Digital Variable power supply

[knoxrebel]

Looking for an inexpensive 0-30v constant current/voltage power supply with lcds. I have been looking for some time now and i cant seem to find any kits with lcds. Im not sure exactly what i need, just that im tired of jerry rigging ac adapters and batteries to make power supplies.

[999999999]

Define inexpensive, and where are you located?

$60 + S/H: http://www.mpja.com/0-30V-0-3A-Varia...tinfo/9616+PS/

also check eBay if applicable.

[knoxrebel]

I want something as cheap as possible, but im willing to spend what i need to get a good quality piece of equiptment. Something in the ballpark of ~200 or less. IM hesitant to but those "cheap" sub 100 dollar supplies coming from hong kong. Ie Dual voltage output + 5v constant would be nice. 0-30v @ 3a should be more than enough. Id almost rather a kit with enclosure if possible. Also I live in Louisiana

[knoxrebel]

After some research I think that a dual voltage power supply if probably out of my range. Does anyone have experience with mastech equipment or GPS-3030D.

[Suaveman]

Be careful. I had a week old 0-10a 0-30v generic variable current/voltage digital supply from ebay take a dump on me recently, while eq charging a fla battery. But i had the current cranked up way to high as well, still.

The caps that blew, after a bit of googling, i found were crap. I guess you get what you pay for. And on top of that, you can't find the most basic specs/datasheets for them, so your in the dark if something goes wrong.

Wish i had spent $50 more for something quality. In general, the generic hong kong dc/ac supplys, dc/dc converters, and dc power devices seem pretty low quality from the various ones i've bought. buck/boost/sepic/regulators, etc. All way misrepresented as far as capabilities.

I'd opt for something namebrand, and with a fair bit of info available about it. But i could just be jaded from making a stupid mistake while hooking up mine to the battery.

Still, crap components, very little info when you need it, wish i hadn't wasted my money buying cheap generic crap. But ymmv depending on the application of the supply.

[mariushm]

I've bought a Tenma branded linear power supply from Farnell a few months ago:

http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/72-8695/...-2a/dp/1836057

It's 2 x 32v @ 3A + fixed 5v @ 2A

It's about 200$ and the insides are quite qood, it's well built, soldered properly and all that. I've posted a teardown on EEVblog :

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews...629/#msg148629

Farnell.com is actually newark.com in US and some countries and in some other countries it's element14.com

On newark.com, it's actually on sale at 163$ :

http://www.newark.com/tenma/72-8695/...89?Ntt=72-8695

(but it's the 110vac version, the farnell.com version is europe 230-240v versions)

i don't get what you mean with lcd ... this model is with 3 digit numeric display which is arguably better than a lcd.. the digits are larger and have bigger contrast.

i'm happy with the purchase, it still works fine, don't have any problems with it.

[999999999]

If you wanted to make your own, or just modify what you've already found, LCD panel meters for voltage and current aren't very expensive (about $5-15 each depending on how particular you are) and the hookup is pretty straight forward.

It won't look as professional as a ready made bench top supply, but it will cost about 1/3 to 1/2 as much depending on how resourceful you are acquiring parts, and it leaves you the option of building something capable of much higher current if that would be useful.

[Jack Crow]

Boss,
Got a question for you.

What is the advantage of 'digital'?

In my world it's just more stuff that has the ability to expensively bad at the wrong time.

I got a number of these cheap on Ebay.
Minor repairs and they work great.
Have one on the bench, sold the other three for a profit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9010884...7627310453970/

It's been on continuously for the last three or four months.
These are 'pro' tools and with a minimum of care will last ten or more years w/o problems.

On the other computer I have an electronic copy of the service manual.
When I get that back would be happy to send you a copy of the service data.


Share a thought.
Jack Crow in VA

[budm]

No matter what you get, make sure it has good protection circuits since no matter how careful you are, you will short the outputs together at one time or another, it should survive.