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  • Author Author: Gough Lui
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Rohde & Schwarz HMC8043 Power Supply Review

Gough Lui

Last year has been a pretty interesting year for me, receiving the RoadTester of the Year award from element14 for my Rohde & Schwarz RTM3004 oscilloscope review and also delivering a review of the Rohde & Schwarz HMP4040 power supply. Since then, it’s been extremely busy juggling review after review – but I’m up for the challenge.

 

It seems like Rohde & Schwarz took some notice of this and asked whether I’d like to give their HMC8043 power supply a try, independent of element14. Leaping at the chance, I said that I would, but only if they would agree to the “review challenge” terms. They graciously accepted, and thanks to their representatives in Germany and Australia, I am proud to be able to present my comprehensive review of the Rohde & Schwarz HMC8043 100W triple-rail programmable DC benchtop power supply.

 

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For all the sections of the review, please see the following links:

  • in reply to three-phase

    Thanks ! Indeed, lots to like ... in fact, I'm probably going to be carrying around this one to do some basic demos regarding SCPI automation with pyvisa.

     

    As for the rear terminal block connector - I have suggested to R&S that it would be a good idea to include one (as many power supplies that have detachable connector blocks normally do include one), especially as the sense lines are necessary to reach the level of performance implied by the datasheet. However, I can understand its omission to some degree (even though it can be difficult to obtain for some people) as the connector block itself is not particularly cheap - e.g. from element14 Australia (https://au.element14.com/wago/713-1108/terminal-block-pluggable-16pos/dp/2526316 ), it is AU$26.08 including GST for a single unit, plus postage but currently on backorder worldwide. I suspect with the bulk purchase on R&S' behalf, it won't cost them anywhere near as much, but if users aren't likely to be using the sense or analog inputs (initially) then maybe it makes sense to omit it for the sake of being able to target a (marginally) lower price point.

     

    - Gough

  • Fantastic piece of work with the review. Looks like a good quality power supply with some interesting features in a relatively small package. Shame about the Wago connector compatibility, but ultimately resolvable I guess.

     

    Kind regards.

  • An exceptional effort to explain well. Especially part-3 and part 4.

  • in reply to Fred27

    Well, this is the funny thing. Rohde & Schwarz actually have a sales, repair and calibration office in North Sydney (about 30-45min from where I am) - meaning that they do actually have local sales and support service for us guys down-under. I guess that's one additional benefit of having R&S gear - you also get the local support where other brands might only have sales or distribution contacts in Australia. For the small market that we are, I was rather surprised to learn that we had our own representative.

     

    I did meet with our local representative in-person at ElectroneX trade expo a year or so ago ... so I definitely know local support exists ...

     

    - Gough

  • Another really nice, thorough and detailed review.

    thanks to their representatives in Germany and Australia

    I was beginning to think you were the R&S representative for Australia. image