#msg295990https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/agilent-e3620a-or-e3630a/msg233619/#msg233619Agilent E3630A - 0-6V 2.5A, +/- 0-20V 2.5A (Triple output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/schematic-for-agilent-e3630a/msg348206/#msg348206https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/agilent-e3620a-or-e3630a/msg233152/#msg233152https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-is-a-good-power-supply/msg83143/#msg83143(Loud sound)Agilent E3631A - 0-6V 5A, +/- 0-25V 1A (Triple output) // Used alot in college. Really good PSU but expencive. Mostly more than 400USD :/PC-com: GPIB, RS232Power: 80 Watts* Programming Accuracy at 25°C ±5°C- Voltage: 0.05% + 20 mV, 0.05% + 20 mV, 0.1% + 5 mV (+25, -25, 6)- Current: 0.15% + 4 mA, 0.15% + 4 mA, 0.2% + 10 mA (+25, -25, 6)* Ripple & Noise (20 Hz to 20 MHz)- Normal Mode Voltage: <350 µVrms/ 2 mV p-p, <350 µV rms/2 mV p-p, <350 µV rms/2 mV p-p (+25, -25, 6)- Normal-mode current: <500 µA rms, <500 µA rms, <2 mA rms (+25, -25, 6)- Common-mode current: <1.5 µA rms, <1.5 µA rms, <1.5 µA rms (+25, -25, 6)* Readback Accuracy at 25°C ±5°C- Voltage: 0.05% + 10 mV, 0.05% + 10 mV, 0.1% + 5 mV (+25, -25, 6)- Current: 0.15% + 4 mA, 0.15% + 4 mA, 0.2% + 10 mA (+25, -25, 6)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/agilent-e3631a-specifications-help-what-the-spec-sheet-actually-means/msg130961/#msg130961https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/repairing-agilent-e3631a-power-supply/msg178425/#msg178425https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/teardown-agilent-e3631a-power-supply-(picture-heavy)/Agilent E3632A - 0-15V 7A, 0-30V 4A, (Single output)PC-com: GPIB, RS232Power:* Programming Accuracy at 25°C ±5°C- Voltage: 0.05% + 10 mV- Current: 0.2% +10 mA* Ripple & Noise (20 Hz to 20 MHz)- Normal-mode voltage: <350 µVrms/2 mVpp- Normal-mode current: <2 mA rms- Common-mode current: <1.5 µA rms* Readback Accuracy at 25°C ±5°C- Voltage: 0.05% + 5 mV- Current: 0.15% + 5 mAAgilent E3633A - 0-8V 20A, 0-20V 10A, (Single output)Agilent E3640A - 0-8V 3A, 0-20V 1.5A (Single output)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/power-supply-shopping-round-2/msg271953/#msg271953Agilent E3644A - 0-8V 8A, 0-20V 4A (Single output)Agilent E3646A - 0-8V 3A, 0-20V 1.5A (Dual output)Agilent E3649A - 35V 1.4A or 60V 0.8A, dual output! I don't know, personally I don't like these Tektronix PSUs, they look cheap and ugly on the outside. But they should be real good on the inside. Hey, it's Tektronix. Tektronix PSUs are usually programmable !Tektronix PS280 - 0-5V 3A, +/- 0-30V 2A (Triple outputs)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-ps280-repair/msg360678/#msg360678https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/mastech-hy3010e-3-power-supply-noise/msg260293/#msg260293https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/second-bench-power-supply-search/msg263113/#msg263113Tektronix PS281 - 0-30V 3A (Single output) // Looks like a cheap chinease PSU like a Vihua, Zhaoxin and so on.Tektronix PS282 - 0-18V 5A (Single output) // Looks like a cheap chinease PSU like a Vihua, Zhaoxin and so on.Tektronix PS2511 - +/- 0-20V 7A (Dual output)Later on I will/might edit this list with Plus/Minus/Cons.PS: I haven't found these two between 150~400USD yet. But I'll be have an eye on them:Agilent E3647A - 35V 0.8A or 60V 0.5A, dual outputAgilent E3648A - 8V 5A or 20V 2.5A, dual output

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 10:45:13 pm
content: I would suggest a good, old HP/Agilent/KeySight 6114A supply. SUPER precise, and just dual in the voltage you want. No knobs required. It also has really good support for remote programmability, so you can purchase more for more current, more voltage, etc. I would consider it more a low cost calibrator than a power supply. BTW, I own an E3610a as well. Simple and reliable. Nothing wrong with that either.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 11:11:43 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on March 07, 2014, 10:45:13 pmechen is correct. I assume the reason for the digital display is so that you have exact numbers. In the case of the 6114A you have a push button display.It has some advanced capabilites for expansion via the rear terminals you can hook up multiple supplies for series, parallel, tracking, series-parallel use. So using two supplies you could get 0-80V 1A, 0-40V 2A, +/-40V 1A, etc. Plus the supply can be floated (by attaching them in series) up to 300V above ground. Additionally, these are ultra-low ripple supplies, 0.025% accuracy, 0.0005%+100uV regulation, 40uVrms ripple (up to 20Mhz). The one thing these lack is a means to digitally control them. If you don't need that feature then these will serve you very well. Oh yeah, 100% discrete components inside making them easier to repair.

author: Frost
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 11:22:39 pm
content: AMREL:LPS-301 single output 30W 0-15V/0-30V - 0-2A/0-1ALPS-302 single output 60W 0-15V/0-30V - 0-4A/0-2ALPS-304 triple output 70W 0-+-30V - 5V - 0-+-1A/2ALPS-305 triple output 165W 0-+-30V - 3.3V/5V - 0-+-2.5A/3A

author: alex.forencich
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 01:04:59 am
content: Le me add a couple to your high quality list for consideration:Agilent E3632A - 15V 7A or 30V 4A, single outputAgilent E3633A - 8V 20A or 20V 10A, single outputAgilent E3646A - 8V 3A or 20V 1.5A, dual outputAgilent E3647A - 35V 0.8A or 60V 0.5A, dual outputAgilent E3648A - 8V 5A or 20V 2.5A, dual outputAgilent E3649A - 35V 1.4A or 60V 0.8A, dual outputThe Agilent dual output supplies are very nice - the two outputs are completely floating and so can be connected in series or parallel without any major issues. Also, they can be set to track each other and each output can be set to a different range. It's basically two single-output supplies in one box.All of these units pop up on ebay regularly for decent prices. I bought a pair of E3646A units last month for $300 a piece, for example. You just might have to sit on ebay for a while.One thing that's nice about the Agilent supplies is that they are pretty easy to calibrate yourself if you have a good multimeter. They're also GPIB programmable if you end up needing them for an automated test setup of some sort.

author: WhiteWolf
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 06:46:37 pm
content: Frost: I have never heard of Amrel LPS-### and couldn't find too much of reviews but I'll take a look a them. Do you have any good reviews?alex.forencich: Thanks for those tips. I found some of them for a good price now here in Swedenechen1024: I'll take a look at 6114A. Seems like a good PSU, if you look at the specs.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 07:13:43 pm
content: Quote from: WhiteWolf on March 08, 2014, 06:46:37 pmhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-6114a-precision-power-supply/My teardown of the 6114a. In case you are interested.Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

author: Frost
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 08:39:57 pm
content: Quote from: WhiteWolf on March 08, 2014, 06:46:37 pmNo I haven't.I only own two of them, the LPS-301 and the LPS-304they are not bad.These days you will only find used AMREL devices,because AMREL did not build power supplys any more.The power division of AMREL was aquired by Ametek in 2010and today Ametek sells only programmable power loads underthe AMREL brand.

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 09:10:09 pm
content: I picked up an HP 6236b triple output supply a while ago for under $50 marked as not working. Turned out an output filter cap was bad; I think I have $2 in parts into it.If you don't mind analog meters, you can get some nice bargains out there. I set the +6 output to +5 on the analog meter and checked with my dmm - it was 5.001. If you really need mv accuracy you can always use your dmm.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 09:11:20 pm
content: This Hameg doesn't look too shabbyhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-(uk)-hameg-hm8143-3-channel-arbitrary-psu-and-electronic-load!-27870/

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 09:57:14 pm
content: I was about to say that I have the Tenma 72-8695 but I saw it included in your first message.Yes, it does have some overshoot when turning it on, but otherwise it's a good piece of kit. I posted pictures of the insidesherea while ago when I bought it and it really doesn't look that bad.

author: Xaero1982
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 02:56:12 am
content: What about the Agilent 8000 series? Don't have any experience with them, but they look pretty good.U8001A: 0-30 V, 0-3 A (90 W)U8002A: 0-30 V, 0-5 A (150 W)

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 09, 2014, 04:43:19 pm
content: Quote from: WhiteWolf on March 07, 2014, 08:27:18 pm150 EUR for a used HP6632B maybe? It's 20V 5A, talks via GPIB (not sure about the RS232 on the back), can float or be tied to ground, excellent ripple, OVP, OC, can be used as electronic load too. Get two of those and you're fine for a lot of things.It's damn heavy though (19" rack format)http://www.ebay.de/itm/291077250919as an example. I'm sure it's sold everywhere in the world.EDIT: typos, fat fingers and all

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 06:06:58 pm
content: What's your justification for discarding the Gopher CPS-3205?