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Power Supply for Home lab?

mudz

Hi,
I am starting this year with different projects. Indeed, I need a power supply which I felt for so long is the main missing component in my small home lab. Currently, I am using PC SMPS, Transformers, and different adaptors to power up different projects and kits.
Many times I felt need of a variable power source but I did that with two different power supplies, but it is time consuming. And many more things to say but its just a waste of time to write and for yourself to read...... Now Its too much and I'm going to build one good power supply. Previously I'm fulfilling my power supply needs by using a adaptor and then using a voltage regulator(7805, 7809, 7812, LM317..) afterward for my projects.
So, what do you suggest?

Also I'm going to include few more additions to it like function generator, power consumption meter.
So what do you suggest what will be the best thing to make a good power supply?

An IC?

A Microcontroller? like PIC

Just build a box consisting a transformer/adaptor with voltage regulator and few pots?

Do tell me which will be better to use? A microcontroller or IC available in market for specific task for example Function generator IC? I'm confused should I go with a microcontroller and make my own program to do these tasks or should I buy an IC for individual task and then using a controller to control all?

 

 

mudz

Parents

  • This may have been mentioned and it may not be what your trying to accomplish as an end result but... The current project I am working on 1870's Programmable Clock Project... requires 3 power sources 24v, 12v, and 5v DC. I simply found some laptop power supplies. One had the 12 and 5 v and the other 24v. They have the built in regulators and have a great amperage rating for most all electronics projects. I'm basically wiring the 120vac wires together to the power supply chord to power them all up at the same time. You could do this in a project box, wire the grounds together and create an external ground post along with the 3 different posts for the 3 different power sources. I'm thinking about building one and also adding a step up transformer to also include 120vac and 240vac for powering vacuum or Nixie tubes. ;-)

  • in reply to jonivanart

    Ready made supplies like that are fine for completed projects but not much use for bench work where you need the ability to quite finely adjust the voltage and  current limit while you are getting things to work. The OP (104 posts ago !!) was asking about a lab type supply.

     

    MK

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    To MK:

    I assume OP =Original Post? b/c you also said "...104 posts..." Should I be calling this "Power Supply for Home Lab" a Discussion Thread? (DT) Or A Blog? Forgive the Lexicographer in me, it is a carry-over from my work. I just want us to be on the same Page or (Post). To that end are you considering/or-have enrolled in that www.coursera.org "Intro to Power Electronics" MOOC? I would love to bounce any ideas/concepts that might arise from that MOOC off of you (and other MOOC participants)? OR will such MOOC discussion violate the "spirit" of this DT? BTW is a SMPS (Switching Mode Power Supply) capable finely tuning current/voltage?

     

    USCDADNYC (NY NY USA)

  • in reply to uscdadnyc

    OP = Original poster

     

    I won't be enrolling for "Intro to Power Electronics", after 40+ years in electronics it's too late for introductions now.

     

    While SMPS can be tuned and finely controlled (although with some issues and most are not) the ready made power bricks offer no such facilities.

     

    A great many precision lab type switching power supplies use a linear post regulator to mitigate some of the issues with regard to noise and transient response (especially of current limit) which limit the usefulness of a simple SMPS in lab type applications.

     

    MK

Reply
  • in reply to uscdadnyc

    OP = Original poster

     

    I won't be enrolling for "Intro to Power Electronics", after 40+ years in electronics it's too late for introductions now.

     

    While SMPS can be tuned and finely controlled (although with some issues and most are not) the ready made power bricks offer no such facilities.

     

    A great many precision lab type switching power supplies use a linear post regulator to mitigate some of the issues with regard to noise and transient response (especially of current limit) which limit the usefulness of a simple SMPS in lab type applications.

     

    MK

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