/members-area/personalblogs/b/blog/posts/why-i-don-t-own-a-benchtop-psu-for-my-solar-projectsAs my areas of interest are power electronics, SMPS, solar power and related areas of Microcontrollers and opamps, any form of PSU I use for testing has to be suitable. But most of the electronics can be powered from simple fixed voltage supplie...en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/members-area/personalblogs/b/blog/posts/why-i-don-t-own-a-benchtop-psu-for-my-solar-projectsSat, 22 Sep 2018 19:38:41 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:3a805183-8b81-43a5-8661-99b0258784efrsc1<p>With a variac and a transformer from a microwave oven, you can get 0-3000VAC.&nbsp; Add a couple of microwave diodes and a HV cap, and you have your HV DC power supply.</p><p>Scott</p><img src="https://community.element14.com/aggbug?PostID=5567&AppID=293&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">https://community.element14.com/members-area/personalblogs/b/blog/posts/why-i-don-t-own-a-benchtop-psu-for-my-solar-projectsSat, 22 Sep 2018 19:21:06 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:3a805183-8b81-43a5-8661-99b0258784efDAB0<p>Back in my tech school days we always had a 0-400 v DC power supply around to power the tube circuits we built. They were about the size of a toaster with a substantial transformer and basic rectification and filtering.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>That said, you can always test your basic components at lower voltages and then just connect them together for scale. Solar cell devices have a fairly predictable output and the products are very consistent.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>DAB</p><img src="https://community.element14.com/aggbug?PostID=5567&AppID=293&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">