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Recommend a bench power supply

stanto

Hey all,

I am interested in a bench power supply (I think that's right?), I am often working with electronics, such as repairing tile tags, game consoles, phones, computer kit, working with microcontrollers and I would benefit from having a power supply that I can use for this.

I had intended to modify a pc atx power supply, but I simply haven't gotten around to it and I'm often in the position where I want a tool, not a project.

Bonus if it can do usb-pd.

Any recommendations? I'm not a professional or run my own business, so it'll have to be something available to a consumer in England.

Thanks.

  • 0

    PC ATX power supplies are no good for repair work.

    You need a supply with adjustable voltage and current limit and continuous current and voltage monitoring.

    Linear supplies are much better (generally lower noise, better transient performance with sudden changes in load.)

    Make sure you get one with an output on/off switch and where you can see the current limit on the display for setting (usually when output is off).

    Huge price range - look  at Thurlby, Thandar (now Aim TTi) - new ones are nice:

    EL301R at £253 is  a good pick.

    TS3021S is an older model, several on Ebay some under £60.

    Some of the cheap Chinese ones aren't bad.

    usb-pd is a specialised thing  - I don't know of any adjustable bench power supply that can do usb-pd (although I think it would be nice and would probably be happy to pay for it).

    There are power supplies (pretty much all form China and lacking detailed specs) which are, themselves powered from USB  - which seems pointless unless your application needs battery power from  a power bank.

    I've been using Thurlby (Thandar et etc) bench supplies for a long, long (50years) time - the only bad word I have to say about them is the name changes, (but I suppose three in 50 years is no worse than HP - Agilent - Keysight.)

    MK

  • 0

    The price will always depend on the features.  Voltage 0-?max?, Current 0-?max?  Think about what you may need for features.  There are many places that sell used equipment also.  On my desk I have a Protek P6035, I've seen a bunch similar that all look the same with different names on them.

  • 0

    A smaller lower cost, multiple output supply is a Multicomp Pro MP710080 . (£149)

  • 0

    I have a Siglent SPD 3303C (the older model with 7 segment display, no need for fancy LCD display) and I'm pretty happy about it. My favourite feature is the integration of relays that allow to set the two main channels as series/parallel internally without messing up with cables.

    I had some TTi supplies at work that were nice, offering 4 wire sensing as an option (can be useful sometimes).

    No USB-PD for both of them.

  • 0

    If you can't decide on "the best one", just get one.  It was a purchase that I put off for years.  Silly me.   MP710080 recommendation looks good.  I went the "cheap Chinese" route that  mentions.  Maybe some day I'll win a nice one here on e14. Relaxed

  • 0 in reply to dougw

    Thanks for the link  , unfortunately, I'm not a business and I think you have to be to order from there? It asks for a VAT number which I don't have - I can't see that product available on https://cpc.farnell.com 

  • 0 in reply to michaelkellett
    michaelkellett said:

    PC ATX power supplies are no good for repair work.

    You need a supply with adjustable voltage and current limit and continuous current and voltage monitoring.

    People mod theirs to do so. Such like:

    And https://dronebotworkshop.com/atx-bench-supply/ 

    Which is what I was referring to.

    michaelkellett said:
    EL301R at £253 is  a good pick.

    Thanks, I'll see where I can get one from. £290 on ebay :/

    michaelkellett said:
    usb-pd is a specialised thing  - I don't know of any adjustable bench power supply that can do usb-pd (although I think it would be nice and would probably be happy to pay for it).

    Heh for sure, figured I'd put that there for conversation at least.

    I found this on my travels: https://hackaday.io/project/194295-pocketpd-usb-c-portable-bench-power-supply

    michaelkellett said:
    I've been using Thurlby (Thandar et etc) bench supplies for a long, long (50years) time - the only bad word I have to say about them is the name changes, (but I suppose three in 50 years is no worse than HP - Agilent - Keysight.)

    Alright, I'll have to keep a look out for them, thank you.

  • 0 in reply to rsc
    rsc said:
    Protek P6035

    I'm struggling to find information on that, do you have a link?

  • 0 in reply to strb
    strb said:
    I have a Siglent SPD 3303C

    Looks pretty good https://siglent.co.uk/product/siglent-spd3303c-programmable-dc-power-supplies/ - about the same price as the one michael suggested. Thanks

  • 0 in reply to kmikemoo
    kmikemoo said:
    If you can't decide on "the best one", just get one. 

    I feel you there, I think it comes down to price and availability right now Slight smile