I'm not a knowledgeable electronics guy but have occasional need for a simple variable power supply. Probably something in this wattage range would be good. Mainly to control voltage to specific values/ranges where certain devices require specific values. Any features to look for or avoid? One think I don't quite get, some seem like you can set volts & amps independently. Is that thing? Or does the setting mean 'maximum amps' if the device draws what it draws at that dialed in voltage level?
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Bench power supply rec
- Thread starter PeterT
- Start date
I bought this one used and it works well for my needs.
There are versions that allow chaining - so two 30v supplies will develop 0-60v if you need the higher adjustable voltage.
slow-poke
Ultra Member
One thing to investigate (if possible), is many of these ultra cheap power supplies, overshoot significantly upon energization. So for example you set the voltage to 5V and for an instant you get a nasty spike of 7 or 10 or 12V. If you don't have a scope to check you will never be the wiser, but your circuits might not tolerate it.
BK Precision has some affordable generally okay power supplies often available used for a song.
I mostly use HP/Agilent but also use a BK 9130 that I quite like. I picked it up used for $100 on Kijiji
If you can find an old used HP on Kijiji it will likely work better and outlast much of the new crap that is available on Amazon. Most of my HP stuff is 30+ years old and works like new and holds 90 day calibration specification for the last 15 years without being calibrated.
Features to look for:
+ Adjustable current
+ 1ma resolution on the current is nice
+ 10mV resolution on voltage
+ dual or triple especially if you can series or parallel for higher voltage or more current
+ something with an actual certification mark like UL/CSA/VDE, forget about CE it's meaningless, many of the crappy CE marked power supplies are just outright dangerous.
+ it's worth checking the common mode voltage on the cheap ones, might be 5V out on the terminals, floating on 60Vac WRT ground.
BK Precision has some affordable generally okay power supplies often available used for a song.
I mostly use HP/Agilent but also use a BK 9130 that I quite like. I picked it up used for $100 on Kijiji
If you can find an old used HP on Kijiji it will likely work better and outlast much of the new crap that is available on Amazon. Most of my HP stuff is 30+ years old and works like new and holds 90 day calibration specification for the last 15 years without being calibrated.
Features to look for:
+ Adjustable current
+ 1ma resolution on the current is nice
+ 10mV resolution on voltage
+ dual or triple especially if you can series or parallel for higher voltage or more current
+ something with an actual certification mark like UL/CSA/VDE, forget about CE it's meaningless, many of the crappy CE marked power supplies are just outright dangerous.
+ it's worth checking the common mode voltage on the cheap ones, might be 5V out on the terminals, floating on 60Vac WRT ground.
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I've seen different implementations of this.
Some are a current maximum. You set the maximum current you want the supply to be able to deliver.
Some are literally a current source. In this case, the voltage will usually be a maximum, and there is usually a switch to determine which is which.