Anyone have any experiences with this one or can recommend a reasonably priced one? The brand name seems unknown, and the Amazon store, Outdoor Line, seems to have a pretty strange listing of products - no idea how a bench power supply fits into their listings. What's nice about it is it has 10A max capability, and I wanted at least 6A, but I can see the need for 10A the way things are going. I've already measured 6 amps off a Shocker at the switch.
I can't comment on the quality, but the specs are good for that price. I scanned a budget dutch online store and a power supply with those specs go from $250 upwards.
and it’s not bad, but I’m no expert. The only bad thing is that the “documentation” it comes with is pretty much useless, but the supply itself is not bad.
Thanks - seems to be great price variations which I'm sure has something to do with quality and precision for sure...
ohaya - looked at that web site listed, and nothing in that price range for 6A to 10A though - yours is 5A. The one 10A unit listed at $198 doesn't have a dial for controlling output current.
HKJ: perhaps you know this: since I am also looking out for a high current (10 or 20A), up to 30V bench power supply, is there one out there that you would recommend under €300, that has a nice stable output and accurate voltage and current readings?
What do you think about that first one?
I’m thinking about H A D E X , spol. s r.o.
It uses same body, but only 5A.
But I’m worried as I’ve found some negative reviews for both lower HY1803D and upper HY3020 models.
I am not really good at recommending cheap power supplies, when I need power I uses this:
And it is not cheap.
And I do not like two voltage adjust buttons, but prefer one multiturn. I have modified a cheap 15V/3A power supply to have that and for tests where I manual regulate the voltage, while power is on, that supply is my preferred supply.
I know. I would’ve liked to get a 10A supply, but there’s a big (price) gap between 5A and 10A.
One thing that I think I would’ve liked, in addition to 10A, is presets. The cheap ones like the one I got doesn’t have presets, so I’ve gotten into the habit of turning the voltage and current down all the time, to avoid connecting something and having the settings too high inadverdently.
This is a very good idea, I also do that with my fancy power supplies. With a power supply that can deliver lots of volt and amperes it is very easy to fry something.
See if you can find something like a used HP 6034A or 6038A. 60V/10A/200 watt max. Make sure it is one with the front panel controls. Some are computer controlled only.
Most places want pretty good money for them (for good reason), but bargains can be had.
While it maxes out a 5 Amps it is a significant step up in quality over the typical 10A/30V ones like the OP linked to. I actually bought a similar one previously and the interior assembly quality was quite scary with lots of poorly soldered connections and questionable safety. The Hantek has significantly better assembly quality and looks like a proper piece of lab equipment.
It has ability to memorize five voltage/current presets which is rather nice.
Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/370856493841 Not adjustable, but connect it to...
...one of these (or two in parallel, to be able to use the full amperage from the power supply): http://www.ebay.com/itm/181089350031 Has independently adjustable voltage & current pots.To use two in parallel replace the onboard pots with an offboard pot connected to both boards in parallel so they can be adjusted and kept in sync.
Much much cheaper all-in than a traditional bench supply capable of similar numbers.
It’s certainly not top of the line, no doubt there, but neither is the price.
And I prefer serial, partially for the reasons you mention, but also because it’s easier to interface serial devices with microcontrollers to build nifty things from other things!
I could say I’d like an Agilent or TTI but I know that’s never going to happen on my budget, which oddly is part of the reason I’m modding these lights in the first place…hmmm. Seems to be a vicious cycle!
