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RoadTest Forum TDK-Lambda LS50-12 First Look
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Related

TDK-Lambda LS50-12 First Look

Former Member
Former Member over 14 years ago

Well, I just got home to find a little present on my doorstep... my TDK-Lambda LS50-12 12V/50W/4.2A DC power supply. I haven't got any crimp connectors "in stock" at the moment so it hasn't been powered up, but I figure I'll post a "first look" now and add updates later once I've bench-tested it properly.

 

Firstly -- it's small. Real small. But despite this, there's plenty of space between the internal components to allow heat to dissipate. Lambda have obviously put some care and attention into the positioning of heat-generating parts: the AC filter capacitor, for instance, is placed before what appears to be the chopper transistor in the airflow path. Good plan -- the capacitor will be running fairly cool compared to the transistor so the overall effect is to cool both of them instead of cooling one and warming the other.

 

Build quality is great. Really great. Nichicon and Rubycon capacitors throughout, all specified for 105C. The output filter circuitry has a pretty decent voltage margin too -- this PSU has a 12V output, and the capacitors are 25V parts. Very cool. All the transistors and diodes that I can see through the case appear to be name-brand parts from reputable manufacturers -- Fairchild, STMicroelectronics, and the like.

The metal case has a rather unusual hexagonal punched pattern, which should provide good airflow through the power supply and keep everything nice and cool. Interestingly I've only seen this on one other PSU -- a Nemic-Lambda EWS600-series unit of a somewhat older vintage. Interesting to see some traditions never die image

Curiously, there doesn't seem to be an active SMPSU control IC present. I suspect this is a surface-mount part hiding on the bottom of the PCB, under the metal shield (from experience transistor-only SMPSUs aren't as common), but I don't really feel like tearing the PSU apart just to find out.

The only complaint I have is that the fuse could probably do with a bit of clear heatshrink or plastic tubing to act as insulation.

 

Build quality overall screams "built to last". Curiously the PSU was put together in Malaysia, which is an interesting deviation from all the "Made in China" PSUs I've seen recently. It appears the TDK buy-out has had zero effect on the quality of Lambda's products (or at least the LS50 series).

 

The traditional Lambda screw-down terminal block is still present, and still as rattly as ever. A voltage adjustment is present (useful for compensating for the resistance of power cabling), and what appears to be a "power good" LED. There's also a TL431 voltage reference just outside the shield, so it's probably fair to assume the trimpot controls the REF ADJ input of that (a pretty standard SMPSU design element). Labels are clear and make it absolutely clear what the "little tin box" is and does, and all of the important input/output ratings. The plastic cover on the connector block is a bit of a pain to remove and reattach, though better than the EWS600's insulating cover in that it'll actually stay on the connector block (the '600's cover tends to fall off if brushed or knocked).

 

I can't wait to get this thing powered up on the bench....

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